Child Advocacy Center Services (CACS) Grant Program

The Child Advocacy Center Services (CACS) Grant Program, administered by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP) of Maryland, offers continuation funding for accredited or accreditation-seeking Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) across the state. The initiative is designed to support the coordinated investigation and response to child abuse and neglect by uniting professionals and agencies into a cohesive, child-focused, multidisciplinary team. The primary objective of the CACS program is to minimize trauma for child victims by improving service delivery through collaborative practices among law enforcement, social services, mental health professionals, and others involved in child welfare. The CACS program is anchored in Maryland’s legislative support, with enabling statutes ensuring that allocated funds supplement—rather than supplant—existing revenue sources. This legislative mandate underscores the state’s commitment to strengthening child protection infrastructures while preserving existing local resources. Funds awarded through this program are designated to help CACs meet both national and statewide accreditation standards, as defined by the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) and Maryland Children’s Alliance (MCA). To qualify, applicants must be accredited by the NCA or actively pursuing accreditation and must also be members of the MCA. Only current SFY 2026 subrecipients are eligible for the continuation opportunity. The anticipated total available funding for SFY 2027 is $300,000, with a maximum of 25 awards, each not exceeding $12,000. These funds may be used for a range of expenses including personnel, equipment, travel, operating costs, contractual services, and other eligible expenditures necessary to operate or enhance the services of CACs. Funding is contingent on final legislative approval of the GOCPP’s budget. The award period spans from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, and all expenditures must be reimbursed quarterly, meaning organizations must have the capacity to front costs prior to reimbursement. The application process is exclusively online through the state’s Grant Management System (GMS). Applicants must be registered GMS users by April 10, 2026. Required application components include a face sheet, project summary, abbreviated narrative, goals and objectives, data collection and sustainability plans, grant personnel details, full budget and spending plan, and proof of nonprofit status and SAM.gov registration. A new addition for this cycle is the Organizational Capacity Questionnaire (OCQ), to be completed via a Qualtrics link. Required uploads include lobbying and assurance certifications, financial reporting documentation, and Equal Employment Opportunity forms. Applications are due by April 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Awards are expected to be announced in June 2026, with subaward implementation beginning in July. Applicants are encouraged to review technical training resources on the GOCPP website, and additional support is available from the assigned grant monitor and funding manager. Notably, abbreviated narrative responses are permitted for continuation funding applicants and must strictly adhere to word limits and formatting standards. The evaluation process includes a review of programmatic alignment, technical completeness, and performance history. This funding opportunity recurs annually, with NOFA and application release typically occurring in February and April, respectively. As such, eligible applicants are advised to prepare early for future cycles. Additional resources and guidance for applicants—including access to best practices, crime statistics, and civil rights compliance—are made available through the GOCPP website and partnering agencies.