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Children’s Justice Center reports VOCA cuts, pivots to mental-health services
Summary
Christy Pike told commissioners VOCA grant awards for FY2026–27 will be $221,993 per year (down ~15% from the request and 13% from the prior year) and that VOCA funding has declined ~41% since 2021; the CJC will reconfigure future VOCA funds to prioritize mental-health services while other local/state funds fill gaps.
Christy Pike, director of the Washington County Children’s Justice Center, told the commission that federal VOCA funding has declined substantially in recent years and that the center’s new VOCA grant for fiscal years 2026–2027 totals $221,993 per year.
"It is a 15% decrease from what we asked for and a 13% decrease from the previous year," Pike said, noting the program’s grant is "down 41% since 2021." She described how the CJC met or exceeded several prior-year goals (1,153 criminal justice information sessions against a goal of 650) while falling short on others (medical exams: 111 vs. a 125 goal; interpreter services: 119 vs. 180 goal).
Pike explained the center will reconfigure the next VOCA award to be a predominantly mental-health grant, shifting victim advocacy out of VOCA funding and adding goals around traumatic-stress screeners, therapy hours and case coordination. She warned that the state’s one-time backfill likely will not continue beyond the current year and that the county and partner agencies must identify more durable funding solutions.
Commissioners thanked Pike and the CJC staff; no formal vote was required beyond accepting the update.
