The effects of the deep cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services’ budget pushed by Gov. Paul LePage in the last legislative session are continuing to ripple through the state and York County.

Due to a loss of $2 million statewide to Head Start programs, York County Head Start will serve 22 fewer children from low-income families than last year.

The state only ponied up $2.44 million to fund the program in the previous year, while the federal government puts up $32 million to teach 3- to 5-year-olds important educational and life skills, as well as helping their parents to care properly for them. According to York County Community Action, which operates the early childhood education program, Head Start teaches children social skills while they participate in early educational activities; provides a healthy meal each day; and provides a comprehensive health program, which includes immunizations, nutritional services, and medical, dental and mental health services.

According to Barbara Crider, executive director of York County Community Action, studies show that children who attend Head Start are more likely to finish high school, go to college, stay out of jail and are generally healthier than their counterparts who did not attend the program. The benefits of pre-schooling are numerous as well in those important formative years, which the World Health Organization says is the most important phase for overall development throughout a person’s life.

From birth to age 8, a child’s brain undergoes rapid development ”“ the most it will during their lifetime. It is important that children have proper nutrition, living environment and stimulation to keep their brain development on track.

Unfortunately, low-income families suffer from a lack of means to send their children to private pre-school programs, and some parents cannot spend the time necessary with their children for proper development due to work obligations and other constraints. Head Start steps in to assist those parents and families with early education and health care.

It is also unfortunate that legislators have decided this program is not a good investment, because they are just plain wrong.

The benefits, like those of many social and preventative services, far outweigh the cost. York County’s portion of Head Start funds allow nearly 300 children to attend ”“ with 22 less this fall. And statewide, more than 3,550 children attended Head Start in 2011, according to Douglas Orville, executive director of Child and Family Opportunities in Ellsworth.

That’s 3,550 children who are more likely to graduate, go on to college and become adults who contribute to society. The $2.44 million may not seem like a lot when subtracted from the whole, as Republican Senate Majority Leader Jon Courtney seems to think, but it is a lot and makes a major impact on the programs, staff and children who could be served.

Courtney said the cut, when considered with the $32 million in federal funding, is only about 7 percent. But from another angle, the cut is about 80 percent of the state’s previous share.

Courtney’s Chief of Staff Diane Johanson added insult to injury by adding that providers “will be able to make up this small cut through fundraising.”

Leaders of nonprofits ”“ the country over ”“ would be the first to tell you that fundraising in these challenging times is difficult at best, and that $2 million is not a “small” amount ”“ nor is $100,000, which is the amount needed to cover the impact of the cuts in York County.

This is why legislators need to restore funding through the state budget. Continuing to neglect the data on the benefits of social services, preventative programs and educational programs due to the cost will cripple this state in the future. Investing in the future is necessary, and this state is falling way behind in all realms of planning for the future, due to the perceived cost today.

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Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham representing the majority opinion of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.