The Children's Justice Act (CJA), authorized by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), provides grants to states to improve the investigation, prosecution, and judicial handling of cases of child abuse and neglect, particularly child sexual abuse and exploitation, in a manner that limits additional trauma to the child victim. This also includes the handling of child fatality cases in which child abuse or neglect is suspected, and in some cases, of children with disabilities and serious health problems who also are victims of abuse and neglect.
Since Fiscal Year 2000 (FY2000), $17 million in CJA funds have been made available annually from the Crime Victims Fund, which collects fines and fees charged to persons convicted of federal crimes. Allocations in the amount of $50,000 per state, plus an additional amount based on the population of children under 18 years of age in the applicant's jurisdiction, are administered by the United States Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and awarded to the Administration of Children, Youth and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS’). The GOYFF aids in the administration of dollars described above through a renewable competitive grant application process for a combined term of three (3) years. In Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), GOYFF awarded approximately $200,000 to support programs throughout the state.
If you have questions about this program or would like to be connected to grantees who are currently providing prevention and educational programming in your community, please email your name, contact information, location, and requested programming/training to Sandra Mucino, Program Administrator.