The recipient entity's physical address:
           900 Camp St #432
New Orleans, LA
70130

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           900 Camp St #432
New Orleans, LA
70130

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Wade Bond
Stacie LeBlanc
Erika Dupepe
Jessica Milan Miller, M.A., MBA
Toni Bankston

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  9783

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $2,000,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Board of Directors, Officers:

Joelle Henderson, President
1504 West Church St.
Hammond, LA 70401

Erika Dupépé, Vice President
P.O. Box 2243
Gretna, LA 70054

Kathleen Sides, Treasurer
3101 E.Causeway Approach
Mandeville, LA 70448

Kimberly Young, Secretary
P.O. Box 53967
Lafayette, LA 70505

Rob Carlisle, Member-at-Large
1504 West Church St.
Hammond, LA 70401

Board of Directors, Members:

Jennifer Graves
P.O. Box 9493
Monroe, LA 71211

Jessica Milan-Miller
1700 Buckner Square, Suite 101
Shreveport, LA 71101

Julie Olsen
115 Keating Dr.
Belle Chasse, LA 70037

Charlie Picou
1885 N. 3rd St.
Baton Rouge 70802

LACAC Staff:
Kate Shipley, Executive Director
900 Camp St #432, New Orleans, LA 70130

Sarah Landsman, Program Coordinator
900 Camp St #432, New Orleans, LA 70130

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Louisiana Alliance of Children’s Advocacy Centers (LACAC) is a non-profit organization established for the empowerment, collaboration, & advocacy of Louisiana’s 16 Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC). LACAC is the nationally recognized state chapter for Louisiana CACs, representing the independent centers. An appropriation of state funds would be distributed to the CACs for use towards their purpose as defined in The Children’s Code (Ch 2, Art 521 - Art 526), and to support general operations. A portion of state funding would be retained by LACAC to support the operations & programs of the state chapter.

CACs protect & care for victims of child abuse including victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, human trafficking, & children who witness violent crime. In 2019, over 6,000 Louisiana kids were brought to a CAC. The CAC model is the most effective for prosecuting perpetrators, providing justice & healing for children & families, & saving money through the coordination of services & resources. As recognized by the legislature in the Children’s Code, the CAC model is the preferred response to allegations of criminal child abuse in the state. CACs assume tremendous responsibility on behalf of & in partnership with local, state, & federal agencies to ensure a coordinated response to child abuse.

At a CAC, a child shares their experiences of abuse with a trained forensic interviewer. Interviews are video recorded & admissible in court as evidence. Interviews are developmentally appropriate, unbiased, and legally sound. This process reduces trauma by minimizing the number of times children have to talk about their abuse experience. Through the CAC, victims and their families have access to therapy and resources as CAC advocates help them through the investigative process. Then, through the multidisciplinary team (MDT), everyone works together to ensure that no child falls through the cracks. At an MDT meeting, representatives from law enforcement, DCFS, prosecution, medical, mental health, victim advocacy, and the CAC meet to review cases. This collaborative process prevents duplication of services and ensures that decisions made in a child’s interest are fully informed. To provide quality assurance & CACs are required to maintain rigorous national accreditation status with the National Children’s Alliance.

An appropriation of $2 million would address child trauma through the existing CACs. States with similar population levels are already funding CACs at comparable (or higher) levels. Consistent funding for CACs offers an enormous return on investment by providing immediate support in a cost-effective manner, improving long-term outcomes, & contributing to the overall health of society. Unfortunately, Louisiana is one of only 13 states that provide $0 in state funding to CACs.

Even without state appropriations, Louisiana CACs have increased services by over 30% in the last 5 years; & future years can expect to see even higher numbers. Recently, in partnership with the Governor’s Office, LACAC launched a statewide project to combat child & youth trafficking. The project utilizes the CAC collaborative model to create a statewide safety net for trafficking victims. Identification of victims is expected to increase as a result of this project, & victims of child & youth trafficking are just one of the populations CACs serve.

State funds distributed to CACs would be utilized according to the unique needs of individual centers. CACs serve drastically different populations, with varying levels of community support. They are community-built & oriented around each service area’s specific needs. Because of this, the needs of centers vary substantially. The definition of a CAC as outlined in the Children’s Code would ensure funds are confined to the purpose of CACs. Statewide support would allow for a more consistent network of CACs. No matter their parish, every LA child deserves access to quality services.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $2,000,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The Louisiana Alliance of Children’s Advocacy Centers (LACAC) is the state chapter for Louisiana’s Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) established for the empowerment, collaboration, and advocacy of Louisiana’s CACs. LACAC exists to promote, assist, and support the development, growth, and sustainability of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Louisiana. In summary, the state chapter serves CACs so that CACs can better serve kids.

A portion of the state appropriation would be retained by the chapter to support operations, programs, and administrative costs. The majority of the funding would be distributed to the individual CACs. Those CACs could utilize funding for the purposes of a CAC as outlined in Louisiana Law (Children’s Code, Ch 2, Art 521 - Art 526).

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Sustain, strengthen, and expand CAC services
Support the operational needs of CACs
Support state chapter services and operational needs

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           Ongoing annually

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                 

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
              

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
               

          What is the nature of the relationship? 

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 Office of the Governor/Children’s Cabinet

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               LACAC is the primary sub-recipient of a grant awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to the Office of the Governor. The grant project, the Louisiana Child and Youth Trafficking Collaborative (LCYTC) is a strategic evidence-informed statewide initiative that will seek to improve outcomes for child and youth victims of sex and labor trafficking through a multi-disciplinary approach, enhanced collaboration and coordination of resources, and an improved response and delivery of services.

Through the LCYTC, LACAC and CACs statewide aim to reduce child and youth sex and labor trafficking in Louisiana and strengthen the identification of Louisiana’s child and youth victims sex and labor trafficking. Louisiana’s CACs are currently serving victims of human trafficking and this project will stengthen the existing statewide network of coordinated local multi-disciplinary teams as well as connect other agencies and community partners.

The grant project will last multiple years; but the current contract period is October 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, with an expectation for renewal through the duration of the grant project.


Contact Information
name:  Sarah Landsman 
                                       address:  900 Camp St #432
New Orleans, LA
70130
                                       phone:  9366764219
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  sarah@lacacs.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Program Coordinator