Facing budget shortfalls that threaten their survival, New York’s child advocacy centers are urgently pleading with Governor Kathy Hochul to restore funding before an Oct. 1 deadline forces them to shut their doors to victims of abuse.
On Friday, Aug. 21, Senate Republicans sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul asking for increased funding for the impacted rape crisis centers, domestic violence centers and child advocacy centers as well as to provide them with a “more stable and predictable funding stream.”
Several of these centers, which receive most of their funding from grants through the federal Victims of Crime Act Victim Assistance Program, are in danger of needing to slash their services or even close, lawmakers say. According to the New York State Children’s Alliance, this funding represents more than half of the operating budget of 36% of the state’s child advocacy centers and between 25% and 45% of the budgets of another 40% of the centers.
“The current competitive procurement process creates fiscal uncertainty for these centers and makes it difficult for them to plan for staffing and maintain critical services,” the letter reads. “When it comes to services provided to our most vulnerable populations, we must ensure a stable, dedicated and fair funding stream.”
Here’s what to know.
Six child advocacy centers in New York denied funding
The letter follows efforts to draw the governor’s attention to this issue in both Canandaigua and Corning earlier in the week, which were led by Sen. Tom O’Mara, R-Elmira, Sen. Pam Helming, R-Canandaigua, and Assemblymember Phil Palmesano, R-Corning.
Specifically hard hit, they say, will be the state’s child advocacy centers, which investigate child abuse allegations and provide help to child abuse victims, as around $6.9 million will be cut from them statewide, and if the funding isn’t restored by October 1, the programs and services these centers provide will end.
Of the state’s 48 child advocacy centers, 36 applied for funding and six were denied funding, as first reported by City & State, including the Steuben County Child Advocacy Center and the Child Advocacy Center of the Finger Lakes.
“Each year, the Child Advocacy Center of the Finger Lakes serves hundreds of child victims across Ontario, Seneca and Yates counties,” says Ashley Davoli, director of the Child Advocacy Center of the Finger Lakes.
“Our funding may end on September 30, but sadly child abuse will not end on October 1,” Davoli added. “New York must not wait until this system is dismantled to recognize its value to the children, families and communities we serve.”
Lawmakers say the Finger Lakes region alone could lose more than $1.49 million and the funding cuts the Chemung/Schuyler Child Advocacy Center is expected to face will result in the elimination of services in Schuyler County.
In Broome County, their Crime Victims Assistance Center, which operates two child advocacy centers in the county, expects to see a 70% funding cut as a result, previous Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin reporting revealed.
Applicants were notified about their tentative grant awards in July and the awards need to be reviewed by the Comptroller’s Office before they are made official. According to City & State, that review had not been completed as of Aug. 17. The funding cycle runs over two years from Oct. 1, 2026 through Sept. 30, 2028.
What is the Hochul administration saying about the cuts?
Senate Republicans are putting the blame on Hochul and sharing concerns over this year’s state budget not sufficiently covering the funding needs of the state’s centers.
“Under Governor Hochul’s watch, the New York State budget has skyrocketed. State spending increased by more than $23 billion in this year’s state budget alone,” a joint statement by O’Mara and Palmesano says. “We can’t prioritize funding for child victims of sex crimes? We put them at risk and further traumatize them?”
“It makes no sense, it’s inexcusable, and Governor Hochul should immediately restore whatever funding is necessary,” the legislators’ statement continues. “It’s not a matter of a lack of money. It’s a matter of lack of priorities.”
In a statement provided to the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin on Tuesday, Aug. 18, OVS spokesperson Janine Kava said the office received “an unprecedented response” to its 2026 request for applications to fund victim assistance programs statewide — 316 applicants sought $626.1 million over two years, which exceeded the funding available by $373.1 million.
Federal Victims of Crime Act funding varies from year to year and the state allocated $52.8 million to add to the $73.7 million in federal funding. According to OVS, this is the first time the office has had to limit funding through the RFA for criminal justice agencies to shift the focus to community-based organizations.
Hochul’s office has not immediately responded to the USA TODAY Network’s request for comment.
Contributing: Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin reporter Kalyn Grant
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers’ taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Dozens of NY child advocacy centers face severe cuts due to grant denials
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Emily Barnes, New York State Team | USA TODAY Network
