On July 1, major cuts to child care supports go into effect causing 8,700 families to lose child care assistance each month. Helping families pay for child care makes it more likely they can get and keep a job.

The state has also stopped new applications for the Kinship Care Program, which provides financial support to non-parental, relative caregivers, like grandparents. Research shows that children who have been abused and neglected experience less trauma when placed with someone they know than with strangers, even well-intentioned strangers.

These cuts are bad for Kentucky families, bad for the state budget and bad for the economy. Now is the time to remind the Governor that Kentucky children need his help. We need you to speak up and ask him to restore funding for these important programs for children.

Please call Governor Beshear on Monday, July 1 at 502-564-2611 and leave the following message:

“Cuts to child care and kinship care are hurting Kentucky’s families. Please add restoring the child care and kinship care funding to the special session agenda. Kentucky kids can’t wait until 2014 for these cuts to be restored.”

Help spread the word on Twitter.

On Monday, tweet that you want Governor Beshear to restore the cuts to child care and kinship care. Use the hashtag #nocuts2kids. The Governor’s twitter handle is @GovSteveBeshear.

Also, tweet at your state lawmakers and ask them how they plan to work to restore these cuts. Use the hashtag #nocuts2kids.

Finally, share your story about how the cuts will affect you or someone you know here.

Remember, your voice could make the difference.