Child Advocacy Center Start-Up Funding

The Child Advocacy Center Start-Up Funding grant is administered by the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund (OCTF), a state-level agency responsible for supporting efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect across Ohio. Authorized under Section 3109.178 of the Ohio Revised Code, this grant program offers one-time funding to support the creation of new Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs). The initiative aligns with OCTF’s mission to bolster systems that safeguard children through the provision of collaborative and child-focused services. The purpose of the grant is to aid in the establishment of new CACs by offering up to $5,000 in start-up support to eligible applicants. These funds are designed to offset the early costs of creating a centralized, child-friendly environment where multidisciplinary teams can collaboratively assess cases of suspected child abuse or neglect. The model ensures that children are not further traumatized by being moved between multiple service providers or locations during investigative procedures. Applicants must meet strict eligibility criteria to qualify. They must have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in place to establish a CAC per ORC 2151.426, an interagency agreement outlining the roles of participating agencies per ORC 2151.428, a fiscal agent agreement, and a primary prevention service plan as per ORC 3109.13(B). Additionally, applicants must not currently operate as a CAC nor hold accreditation from the National Children’s Alliance. Verification documents for each of these requirements must be submitted as part of the application. The funding is non-renewable and provided only once to each eligible applicant. Funds must be used for establishing and operating a CAC, and grantees are required to embed a primary prevention strategy into their long-term business plan. This ensures the funded centers not only respond to existing cases but also engage proactively in preventing future abuse through community education and outreach efforts. Applications are due by December 2, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The anticipated project start date is December 1, 2025, with the performance period ending June 30, 2026. The total program budget is $300,000, which could support up to 60 grantees if fully utilized. The program is not recurring and is based solely on current fund availability. Questions regarding this funding opportunity should be directed to the Division of Children and Youth at Procurement_Inquiries@childrenandyouth.ohio.gov. Interested applicants must register on the Ohio Grants Portal before applying. Required materials include executed agreements, statements of eligibility, and a primary prevention plan. The full RFGA and supporting templates are available for download through the portal.

Ensure all required agreements are included and signed to avoid disqualification.