Bill Overview
Title: Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2022
Description: This bill reauthorizes for FY2022-FY2028 and otherwise revises grants for local and regional children's advocacy centers (CACs). CACs coordinate a multidisciplinary response to child abuse.
Sponsors: Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-16]
Target Audience
Population: Children who are victims of abuse
Estimated Size: 656000
- Children who are victims of abuse will be directly impacted as they are the primary beneficiaries of the services provided by CACs.
- CACs provide a coordinated multidisciplinary response to child abuse cases, enhancing support and protection for affected children.
- Reauthorization of the Act ensures continued funding and support for CACs, thus maintaining or potentially increasing their reach and effectiveness.
Reasoning
- The policy targets a very specific group: children who are victims of abuse. It's critical to interview a range of individuals to understand diverse impacts, including those not directly in the target group.
- Some individuals may work in professions that intersect with CACs, like social workers or law enforcement, and their views reflect the systemic impact of the policy.
- Community members may indirectly feel the effects of improved CACs, noting changes in social services or community health.
- Children who have experienced CAC services provide insight into the direct benefits expected from the continued and improved funding under the Act.
- Ensure representation from both urban and rural settings, as the accessibility and impact of CACs can differ significantly depending on location.
Simulated Interviews
Child Protection Social Worker (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The reauthorization of the Act is crucial to maintain and enhance the resources available to us as social workers.
- CACs provide essential support by coordinating multidisciplinary teams, which makes our jobs more effective.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Police Officer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With increased support for CACs, we expect faster response times and more effective case resolutions.
- CACs help reduce the burden on law enforcement by handling sensitive cases with appropriate care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Child Psychologist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reauthorization means continued funding, preventing disruptions in service for vulnerable children.
- Allows us to expand our psychological support services through better coordination.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Retired Teacher (Austin, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The Act supports essential services necessary for the well-being of children.
- Communities benefit indirectly from better services for affected children.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Parent (Rural Kansas)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better funding for CACs can directly benefit foster parents by providing additional resources.
- In rural areas, resource constraints are significant; enhanced CAC service access would be beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 10 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I felt good going to the center because people were nice and helped me feel safe.
- Having places like CACs is important because I get support for what happened to me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
High School Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 18 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- CACs provided me with a lot of support when I needed it, and keeping them funded is important.
- This policy will help other kids like me feel protected and heard.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Non-profit Manager (Boston, MA)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- CACs are essential infrastructure for child protection services and deserve the reauthorization.
- Stable funding means we can anticipate and plan for long-term service provision.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Retired Social Worker (Rural Alabama)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy's reauthorization reassures us that our communities can continue to rely on these critical services.
- For rural communities, CACs are a lifeline which, if improved, could greatly enhance service quality.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Child Welfare Caseworker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- CACs are pivotal in reducing the trauma kids experience during investigations thanks to multidisciplinary teams.
- Support for the Act means these centers will keep improving and expanding to better serve the children.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $80000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $85000000)
Year 2: $82000000 (Low: $77000000, High: $87000000)
Year 3: $84000000 (Low: $79000000, High: $89000000)
Year 5: $88000000 (Low: $83000000, High: $93000000)
Year 10: $96000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $102000000)
Year 100: $220000000 (Low: $210000000, High: $230000000)
Key Considerations
- The need for CACs is directly tied to ongoing instances of child abuse, requiring sustained funding.
- Inflation will affect funding adequacy over the years, necessitating periodic revisions of grant sizes.
- Reauthorization ensures continuity of care and stability in the services offered, critical for victim recovery and community trust.