National Children’s Advocacy Center Awarded $4.25 Million in Grants from Department of Justice

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Department of Justice has awarded grants totaling $4,250,000 to the National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC), announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and NCAC Executive Director, Chris Newlin.

“I am proud to announce that the NCAC has received these grants for its important work on behalf of children in Madison County, the Southern Region of the United States, and throughout our nation,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said.  “These grants are vital in sustaining this center’s mission to continue to provide training and support to professionals dedicated to responding to child abuse throughout our nation.  I am thankful for the ongoing partnership with the NCAC as we work together to provide a safer future for children.” 

“We are so thankful for the continuing support from the Department of Justice and our partnership with U.S. Attorney Escalona,” said Chris Newlin. “This grant will provide critical training and support to equip child abuse response professionals and their multidisciplinary teams with the knowledge and skills to be the steadfast guardians of our children's safety, ensuring a brighter tomorrow for all."

The NCAC is receiving the funding through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) grant program.  The NCAC was awarded $1,250,000 for the Fiscal Year 2023 Victims of Child Abuse Act Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers Program and $3 million for the Fiscal Year 2023-2025 Victims of Child Abuse Act and Training and Technical Assistant for Child Abuse Professionals. 

Under the Victims of Child Abuse Act Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers Program grant, the NCAC operates the Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center program which provides coordinated, strategic training and technical assistance, and resources to state chapters, other Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC), and multidisciplinary teams within the southern census region of the United States. The Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center was formed in 1995 and supports more than 41% of the 1,000+ CACs currently operating throughout the United States which served more than 380,494 youth in 2022. 

Under the Training and Technical Assistance for Child Abuse Professionals grant, the NCAC will continue to provide model training programs and support for federal, state, tribal and local professionals who assist in the multidisciplinary response to child abuse victims. The grant allows NCAC to continue to provide significant free virtual training through its Virtual Training Center, and continue operating the renowned Child Abuse Library Online^TM (CALiO^TM) which is the largest digital library for child abuse resources in the world.

The NCAC exists to champion and strengthen the global response to child abuse and give every child the best chance at life, safe from abuse. A global leader and changemaker, the NCAC provides hope, healing, and justice for children through global training for child abuse professionals, community-based child abuse prevention strategies, and a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse that includes forensic interviews, medical and mental health services, and family advocacy. Give every child the best chance at life at www.nationalcac.org.