Across the country, the financial crisis is forcing many states to make unprecedented cuts to close budget gaps, totaling $174.1-billion, causing many agencies that serve some of the neediest children to slash their services and programs, the Associated Press reports.

Programs that deal with issues including child abuse, childhood obesity, prenatal care, and preschool inspections have been trimmed. As a result, many charities that get money from the states to carry out these services now face financial woes as demand for aid rises.

“We were really taken aback at just the sheer magnitude of the cuts,” said Linda Smith, executive director of the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, which released a study in January that found programs for children were cut or eliminated in more than 40 states.

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