Awards for the Establishment, Improvement, and Expansion of Children’s Advocacy Centers – Equipment and Technology Support Program

The Awards for the Establishment, Improvement, and Expansion of Children’s Advocacy Centers – Equipment and Technology Support program is administered by the National Children’s Alliance (NCA), a nonprofit membership organization that serves as the accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) across the United States. NCA operates under a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and has historically managed significant federal funding to support the development and strengthening of CACs nationwide. Through this program, NCA distributes federal subgrants to local entities to enhance coordinated responses to child abuse through multidisciplinary collaboration. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support CACs in acquiring or upgrading critical equipment and technology that improves service delivery to child abuse victims. Eligible projects focus on enhancing medical examinations, forensic interviewing, case review capabilities, victim advocacy services, mental health treatment delivery, and overall operational infrastructure. The program prioritizes investments in hardware, software, and related services that directly contribute to improved outcomes for children and families. Allowable expenditures include specialized forensic equipment, digital evidence management systems, telehealth platforms, and operational software systems. However, certain items such as general furniture and standalone supplies are explicitly unallowable, and all purchases must be consolidated within vendor invoices. Funding for this opportunity is provided through the OJJDP Children’s Advocacy National Subgrant Program and is subject to federal regulations, including the Department of Justice Grants Financial Guide and applicable uniform administrative requirements. All grants are issued on a reimbursement basis, requiring recipients to document and verify expenditures prior to reimbursement. The total available funding exceeds $20 million, although individual award amounts may vary depending on funding availability and application quality. Each awarded project must be completed within a strict performance period of no more than 180 days, with no extensions permitted. Eligibility for this program is limited to organizations that are directly involved in the Children’s Advocacy Center model. This includes accredited CACs, associate or developing CACs, affiliate and satellite CACs, multidisciplinary teams operating in areas without established CACs, and entities actively working to establish a CAC. Applicants must be public entities or private nonprofit organizations and must meet federal requirements such as maintaining an active System for Award Management registration and providing accurate organizational and financial information. Additional requirements apply to ensure applicants are in good standing with prior NCA funding and reporting obligations. Applications must be submitted through the NCA online application portal, and the program operates on a rolling submission and review process. The application window opened on June 30, 2025, and closes on June 30, 2026, or earlier if funds are exhausted. NCA reviews applications on a rolling basis and aims to complete evaluations within approximately 90 days, although timelines may vary. Applicants may be allowed to revise and resubmit an application if it is initially deemed ineligible. Award notifications are delivered electronically, and recipients must not incur expenses until formal approval and budget authorization are granted. The evaluation process is based primarily on two criteria: the strength of the applicant’s needs statement and project design, which accounts for 70 percent of the score, and the completeness and cost-effectiveness of the proposed budget, which accounts for 30 percent. Additional considerations include geographic diversity, service to underserved populations, and alignment with program priorities. Successful applicants must comply with all federal and NCA requirements, including financial management standards, reporting obligations, and programmatic guidelines. The program is expected to continue making awards on a rolling basis until all funds are distributed, with future funding cycles dependent on continued federal appropriations and program demand.

Ensure budget is cost effective and aligns with project needs; clearly justify equipment necessity and impact; follow all allowable cost rules