For years, children and their families have turned to the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of Bristol County for support and assistance with the trauma of child sexual abuse and assault.
Instead of leaving victims to shoulder the overwhelming burden of seeking justice on their own, our victim services professionals step in to provide support and help with the process of healing.
Unfortunately, a vital source of national funding that supports our CAC and others nationwide is currently facing challenges. The Crime Victims Fund (CVF), created through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), has assisted millions of victims of violent crime, sexual assault and domestic abuse in their recovery. The importance of the role this funding plays cannot be overstated.
The CVF has gradually depleted over the years, largely dependent on inconsistent sources of funding, including fines, federal criminal settlements, and forfeited bonds. With each year that this federal fund shrinks, our local services have to account for the change. This uncertainty prevents us from doing the type of strategic long-term planning that would allow us to service more victims in more meaningful ways.
This year, the CVF has been reduced by $600 million, even amid concerted efforts by policy advocates from various nonprofit sectors. This has resulted in less financial support for victims of violent crimes, such as child sexual abuse, physical abuse and witness to domestic violence. Our country, our state and our county have depleted legal resources in the pursuit of justice and fewer victims’ rights advocates.
The Children’s Advocacy of Bristol County receives between 600-800 referrals annually for forensic interviews. VOCA funding pays for our Child Trafficking Prevention Manager, two family advocates, a portion of our Clinical Services Director and six mental health clinicians. As VOCA funding reductions continue, we must make up the difference with private donations and grant awards. In the worst case, reduced funding could force layoffs of front-line staff.
Since our founding in 2007, we have served over 9,500 children affected by trauma. We protect children and conduct investigative services, our mental health clinicians help children heal and we provide training workshops to law enforcement, educators, nurses, pediatricians, probation and social workers in all 20 cities and towns in Bristol County. Now, any school district can request our team to train youth in digital online responsibility and the safest use of smartphones to protect themselves. Our prevention efforts support more than 12,000 residents annually.
Beginning July 1, we could see up to an 18% reduction in our VOCA budget. In the face of these devastating cuts, Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country including in Bristol County, are forced to make changes or shutter their doors.
April is Child Sexual Abuse and Assault Prevention Month, when we pay special attention to the issue that traumatizes far too many children, the very young crime victims we would be abandoning if funding cuts forced us to end programs.
For many of the children and families we serve, the CAC helps stop abuse from continuing, helps children recover from trauma and further prevents abuse from occurring. We owe crime victims these services.
The entire staff of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County, a program of Justice Resource Institute, will continue to provide the best support we can. We look to Congress to find a solution that will sustain these emergency services this year and beyond.
Lara Stone and Cathy Rutkowski are co-executive directors of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County, a program of JRI.
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