Funding in peril for Louisiana’s children’s advocacy centers, which offer healing and hope

Louisiana is consistently named among the most dangerous states in America, and advocacy centers across the state face the aftermath of the violence, offering a space to weather the storm and heal. 

Countless victims from all walks of life rely on lifesaving resources from domestic violence shelters and victim advocacy centers. Devastating federal funding cuts now threaten to strip away their last hope, making Louisiana an even more dangerous place for child victims of crime.

As executive director of the Louisiana Alliance of Children’s Advocacy Centers (LACAC), I work to empower the staff at each of the 14 CACs across the state. In 2023, they assisted 7,573 child crime victims and their families. It’s absolutely vital to ensure our centers continue to provide compassion and support to every single victim and their families, and cater to their specific needs.

For decades, we have looked to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to assist our goal of reaching victims in the wake of violent crime, sexual assault and domestic abuse. Across Louisiana, the dedicated teams at our CACs stand ready to provide comprehensive care, offering hope and healing.

Last year, VOCA grants saw a funding reduction of $600 million, putting nearly 1,000 CACs nationwide at risk of collapse. Now, these centers face reduced critical services, fewer staff members or – in the worst cases – an end to their services entirely. 

For Louisiana, the cuts echo just as deeply.

Our CACs are staffed by 484 dedicated professionals – social workers, law enforcement, medical experts, counselors and legal staff – who work together to help children heal and prevent further harm. 

In 2023, the staff at Louisiana’s CACs conducted 5,591 forensic interviews, connected 3,953 children to counseling and therapy, and provided 9,687 people with advocacy services. Each received the specialized care needed to address the emotional, psychological and legal effects of the crime. 

Beyond the restorative care we provide, we are just as committed to active prevention efforts. In 2023, our CACs guided 14,427 children and 43,788 adults through education programs that teach them how to recognize and report abuse. These programs stop abuse before it starts, building safer communities for everyone. Now, with dwindling support from VOCA and the federal government, these services are threatened.

U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Missouri, introduced the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024 (CVFS) early last year, followed closely by a companion bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and Lisa Murkowski. R-Alaska. They offer a much needed solution. Before the CVFS Act ran out of time during the 118th Congress, it garnered overwhelming bipartisan support – more than 200 co-sponsors in the House and six sponsors in the Senate signed on. 

Now, Wagner has once again championed this cause with the re-introduction of the bill to redirect funds from the False Claims Act into the Crime Victims Fund, temporarily stabilizing the fund and preserving services for victims. It would serve as a critical lifeline, ensuring our programs continue to support the children who rely on them while we work on a permanent solution.

To discontinue these programs would be to abandon these vulnerable children in their darkest hour.