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: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Target Audience
Population: Children who are victims of abuse
Estimated Size: 600000
- Children who are victims of abuse are directly served by children's advocacy centers (CACs), which are funded by grants authorized by this bill.
- CACs work with multidisciplinary teams, so professionals like social workers, law enforcement, medical professionals, and legal advocates who assist in child abuse cases will be impacted by the funding and enhancements to CACs.
- Families of child abuse victims will also be affected as they interact with and receive support from CACs and the services they provide.
- Communities where CACs operate may see improved reporting and handling of child abuse cases, leading to broader social benefits.
Reasoning
- The Children Advocacy Centers (CACs) are mainly located in urban and suburban areas with higher density populations and more reported child abuse cases, affecting a significant number of victims and professionals involved.
- The policy is not universal as it targets specific facilities and geographic regions, focusing on areas with existing CACs.
- Although the number of children directly served might be 600,000, indirect impacts reach families and the broader community, but the improvement in wellbeing will be most notable among direct beneficiaries.
- Given the budget and target population, not every child abuse victim might benefit equally, which means the policy's impact may vary – some individuals will experience noticeable improvements in their wellbeing, while others might see limited changes.
Simulated Interviews
Social Worker (San Diego, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a social worker, I see firsthand how much of a difference CACs make in the lives of affected children and families.
- With more funding, we'll be able to handle more cases and ensure every child gets the attention they deserve.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Detective (Chicago, IL)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The additional funding means we can work more closely with other agencies to follow up on cases efficiently.
- There's always a backlog; more resources mean faster closure on some of these critical cases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Medical Professional (Austin, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We'll be able to provide better medical facilities and more comprehensive examinations for each case.
- The reauthorization ensures sustainability for these services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Legal Advocate (Memphis, TN)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Continued funding means we can expand legal assistance to more families.
- Without this, many cases remain unresolved or families lack necessary support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Parent (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm grateful for the CAC support, and knowing more families can get help is vital.
- It's personal for me – I've seen progress in my child's recovery because of these services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 1 |
Teacher (Ann Arbor, MI)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- CACs are crucial; funding them means my students can access resources they desperately need.
- Without them, some kids would just fall through the cracks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Community Volunteer (New York, NY)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This funding is a win for our advocacy efforts, showing our work pays off.
- Hopefully, it's enough to expand the center's outreach.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired (Topeka, KS)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see how the CAC helps the neighborhood, promoting safer communities.
- More funds mean more safety and care, which is good for everyone.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Lawyer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The funding can cover gaps in our assistance and we can manage more cases with thoroughness.
- Each child deserves proper representation and this helps ensure that.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 15 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing my sibling is getting help is a big relief for our family.
- Hope more kids' siblings can feel that relief with extra funding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $155000000 (Low: $105000000, High: $205000000)
Year 3: $160000000 (Low: $110000000, High: $210000000)
Year 5: $170000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $220000000)
Year 10: $190000000 (Low: $140000000, High: $240000000)
Year 100: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Key Considerations
- The program's impact on reducing unreported abuse cases and providing comprehensive care to address trauma.
- The necessity for collaboration among various professional sectors like healthcare, legal, and social services to effectively implement the CAC model.
- Sustaining funding levels to ensure long-term improvements in child welfare and safety.
- Quantification of indirect societal benefits is complex but crucial for understanding broader fiscal impacts.