We’re on a mission to fully fund Virginia Children’s Advocacy Centers.
Did you know?
Child sexual abuse is the ONLY crime in Virginia that the state does NOT pay 100% of the cost of the investigation.
This short video shows what CACs do
Here is a breakdown of each crime and the percentage of the investigation funded by Virginia:
Murder 100%
Robbery 100%
Tax Evasion 100%
Assault 100%
Vandalism 100%
Child Rape 30%
There is a serious gap in how Virginia addresses child sexual abuse.
When a child is raped or abused, they must undergo what’s called a forensic interview at a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). These interviews are often the only form of evidence available to prosecute offenders and protect victims.
Forensic evidence such as fingerprints, DNA, and bullet fragments are fully funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Yet, forensic interviews—arguably the most critical form of evidence in child abuse cases—receive only about 30% of their funding from the state.
As a result, CAC staff—after spending their days listening to devastating, heartbreaking accounts from children—are forced to spend their evenings and weekends fundraising just to keep their doors open.
To make matters worse, roughly 20% of Virginia’s population has no access to a CAC at all. These children are left without the vital services they deserve.
It is time for the Commonwealth to fully fund these centers and support the professionals who conduct forensic interviews at the request of government agencies.
When a child is sexually abused, their words become the evidence.
When a child is sexually abused, their words become the evidence.
Forensic interviews are not a privilege. They are a right.
Forensic interviews are not a privilege. They are a right.
Virginia CACs conduct over 6,000 forensic interviews per year
Virginia CACs conduct over 6,000 forensic interviews per year
The solution
We are asking the Virginia General Assembly to include in their biannual budget, which they will be adopting Spring of 2026, to include:
Increase the funding from $7 million to $20 Million & pay for it by one or all of the following funding sources:
1. Increasing the vape tax . (Section 58.1-1021.02)
2. Increasing the traffic misdemeanor fee from $51 to $75 . The $51 fee has not been increased since 1995. Adjusted for inflation, it would be $108 today. Moving uip to $75 and giving the $24 to CACs makes sense and would provide the needed funding.
(Section 16.1-69.48:1)
3. Increasing the general fund portion.
4. Increasing the TANF fund portion.
These kids are often the only witness to the crime. The abuse they receive can take place over years which makes typical physical evidence unhelpful.
If someone shoots a kid in Virginia, the state will pay for the investigation. But when someone rapes a kid, the state only covers 30%. The CAC has to do bake sales to cover the remaining 70%.
How you can help
Delegates & Senators
We need Virginia delegates and senators to join in the cause. Show your delegate this page, ask them to submit a budget amendment calling for $20M in funding for CACs.
Concerned Citizens
Contact your state delegates and senators. You can find their emails here:
Delegates Senators
Send them an email stating words to the following:
”Please support the full funding of Virginia’s Children’s Advocacy Centers. Child Forensic Interviews are an integral part of any investigation into child sexual abuse. These centers should not be expected to fundraise in order to provide these services.
Please fully fund the existing 19 CACs and the 20% of the state that do not have access to these services.”
Media, Bloggers and Podcasts
Help us spread the word. Brett is available for any podcast any time. Interviews of all types are welcome. Go to your local CAC and interview them.