ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Parents across Georgia are expressing concern over proposed federal spending cuts that could impact programs supporting more than a million children statewide.

Lawmakers in Washington are currently debating reductions to key federal initiatives, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Medicaid. These programs provide essential food, health care and early education support for families in need.

A new report from Emory University’s School of Medicine called “The State of Child Health and Well-being” underscores what many parents have been saying for years — they need more help, not less.

“It is a temperature check,” said Dr. Stephen Patrick, the lead researcher behind the study. “Behind every data point is a child and a story.”

The findings are stark: food insecurity affects 36% of Georgia families, more than double the national average of 17.9%. Meanwhile, 91% of parents surveyed support providing free school meals for all children, a proposal that has repeatedly failed to pass in the Georgia legislature.

Despite widespread parental support for such programs, the latest federal budget proposal — commonly referred to as “the big bill” — includes billions of dollars in cuts from Medicaid and SNAP.

“Everybody benefits when the children are well,” said Adriene Pinkney, a Georgia mother.

The Emory report also raises red flags about children’s access to health care. Roughly 41% of Georgia children are enrolled in Medicaid, one of the country’s largest safety net programs. But Patrick notes that coverage does not always equate to access.

“We asked parents: if your child has a mental health diagnosis, are they receiving treatment? Most were not,” he said. “They need insurance, but they also need access to the services that help.”

Researchers hope the report will guide policymakers toward decisions that better reflect the needs and concerns of Georgia families.

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