Local non-profit seeks community’s help to continue caring for child victims of abuse

When the Alaska State Troopers, Office of Children’s Services (OCS), Child Protective Services (CPS) or other agency reports a case involving the physical or sexual abuse, or neglect of children, unique and specialized care is needed to handle the specialized care needed to help the child. Here in the Mat-Su Borough, The Children’s Place in Wasilla is called upon to help provide that care.

The Children’s Place is a Child Advocacy Center (CAC) specializing in assessments, advocacy, and therapy services for abused and neglected children, providing a child-friendly, safe, and neutral location where law enforcement and CPS investigators conduct interviews with children who are alleged victims of crimes and receive support, crisis intervention, and referrals for treatment.

The staff that work there ensure that nearly all aspects of care for the child is met at one safe location, conducting forensic interviews, forensic medical exams, while the working together to provide support, crisis intervention, and referrals for mental health treatment.

The work is unique, but vital to AST and other law enforcement agencies to provide the best possible outcomes for the child.

But Michelle Sturgeon, the Executive Director at The Children’s Place, is worried about the future of the center as the staff waits for Governor Mike Dunleavy to either sign or veto legislation that fund the CACs.

Alaska’s 20 centers were in limbo, facing a $5.5 million shortfall after federal grants were ended or cut, as well as uncertainty over whether operations and services would continue past June. The Alaska Legislature recently approved state funding for child advocacy centers, filling the gap and provide $5.5 million in state funding.

In Alaska, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides some funding for child advocacy centers through a mix of federal and state resources. Sturgeon says that there were rumblings that funding would be cut from TANF from the CAC grant, and they have been educating and preparing for this, going to Juneau to inform legislators of the shortfall. “Everyone had all this advance notice that this cliff was coming, and this is the year we made the ask…and it is literally to fill in this gap.”

While the Alaska Legislature voted to approve the final operating budget on May 20, it is now up to the Governor, who will issue budget vetoes of individual line items before July 1.

“In the event the Governor vetoes the funding, we stand to lose $275,000 that pays for our staff,” says Sturgeon, who explains that only the staff would be at risk as it is a direct service. “For The Children’s Place a non-profit that has been here since 1999 providing the services at no cost to the community, it would be devastating.”

CACs are part of the state statute, meaning that they are mandated to exist, and were previously funded out of the state’s general fund before using other sources and TANF to help backfill funding, but as Sturgeon explained, it was not a good fit for TANF as child advocacy centers serve children of every demographic while TANF was created to help needy Alaskan families with dependent children, specifically, families who are unable to meet their basic needs and who are not eligible for assistance from Native Family Assistance Programs.

Advocates say that additional state funding is essential for child advocacy centers to replace federal funding cuts and grants running out in the coming fiscal year, which lasts from July 2025 to June 2026.

Sturgeon says that while the immediate care and assistance to children is a primary mission, The Children’s Place also continues support and advocacy throughout the entire process of, they also train

“It makes no sense to line-item veto such a vital service.”

“We’re really blessed, we’re really fortunate to have had a lot of community support,” says Dr. Catherine Baldwin-Johnson, Medical Director of The Children’s Place. She says that while the community comes through with fundraisers, a shortfall of $275,000 is going to be really difficult to overcome.

What they are asking for is the community to take a turn in advocating by calling and emailing the Governor’s office to support the CACs and not veto the funding.

“Funding is crucial. Everybody’s impacted by the work we do, that all CACs do,” says Sturgeon.

If people wish to call the Governor’s office, please dial (907) 465-3500. To contact the office, please visit www.gov.alaska.gov/contact/email-the-governor/