Child Advocacy Center Development Grant

The 2022-25 Child Advocacy Center Development grant is administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) through its Office of Research, Evaluation and Strategic Policy Development. The initiative is part of the Endowment Act funding stream, which allocates resources from the $48 million in NCAA monetary penalties levied on the Pennsylvania State University to support child sexual abuse prevention and response efforts across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This particular solicitation supports Category 2: Multidisciplinary Investigative Teams (MDITs), focusing on the development of National Children’s Alliance (NCA) Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) in Pennsylvania counties that do not currently have one. The grant aims to build or expand child advocacy infrastructure in underserved regions by supporting MDITs in developing fully functioning CACs. These centers are critical for providing a coordinated, trauma-informed response to child abuse through joint investigations and services from law enforcement, child welfare, victim advocacy, medical, and mental health providers. The program intends to fund five projects with awards up to $150,000 each over a three-year period, using state-level Endowment Act funds. The grant does not cover projects unrelated to the establishment or development of CACs. Eligible applicants include counties in Pennsylvania without an existing NCA-member CAC or MDIT. Applicants must submit a letter of intent from MDIT members and participate in a pre-application call with PCCD and the Pennsylvania Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers (PENNCAC). Further requirements include securing letters of endorsement from District Attorneys, law enforcement, and Children and Youth Services, as well as a letter from PENNCAC. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate the existence of a functioning MDIT and commit to pursuing NCA membership during the project period. Funding may be used for a range of eligible expenses such as furnishings, equipment, facility construction, MDIT and staff training, and a coordinator role to oversee protocol development, case review, and service tracking. All expenses must be justified in the Egrants budget detail section, and applicants are required to meet development benchmarks across all three years, as detailed in the program’s Appendix A. These include forming a leadership team, securing interagency MOUs, initiating case reviews, and ultimately applying for NCA membership and pursuing full accreditation. Applications are only accepted through the PCCD Egrants system. Prior to submission, agencies must be registered in the system and assign users with appropriate roles, including one with e-signature privileges. A successful application must include a project summary, purpose statement, detailed description, three-year budget, and required attachments. Quarterly programmatic and fiscal reporting is mandatory via Egrants, and progress is assessed through performance metrics such as number of children served, forensic interviews conducted, and therapy engagement outcomes. For assistance, applicants can contact Christina Cosgrove-Rooks at [email protected] or 717-265-8478. Technical support for the Egrants system is available through the Help Desk by phone or email. The grant application deadline is May 31, 2026, and applications are reviewed quarterly at PCCD Commission meetings. The grant is not recurring but offers structured support for long-term CAC development in line with statewide child protection goals.

Develop protocols early; include case flow, DEI planning, and interagency MOUs early in the process.