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Orange County accepts $66,666 in supplemental OCFS funds for Child Advocacy Center multidisciplinary team
Summary
Orange County accepted $66,666 in supplemental funding from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services to offset expenses for the Orange County Multidisciplinary Team and Child Advocacy Center.
Orange County accepted $66,666 in supplemental funding from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to support the Orange County Multidisciplinary Team at the Child Advocacy Center (CAC). County staff said the funds offset program expenses including staffing, equipment, supplies, occupancy and training.
Staff described the multidisciplinary team as a coordinated investigative and response team for children who have experienced abuse, intended to limit repeated interviews and centralize evidence collection. County staff said the CAC formally opened about four years ago at the Haxfield Lane location and provides interview and video-recording capability to preserve testimony.
Board members asked about how OCFS determines award amounts; staff said allocations appear to vary by county and may reflect factors including population, number of reports and the timing of CAC development. Staff offered to follow up to request OCFS documentation explaining the formula or methodology for award amounts. The appropriation was approved by voice vote; recorded tallies were not specified.
Why it matters: County staff said the funding supports operations that aim to reduce trauma to children during abuse investigations by centralizing interviews and sharing investigative information among agencies.
