During the 2026 General Assembly Session, Senator Barbara Favola, Chair of the Virginia Commission on Youth, and Delegate Karrie Delaney, Vice-Chair, introduced budget amendments directing the Commission to examine funding and support for Virginia's Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs). The proposed amendments requested the Commission to evaluate the sustainability of existing funding sources, identify gaps in services, and explore opportunities for additional state and local support.

At its May 20, 2026 meeting, the Commission approved a study plan to review funding and support for Virginia's CACs. The study called for convening a work group of stakeholders to examine funding gaps, identify sustainable funding models, and consider incentives for local governments to provide additional support.

The 2026 Appropriation Act, Item 21, directed the Commission to develop recommendations to incentivize local governments to provide additional funding and support for CACs through partnership arrangements, including the allocation of space, administrative support, or other resources. The Appropriation Act further directed the Commission to consider potential funding through other revenue sources and report its recommendations to relevant legislative committees by November 1, 2026.

Commission on Youth staff and members conducted seven site visits to Children's Advocacy Centers across Virginia. The purpose of these visits was to gain a better understanding of how Children's Advocacy Centers operate, their funding structures, partnerships with local governments, and challenges in providing services. The site visits included Children's Advocacy Centers in Bristol, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Roanoke, Staunton, Richmond, and Prince William County.

The Commission also convened an Advisory Group of stakeholders on August 18, 2026, to review the study's findings and discuss potential recommendations. The Advisory Group included representatives from Children's Advocacy Centers, Children's Advocacy Centers of Virginia, the Virginia Department of Social Services, Commonwealth's Attorneys, law enforcement, Community Services Boards, medical and mental health professionals, local government organizations, victim advocates, and individuals with lived experience, as well as other relevant stakeholders.

As part of the study, Commission staff also surveyed Children's Advocacy Centers regarding their funding sources, local government support, and unmet needs. Staff reviewed current and historical state and federal funding sources, analyzed service data, and gathered additional perspectives from state and local agencies and Children's Advocacy Centers in other states.

Draft study findings and recommendations were presented at the Commission’s September 22, 2026 meeting. The Commission received written public comment through October 14, 2026. After receiving public comment at the October 20, 2026 meeting, the Commission on Youth approved the following recommendations:

Recommendation 1:

Introduce a budget amendment to Item 335 of the Appropriation Act to increase the General Fund (GF) appropriation and ensure a certain funding baseline going forward for Children’s Advocacy Centers. In addition to increasing the General Fund allotment, the General Assembly should prioritize balancing the current General Fund and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding structure.

Recommendation 2:

Introduce a budget amendment to Item 335 of the Appropriation Act to establish a state matching incentive, above base allocations, for Children’s Advocacy Centers that receive direct local appropriations or eligible in-kind support from the localities they serve, with local support representing at least a minimum percentage of combined state and local public support, as established by the Virginia Department of Social Services.

Direct the Virginia Department of Social Services, in coordination with the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) and the Virginia Municipal League (VML), and Children’s Advocacy Centers of Virginia (CACVA) to establish a formula for distributing the available matching funds to eligible Children’s Advocacy Centers that encourages new and increased local investment while recognizing existing local support. The Department shall report on this incentive structure to the Commission on Youth and to the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee by November 1, 2027.

Recommendation 3:

Introduce a budget amendment to Item 335 of the Appropriation Act directing the Children's Advocacy Centers of Virginia (CACVA) to work with Children’s Advocacy Centers to collect and report standardized annual performance and outcome metrics to the Virginia Department of Social Services. The Virginia Department of Social Services and Children's Advocacy Centers of Virginia (CACVA) shall work together to establish the annual performance and outcome metrics to include in this report. This recommendation would formalize the current Children’s Advocacy Centers reporting process while placing greater emphasis on measuring outcomes and system performance.

The Virginia Department of Social Services shall report the information annually to the Chairs of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services and the House Health and Human Services.

Recommendation 4:

Introduce a budget amendment to Item 335 of the Appropriation Act directing the Virginia Department of Social Services, in direct partnership with Children’s Advocacy Centers of Virginia (CACVA), to convene a Children’s Advocacy Centers formula review committee. Currently, Virginia's funding distribution formula is codified in Item 335, establishing fixed percentages.

The Committee shall evaluate the current funding distribution model to address:

• Recommendations to update formula metrics to better reflect core service demands, including unduplicated children served, forensic interview volume, mental health therapy hours provided, active military MOUs, and geographical/rural coverage challenges.

• Recommendations to permit more flexibility in updating the formula while promoting continuity and oversight.

Included in this recommendation is one-time funding for the Department to staff and support the formula review committee. The Committee shall submit recommendations to the Commission on Youth and to the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee by November 1, 2027.

Recommendation 5:

Introduce a budget amendment to Item 492 of the Appropriation Act to allocate Commonwealth Opioid Abatement Remediation (COAR) Fund dollars to the Department of Social Services on behalf of Children’s Advocacy Centers to provide forensic interviews, trauma-informed mental health treatment, and family advocacy services for children and families impacted by parental substance use disorder and child drug endangerment from the fallout of the opioid epidemic.

Recommendation 6:

Request that the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) review state and federal grant opportunities and state victim assistance funding streams, such as VOCA funding and grants related to sexual assault services, for opportunities to support Children’s Advocacy Centers.

Recommendation 7:

Request that the Virginia Department of Social Services explore whether training, service, or administrative costs related to the Children’s Advocacy Center model are eligible for federal Title IV-E reimbursement, and work with Children’s Advocacy Centers of Virginia (CACVA) to provide guidance to Children’s Advocacy Centers in drawing down available funds.

Recommendation 8:

Request that the Virginia Department of Social Services encourage and find ways to support the Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia (FACT) in partnering with Children’s Advocacy Centers of Virginia (CACVA) to expand opportunities for multidisciplinary teams to participate in training on responding to children with problematic sexual behavior. Currently FACT is piloting a train-the-trainer model and toolkit to increase access to consistent guidance, training, and evidence-based practices for PSB.

Recommendation 9:

Request that the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) work with Children's Advocacy Centers of Virginia (CACVA) to provide technical assistance, training opportunities, and guidance on Medicaid billing for eligible clinical and mental health services to Children’s Advocacy Centers. Guidance should include information on applicable provider enrollment, licensure, credentialing, and billing requirements for medical and behavioral health services.

Recommendation 10:

Request the Virginia Commission on Youth to convene a stakeholder work group to examine models for expanding Children’s Advocacy Centers’ access to Virginia's underserved and rural areas. The work group should look at how to establish a state-administered Seed and Expansion Grant Program to cover initial start-up costs, to establish satellite centers, or new Children’s Advocacy Centers in unserved jurisdictions.

Recommendation 11:

Request the Virginia Commission on Youth to study § 18.2-67.9 of the Code of Virginia regarding testimony by child victims and witnesses using two-way closed-circuit television to evaluate age restrictions and potential barriers to its effectiveness in being used in situations where a child has been impacted by trauma.