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Children’s Assessment Center urges continued funding for therapy, advocacy and court supports
Summary
The Children’s Assessment Center told Commissioners Court that federal and foundation grants support part of its work but that county funding and foundation support remain essential; program cuts could reduce therapy capacity, family supports and court advocacy that help child abuse victims.
The Children’s Assessment Center (CAC) asked Commissioners Court to preserve staffing and grant funding that support forensic interviews, mental‑health services and court advocacy for children who are victims of abuse.
CAC leadership told the court the center handles more than 4,000 new child abuse cases each year and provides multidisciplinary services required by Texas Family Code §264. The center said early intervention and trauma‑informed services reduce later reliance on social services, improve prosecutorial outcomes and strengthen public safety by helping law enforcement preserve witness evidence.
The nut graph: CAC leaders said proposed budget cuts and potential hiring freezes would damage their ability to deliver timely forensic interviews, clinical assessments and ongoing therapy. They warned that reduced capacity would reduce the rate at which children progress through therapy and the center’s ability to support families through the criminal‑justice process.
CAC leaders described services that include forensic interviews, clinical assessment, therapy, court advocacy (advocates who prepare children for trial and accompany them in court), community trainings and family support events (back‑to‑school and holiday events tied to healing and engagement). The center said it combines county funding, VOCA and other federal grants and private philanthropy; it noted an ongoing reliance on federal VOCA funds and said those grants require year‑to‑year monitoring.
On staffing and recruitment, CAC said highly trained clinicians are in demand outside government and retention is a recurring challenge; the center said it uses foundation fundraising to supplement program budgets and that the CAC Foundation will support the transition of some ARPA‑funded positions to general‑funded roles where feasible.
Ending: CAC leadership urged preservation of positions that support clinical and advocacy services and said cutting travel or training would reduce clinical quality and accreditation status; the center asked the court to consider an exemption from hiring freezes for essential roles due to continuity needs.
