Child‑advocacy centers and domestic‑violence coalition urge $2.7 million for CACs, warn closures if not funded

Representatives of victim‑service and child‑advocacy organizations asked the Committee on General Government Budget on May 8 to restore and expand grant funding to avoid service disruptions for children and survivors across Kansas.

Michelle McCormick, executive director of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, urged the committee to support the House bill’s funding levels and to restore reappropriations for VOCA and related grants. "These agencies are providing direct services to victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence in our state," McCormick said, and noted roughly 70,000 survivors rely on services across the state each year.

Casey Dahlke, CEO of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas, said CACs saw 4,316 children and provided 6,892 services last year (a 13.9% increase statewide) and requested an additional $2.7 million to maintain services. Dahlke warned that without that funding two centers (Ottawa and Lyons/Rice/Franklin County sites were cited) would close in June, leaving children unserved and increasing delays for forensic interviews and advocacy.

Local program leaders described growing demand and staffing pressures. Judy Rodman of Sunflower House said her prevention education program grew by 152% and Sunflower’s assessment team performed 974 forensic interviews in 2025; Diana Shen of the Sedgwick County CAC said five of seven therapy positions are open and CAC grants make up roughly 32% of their operating budget.

Bridal Murphy (Sunlight Children’s Services) described emergency shelter and placement work and said her organization has provided care to more than 6,000 children across 85 counties since opening a shelter and expanding services.

Committee members acknowledged the seriousness of the testimony. Representative 16 (committee member) connected the requests to a recent child-death‑review report, emphasizing early intervention and prevention. Representative Melton noted the risks to law‑enforcement responders as part of the rationale for funding victims’ services.

Next steps: The committee will weigh the $2.7 million CAC request and VOCA/CASA reappropriation restoration as it develops the appropriations bill. Witnesses asked for timely action to prevent local closures and service interruptions.