Children’s Justice Center reports sharp caseload increase, secures funding for new space and staff supports

Andrea Noyes, speaking for the Children’s Justice Center, told the Grand County Commission on Sept. 2 that the center has seen a 58.62% increase in cases from January through August 2025 compared with the previous period and that child sexual assault is the primary category of cases, followed by child endangerment, physical abuse, domestic violence and human trafficking. Noyes said the center’s increased volume helped secure a higher state allocation for fiscal 2026 and additional competitive grants.

Noyes said the center had three bids to remodel a new permanent facility; two bids were the lowest at $72,000. She said the state had pledged $70,000 toward the necessary ADA bathroom replacement and medical-area upgrades and that remaining costs would be covered by the nonprofit Friends of the Grand County Children’s Justice Center, so no additional county funding is required. Noyes said the center also obtained a grant of $87,500 to build a mental-health program for first responders and their families.

Noyes described statewide and federal advocacy her office has done. She said legislative wins included passage of SB24, described in her remarks as creating a statutory offense for child torture with a mandated 10-year prison term and inclusion on the offender registry, and that she worked in Washington, D.C., to advocate for increased federal victim services funding and for use of certain settlement funds to replenish crime-victims’ funds. She also said SB41 — which she opposed — was defeated in the legislature.

Noyes said the center has expanded interagency processes, including weekly case reviews with the Division of Child and Family Services and law enforcement, and that Grand County’s CJC is one of the first two in the state to sign military memoranda of understanding to serve military families. She noted statewide roles she was appointed to, including vice chair of the Utah CJC standing board and chair of the Seventh District victims-rights committee.

Noyes closed by thanking the commission for support and by noting that remodel and service-expansion costs will be covered by state funds and the center’s nonprofit partner.

The presentation contained no formal motion or county vote. Commissioners did not make a public action during the report; Noyes requested no county appropriation and said the county would not be asked to cover the remaining remodel costs.