Children’s Advocacy Center urges county support as federal grants shrink

Julia Reetz, chair of the governing board of the Children’s Advocacy Center, told the Champaign County Board during the FY26 budget briefing that the center expects at least a 20% reduction in a major federal grant and is seeking more stable local funding. The center provides forensically trained interviews of children who are alleged victims of sexual or physical abuse and refers families to counseling; those services are funded primarily by federal VOCA grants, an attorney general grant, United Way contributions and local law-enforcement donations. "We are pretty excited because we have spent Elizabeth and I have spent a tremendous amount of time applying for more funding to try to compensate for the loss that we anticipate," Reetz said. Reetz and staff said no county general-fund dollars currently support the center and asked the board to consider moving the CAC into the county budget to stabilize operations. "One of our goals moving forward is to not be so reliant on having year to year to apply for grant funding," she said. Reetz said the center currently pays rent to "CU PhD" for its space and that the lease expired in June; the center is month-to-month and has been told the landlord wants them to leave. She said negotiations are ongoing and that moving into county-owned space could cut costs. The center also asked local law-enforcement agencies to resume or increase direct financial support. Reetz said earlier requests produced about $10,000 in combined contributions in prior years and that the center has collected about $14,000 so far this year from agencies, but staff and board members said that increase will not cover the projected federal shortfall. Executive Director Dr. Lisa Liggins Chambers and Deputy Administrator Elizabeth Leebes described the center’s work and its accreditation requirements, noting forensic interviews are recorded and can be used in prosecutions or child-protection investigations. Chambers said the VOCA funding outlook is uncertain and described national-level proposals to stabilize VOCA funding, but said the center cannot rely on year-to-year grants. The board and staff discussed potential near-term steps: continuing fundraising (Reetz referenced a Texas Roadhouse fundraiser that raised about $3,200), soliciting law-enforcement contributions, exploring moving into county space such as the Brookins or Bennett buildings, and county support for at least one CAC salary or other in-kind assistance. No formal funding decision was requested at the hearing; county staff said budget adoption and any changes would be considered at later budget sessions. Discussion points: concern about the instability of VOCA and other grants, the center’s month-to-month lease and the operational risk if the center must move, and that current local contributions will not fully replace anticipated federal reductions. The CAC requested that the board consider structural changes — including placing the CAC under the county office and incorporating some county funding — to reduce dependence on volatile grant revenue. The center provided specific budget-related figures in the presentation: an anticipated federal grant reduction of “about 20% or more,” $3,200 raised from a recent fundraiser, and a small net increase in law-enforcement contributions (from about $10,000 historically to roughly $14,000 so far this year). No motions or votes were taken at the session.