Federal spending helps give Colorado’s children a strong start. These funds help support kids’ economic security and access to education, health care, and child care.
While it is not clear exactly which spending or programs will be cut, we can look at how many Colorado children are served by some of the programs that would likely be affected by these cuts.
By the Numbers: Federal programs help Colorado kids
Of Colorado’s 1.2 million children…
394,700: Students ages 5-17 eligible for free and reduced priced lunch (2024-25 school year)1
17,800: Students experiencing homelessness supported by the McKinney-Vento program(2022-23 school year)1
579,000: Children covered by Medicaid – roughly 40% of Colorado kids, including more than half of kids in some rural communities (FY2023-24)2
106,500: Children with health coverage through Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) in fiscal year 2023-24 – more than double the number covered in the year prior2
47,000: Kids receiving basic cash assistance through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in 20233
317,000: Kids receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in 20243
11,100: Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers served by Head Start and Early Head Start (FY2023-24)4
24,600: Kids whose families received subsidies through the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP)(FY2023-24)4
Sources: Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing; Colorado Department of Education; Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment; Colorado Department of Early Childhood
