AGAINST FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS IN CHILD CARE SERVICES

WHEREAS, the major federal child care program, Title XX of the Social Security Act, (now a block grant) has been brutally slashed by $1 billion for FY '83 in the proposed Reagan budget; and

WHEREAS, the Reagan administration has shown total disregard for needs of young children by decimating this crucial program which has goals of economic self-support for parents, prevention of child abuse and preservation of families through day care as well as social services and training; and

WHEREAS, studies have shown that day care centers for children from low-income families across the county are threatened with closing; and homemaker services and crisis intervention services will be sharply curtailed or ended because of these cuts:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers makes fighting Reagan's cuts in Title XX Social Services Funds and all other presently funded early childhood programs a top priority in its battle to stop budget cuts; and

RESOLVED, that AFT continues to urge standards for all child care programs and restates its commitment to federal child care legislation with the public schools as the presumed prime sponsor.