Just a few weeks ago, things looked pretty grim in Tallahassee. Programs that protect Florida’s most vulnerable children faced yet another round of deep budget cuts, even as difficult times drive increased calls to Florida’s child abuse hotline and the number of cases ending in a child’s death continued to escalate. The economic challenges faced by the Florida Legislature this year were daunting and, while we’re not out of the woods yet, our legislative leaders demonstrated their commitment to our children by creating a budget that prioritizes their safety and well being.

Forced to make the toughest kinds of decisions – prioritizing the needs of some citizens over the needs of deserving others – our legislators chose to preserve programs that not only care for the young victims of abuse and neglect, but also those that teach youth and families the skills that prevent or interrupt the tragic cycle of abuse. Why? Because these programs not only make moral sense, but also economic sense.

Despite losing nearly $24 million in child welfare funding in the 2008 legislative session, Florida’s prevention and child welfare programs are working. Record numbers of children in foster care are finding forever families through adoption. And, youth aging out of the foster care system are discovering hope through independent living services that provide the skills they need to avoid homelessness and become productive members of society.

According to a study published by Prevent Child Abuse America, the estimated annual cost of child abuse and neglect is $103.8 billion in 2007 value. If we don’t prevent child abuse and neglect, the residual effects continue to sap our dwindling tax dollars as those children later require a myriad of stabilization and intervention services.

While grateful for child welfare’s reprieve this session, we celebrate cautiously as the budget is partially built upon federal stimulus money that is non-recurring and heavily reliant on tax revenues that have declined steadily over the past two years. Enacting the new cigarette tax was a move in the right direction, but we must continue to look for new ways to grow our tax base to avoid further cuts to services that care for Florida’s most vulnerable citizens.

Make no mistake; our heartfelt appreciation goes out to these caring legislators for funding services that are critical to the protection of young lives and brighter futures for children. We also hope this thoughtful decision-making will continue.

David A. Bundy is President/CEO of Children’s Home Society of Florida which served more than 86,000 children and family members in 2007-2008, including 1,019 foster children placed with forever families through adoption. Founded in 1902, CHS is Florida’s largest statewide private not-for-profit serving children and families and ranks third among non-governmental organizations accredited in the United States and Canada by the Council on Accreditation. Visit www.chsfl.org