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Benton County committee agrees to budget $102,000 to help Children & Family Advocacy Center after federal cuts
Summary
After hearing that federal VOCA and TANF cuts have left the Children & Family Advocacy Center facing immediate and potential multiyear shortfalls, the committee voted to include roughly Benton County’s 17% share (about $102,000) in the budget as a short‑term measure while the center pursues other funding and municipal partners.
The Committee of the Whole voted Oct. 21 to include about $102,000 in the county’s proposed budget to help the Children & Family Advocacy Center (CFAC) respond to recent federal and state funding reductions.
Executive director Natalie Tibbs told the committee CFAC provides forensic interviews, on‑site medical and mental‑health services, and prevention and training across Benton County and neighboring jurisdictions. She said the center has been told it will lose roughly $90,000 from current federal grants this year and faces a potential total shortfall of about $600,000 in future cycles if other grant sources are not secured. Those cuts would reduce training, prevention and some advocacy positions, she said.
County officials and law‑enforcement partners described CFAC as integral to investigations and prosecutions of child‑abuse cases; prosecutors and sheriffs urged the court to avoid letting the center fail. Commissioners debated whether the county should cover the full projected shortfall, fund only the already‑realized cuts, structure county support as a fee‑for‑service or short‑term match, or seek proportional contributions from cities that refer cases.
Justice Armis proposed budgeting 17% of a worst‑case shortfall (based on the county’s share of cases), approximately $102,000, as a contingency. Several members urged this be treated as a short‑term stopgap and asked staff to pursue municipal partners, fee‑for‑service contracts and donor matches. The committee voted to add the amount to the budget and to send the amended budget package to the November finance review; members emphasized the intent is to fill an immediate gap while CFAC continues fundraising and grant applications.
The committee did not adopt a permanent funding commitment; several justices said they expect to revisit the item during final budget approval and encouraged CFAC to continue pursuing federal, state and philanthropic remedies.
