In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama is expected to address automatic spending cuts worth billions of dollars scheduled to kick in March 1.

The federal spending cuts, called sequestration, affect defense spending and domestic programs.

If Congress is unable to reach a deal to avoid them, their effects are expected to be felt in every state, including North Carolina, and one of the programs expected to take a big hit is Head Start.

About 120 needy children depend on the Bethlehem Center Southside Head Start to prepare for kindergarten.

More than 700 other children ages 3-5 go to other centers around Mecklenburg County.

They could all lose out if the sequestration is allowed to occur and so could teachers like Natalie Johnson.

"I would either have to seek other employment or just wait and see," she said.

The North Carolina Center for Nonprofits estimates about $13.4 million would be cut from Head Start programs across the state, which would mean 447 jobs.

Bethlehem Center Executive Director William McDonald said it's still unclear how much money could be cut from the program here.

"Are they going to require us to still fund the 858 children? Or are they going to change that number?" he asked.

McDonald said he is hoping for the best but preparing for worst-case scenarios.

"We're really just in a wait and see mode," he said.

Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry Executive Director Beverly Howard is concerned, too.

The sequestration is expected to cut thousands of jobs overall in the state if it kicks in.

It would also cut storage and transportation funding for 230,000 pounds of food the pantry receives from the federal government each year.

"There's going to be less food and there's going to be more clients," Howard said.

Johnson said she'll be listening closely to the president's speech Tuesday night to see what he has to say about the cuts.

"I will definitely be tuned in, from the beginning until the end," she said.

The North Carolina Center for Nonprofits also estimates the sequester would cut millions from other programs, including $3 million from substance abuse programs and $1.7 million from senior nutrition programs.