With reports of child abuse rising in some areas, federal funding for centers and nonprofits that support victims of crime is decreasing, prompting some who serve on the front lines assisting victims to alert the public to what they call a serious situation.

The U.S. Crime Victims Fund was established by the Victims of Crimes Act, or VOCA, in 1984. Its first major drop in funding came in 2016 when it fell from about $12 billion to $9 billion. It then increased to $13 billion in 2017, but has headed downhill from there, showing about $1 billion for 2024, according to the Office for Victims of Crime.

“We have advocates who are advocating against any kind of cuts and saying 'why? Why is this being cut? Where is the money going?' Right?" said Dianne Stancato, CEO of the YWCA Mohawk Valley.

The YWCA Mohawk Valley runs the Herkimer County Child Advocacy Center.

“In 2023, 308 cases, new cases, we had of child sexual assault, or severe abuse; 308 cases and over 550 instances of service. So that could be wraparound services like therapies and court advocacy," she said.

If major cuts to the Crime Victims Fund continue and the gaps are not met, Stancato said she isn't sure if the Herkimer County Child Advocacy Center could continue to exist.

Aside from their CAC work, the YWCA Mohawk Valley helped 1,300 new individuals in 2023. That work also relies on federal funding.

“We have the relationships and the expertise to help victims become survivors, to help these children work through their trauma and become good citizens as they grow up, and be able to contribute to society instead of being frozen in trauma,” Stancato said.

The Oneida County Child Advocacy Center receives strong support from their county, its director says. But still, he recognizes the importance of federal funds.

“The ultimate loser would be the children, particularly in child advocacy centers that rely heavily on funding from that VOCA funds source,” said Chief Derrick O'Meara, the director of the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center.

The state's Office of Victims Services' website notes that the Victim and Witness Assistance Unit (Grants Unit) administers the federal VOCA funds to not-for-profit and municipal agencies in New York state that serve crime victims. In other words, the state distributes the federal funding.

According to the state Division of Budget, child advocacy centers receive funding through the state Office of Children and Family Services and the state Office of Victim Services. OVS funds 239 victim assistance programs, including 40 child advocacy centers. The agency is administering $373.2 million, including $43.2 million in state funding secured by the governor, for the 239 programs, over a three-year period lasting through Sept. 30, 2025. "No victim assistance program, including child advocacy centers, have received any reduction in the first two years of their current contracts and Governor Hochul’s $20M investment (if included in the enacted budget) will ensure that does not happen in the third year. All programs currently funded will be fully funded for the third and final year of their contract with OVS.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing $120 million in victim assistance funding, money to help cover federal cuts.

“That's great news, yes, yes," Stancato said. "We just have to get that voted on in the budget. Right? So because it's imperative that we have funding, and what I think people need to remember is that we're boots on the ground. So we serve women, families, children in the YWCA and many, many other ways.”

According to the federal Office for Victims of Crime, the Crime Victims Fund is not paid by tax dollars. It is financed by fines and fees from federal cases.

Spectrum News 1 reached out to representatives of numerous federal leaders from New York state. Only a few responded.

It was noted that Reps. Elise Stefanik and Claudia Tenney supported an act referred to as the “VOCA Fix.” Among other things, it requires monetary penalties from federal deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements to go into the Crime Victims Fund.

Rep. Marc Molinaro said there should be tougher prosecutions for violent offenders – which would lead to more funding. He also wants a more reliable funding stream to ensure support for victims.

This story was updated Friday with information from the state Budget Division.