While a government shut down will harm all Coloradans, it would hit low-income children and families the hardest. That’s because many services that help support poor children and families are funded in large part by the federal government. If Congress can’t reach agreement to continue funding the federal government, low-income people who rely on these programs – including many who are kids – could have the rug pulled out from under them.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides cash assistance and other forms of support to the very lowest income people with children in Colorado, including job training, transportation assistance, childcare and other critical services. While TANF is funded through block grants to the states and would typically not be immediately affected by a government shutdown, TANF’s current funding runs out September 30, 2013. If Congress does not pass funding for the program either alone or as part of a larger bill to continue funding the government – often referred to as a continuing resolution – the program will not be able to provide this vital help to thousands of low-income Coloradans.

The federal government foots 100 percent of the bill for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. Funding for SNAP, which helps a half a million poor Coloradans get enough to eat, ends on September 30, 2013. Without action from Congress, the federal government won’t be able to issue new SNAP benefits or reimburse states for administrative costs.

And, child nutrition programs, such as school lunch, school breakfast, special milk, and child and adult care food programs, do not receive funding in advance so states must typically submit reimbursement claims to the federal government. Nearly 390,000 Colorado children rely on school lunch for healthy meals. If Congress does not do its job, there will be no way for the federal government to reimburse states for these in-school programs that help make sure kids can concentrate on learning rather than their empty bellies.

Congress needs to stop playing this dangerous game of chicken and get to work. It’s not child’s play; it’s playing with children’s lives.