In April, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) joins communities nationwide in observing National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
"This National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we commit to empowering every child in America to lead a fulfilling life of dignity and love—and we pledge to bring every abuser, predator, and evildoer who threatens the health and safety of our children to swift justice."
—President Donald J. Trump
OJJDP continues to provide significant support for the investigation, prosecution, and intervention of child abuse through training to law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and child abuse professionals and enhancing services for child victims. In fiscal year (FY) 2024, OJJDP made the following awards to support programs, projects, and training that address child abuse.
- More than $37.3 million was awarded to support Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) programs. CACs coordinate the investigation, prosecution, and treatment of child abuse cases using multidisciplinary, trauma-informed teams of professionals from child protective and victim advocacy services, law enforcement and prosecution, and the medical and mental health fields. This funding includes:
- Approximately $29.2 million to the Children's Advocacy Centers National Subgrants Programs to support local CACs and state chapters,
- More than $4.4 million to the Regional Children's Advocacy Centers Program,
- $3 million to the Children's Advocacy Centers Membership and Accreditation Program, and
- $675,000 to support Tribal Children's Advocacy Centers Training and Technical Assistance.
- More than $25.3 million was awarded for the National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. CASA volunteers are trained and appointed by the family or juvenile court to advocate for the best interests of children who have been victims of abuse or neglect. They support the goal of achieving safe, stable, and permanent homes for these children. These volunteers ensure that judges have the information needed to make the best decisions for each child.
- Approximately $3 million supports Child Abuse Training for Judicial and Court Personnel. The project aims to improve the judicial system’s handling of child abuse, neglect, and related cases, with specific emphasis on the role of the courts in addressing reasonable efforts that can safely avoid unnecessary foster care placement.
- $2 million supports Child Victimization and Juvenile Justice Prosecution Training and Technical Assistance Program that will improve the investigation and prosecution of child victimization while in custody of the juvenile justice or child welfare systems.
- More than $39.9 million was awarded under the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC) and its 61 coordinated task forces nationwide to support training, technological investigations, online child protection systems, and other capabilities to protect child from sexual predators. ICAC investigates, prosecutes, and develops effective responses to Internet crimes against children.
- Approximately $42.8 million supports the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to help families of missing and exploited children and the professionals who serve them. NCMEC is an information clearinghouse and resource center for families of missing and exploited children.
Training and Technical Assistance
- OJJDP Training and Technical Assistance
- OJJDP TTA 360
- Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance
Resources
Page updated for 2025