Alaska lawmakers have approved $5.5 million in child advocacy center funding, ensuring services for abused children continue statewide. The funding follows months of uncertainty after federal grants were reduced or eliminated, threatening the future of all 20 state centers.
On Friday, the Legislature’s budget conference committee agreed to allocate the money in its final budget reconciliation between the House and Senate. Representative Andy Josphson, a Democrat from Anchorage, emphasized the importance of the centers and pushed firmly to prioritize the emergency funding.
The centers had faced a $5.5 million shortfall, placing vital services for child abuse victims at risk beyond June. Mark Mukai, who leads the Alaska Children’s Alliance, expressed gratitude for the funding despite the state’s challenging budget.
The alliance supports the child advocacy center with training, guidance, and technical assistance across Alaska’s wide-ranging communities and regions. These centers provide trauma-informed interviews, forensic exams, streamlined investigations, and advocacy for child abuse victims and their families.
Mukai reported that the centers served more than 2,000 families last year, highlighting the ongoing demand for critical victim services. Current operations are funded through $10.9 million in combined state, federal, and local dollars, including independent fundraising efforts.
The state’s share now covers about half the total budget, keeping centers operational despite losing previous federal grants. Mukai also warned that another major Victims of Crime Act grant is at risk due to federal-level funding changes.
The grant administered by the US Department of Justice has been reduced due to the Trump-era decision to cancel hundreds of programs. Alaska’s congressional delegation is now under pressure to safeguard that funding stream to protect victim services statewide.
