Because of “the future debt we’ll leave our children,” we must make federal budget cuts, the platitude goes. But it is precisely our children’s future that Congress could end up cutting.

Programs for children and families are among the softest targets for policymakers desperate to make cuts this fall. Policymakers have been eyeing Medicaid, food stamps, education and early care and other programs for deep cuts. Yet, these programs have been an important safety net for more and more American families as they deal with their own budget crises.

Recent census data show that more than one in five American children now live in poverty. That’s more than 16 million children, including 173,113 in Maryland. Persistently high unemployment is a factor as families struggle to keep and hold jobs in the wake of the recession.

The unemployment rate of 7.2 percent for Maryland has meant more families depending on safety programs. Lost jobs have meant more families threatened by hunger, and demand for food stamps is up sharply. Lost jobs often mean lost family health benefits, and now nearly 30 million children nationwide depend on Medicaid for care.

We must shore up the programs that families in need rely on. Medicaid helps provide high-quality, affordable care to almost 30 million children nationwide. Medicaid and Maryland’s Children’s Health Insurance Program ensure that 616,000 Maryland children don’t have to become uninsured if their parents lose a job. Child care and early education programs help parents pursue their careers, as well as help nurture the work force of the next generation. And tax credits for children and families are essential anti-poverty measures the Earned Income Tax Credit alone helped to keep 3 million children out of poverty last year.

To cut the deficit without hurting these families, Congress must agree to a balanced approach that includes revenues and cuts. While some in Congress are dead-set against any change to the tax code, we cannot simply cut our way out of the national debt.

There is a tribe in Africa called the Masai whose traditional greeting is said to be “How are the children?” If the children are well, that’s taken to mean that everything is well in the group. We, too, should remember that our true health as a society cannot be separated from the wellness of our children.

As a way to judge the actions of Congress, “How are the children?” is an excellent guiding principle.

Becky Wagner is executive director of the statewide organization Advocates for Children and Youth.