Project/Program Description:
Please be sure to include the title of the project/program, population(s) served, objective in designing project/program and costs to include sources of financing.
· The Children’s Advocacy Center in Dillsboro, Indiana was awarded $426,793 in Community Focus Fund (CDBG) in late 2010.
· The number of proposed LMI- Limited Clientele beneficiaries at application was 384 per year with 100% being Low/Mod.
· The number of actual beneficiaries in 2013 was 480.
· Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) uses a multidisciplinary team, child centered approach to investigations of child abuse. The core mission of every CAC is to reduce the trauma suffered by alleged victims of child abuse. This approach improves the efficiency and efficacy of these difficult investigations which results in a higher rate of charges filed, successful prosecutions and criminal confessions. CAC services also receive higher rates of caregiver and child satisfaction. This system improves the safety of the residents and is beneficial to communities.
· Grant funds were used for the purchase and renovation of an existing building with the purpose of creating a Child Advocacy Center in Dillsboro, Indiana. The beneficiaries served are child victims of various types of abuse - sexual, physical and mental. There was previously no facility in southeastern Indiana and victims were required to travel to Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Louisville for services (all 1-2 hours away).
· CDBG Funds: $426,793
· Local Funds: $65,289
· Philanthropic Funds: $37,045
Funding Sources:
Please detail specific funding sources and programs, including federal, state, local, tax credits (which type?), and private/foundation or community funding. In describing this, include percentages (for each funding source) of entire project budget. Also, include the beginning date of the program/project, as well as the lifespan of the project. Please discuss sustainability of the project.
CDBG Funds / $426,793 / 81%
Local Funds / $65,289 / 12%
Philanthropic Funds / $37,045 / 7%
Total / $529,127
o The project received matching funds from: the Rising Sun Regional Foundation- $50,000 (Ohio County); Dearborn County Foundation- $10,000 (Dearborn County); Community Foundation of Switzerland County- $8,334 (Switzerland County); Vevay/Switzerland County Foundation- $9,000 (Switzerland County) and Ohio County Council (Ohio County)- $25,000. The agency also received “start-up” funding from: National Children’s Alliance Non-Member Program Development grant (Washington D.C.); City of Rising Sun (Ohio County); Decatur County Council; Switzerland County Council; Ripley County Community Foundation (Ripley County); Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County; the Indiana Department of Child Services; The American Bar Association (through Indiana DCS).
At MonitoringCDBG Funds / $426,793 / 79%
Local Funds / $69,613 / 13%
Philanthropic Funds / $41,517 / 8%
Total / $537,923
o Additional local funds required were raised by the Children’s Advocacy Center
· Dates
o Application received: August 7, 2009
o Award Letter date: September 21, 2009
o Grant Executed: November 30, 2009
o Environmental Date: October 19, 2009
o Bid Opening Date: March 11, 2010
o Release of Funds Date: April 9, 2010
o Step 1 received Date: June 9, 2011
o Date of Monitoring: July 18, 2011
· Sustainability
o Grant funding provided by the Community Focus Fund enabled the agency to purchase and remodel an existing law office which is now owned in full so there are no loan payments.
o The CAC of Southeastern Indiana provides the only CAC services in this corner of Indiana. As such, our service area has expanded into Jennings, Jackson and Bartholomew counties in Region 14 and Franklin County in Region 12. Since beginning operations in September of 2009, the agency has had a steady increase in caseload which began at about 300 cases/year and is up to about 500 cases/year.
In addition we are participating in “Outcome Measurement Surveys” provided by the National Children’s Alliance. These surveys measure caregiver, child victim and Multidisciplinary team satisfaction. The CAC of Southeastern Indiana has an average score of 3.7 out of 4.0.
Some of our narrative answers, below:
§ “The atmosphere was very warm and made our family feel safe. We are happy that a resource like this was available.”
§ “Very kid friendly our Daughter was very comfortable & happy.”
§ “Staff members were friendly and informative. Waiting room is set up well and makes children feel at home.”
Describe staffing for the program/project:
Was it integrated into existing staff, was new staff hired or did the state partner with other organizations for delivery?
· Grant funding provided by the Community Focus Fund enabled the agency to purchase and remodel an existing law office which is now owned in full so there are no loan payments.
The CAC has one central office in Dillsboro, toward the center of the region and a satellite office in Madison, to the west of the region. Staff is limited to three people who travel to the satellite office when necessary. This keeps personnel costs low while reducing the travel barrier for a substantial population (Jefferson County, the second most populated county in the region).
Please discuss the replicability of this award:
Could other states implement this program and if so, explain how? Be specific; mention partner organizations, and community organizations involved.
· While this is the first planned regional CAC in Indiana, it is a model that could be duplicated in any rural region. Pooling resources and democratically representing the area while enacting national standards of services can be transferred anywhere there is the will. Funding from the National Children’s Alliance is available to any developing CAC in the United States. Funding from the Bar Association is often available to CAC’s for recording equipment and funding from VOCA (Victims’ of Crime Act) is available to many CACs through state administered Federal funds.
Project/Program Results:
Please describe the Program/Project results using numerical milestones, such as, "154 homes were built for Veterans using this program." Please ensure that you identify the number of years the program/project has been operational and complete the accomplishment measurements that have been achieved each year of operation. (This should specify how many units, persons or other accomplishment measurement is achieved each year.)
· The CAC of Southeastern Indiana provides the only CAC services in this corner of Indiana. As such, our service area has expanded into Jennings, Jackson and Bartholomew counties in Region 14 and Franklin County in Region 12. Since beginning operations in September of 2009, the agency has had a steady increase in caseload which began at about 300 cases/year and is up to about 500 cases/year.
In addition we are participating in “Outcome Measurement Surveys” provided by the National Children’s Alliance. These surveys measure caregiver, child victim and Multidisciplinary team satisfaction. The CAC of Southeastern Indiana has an average score of 3.7 out of 4.0.
Some of our narrative answers, below:
o “The atmosphere was very warm and made our family feel safe. We are happy that a resource like this was available.”
o “Very kid friendly our Daughter was very comfortable & happy.”
o “Staff members were friendly and informative. Waiting room is set up well and makes children feel at home.”
Lessons Learned:
Please describe any lessons that developing this project taught you, again providing specific examples and details. Additionally Please be sure to include the impact on community, partnerships established, how objectives were met and sustained over the long term and how the project/program is adaptable to other communities (states).
· By pooling resources and providing a democratic representation of the region and the disciplines, the agency had regional “buy-in”. Locating the agency toward the center of the region helped equalize accessibility and reduce the travel barrier for most residents who, before creation of this agency, had to travel to Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Ohio or Louisville, Kentucky for CAC services. Having representation of members of the “multidisciplinary team” (Dept. of Child Services case managers, Detectives, Prosecution) on the board of directors helped the agency plan better for all the agency partners which helped local offices buy-into the services. This partner buy-in can be difficult for investigators who are used to their past way of investigating these difficult cases.
· Providing services in low-income sparsely populated rural regions is always a challenge. Providing services for alleged victims of child abuse is also a challenge since these cases are difficult, confidential and difficult to talk about. In addition, funding for CAC services can be challenging since this methodology is relatively new (begun in the 1980’s) and not well established in Southeastern Indiana. This combination of challenges creates a considerable barrier.