Joint Guidance from National Partners on CBCAP Funding

This resource was developed to provide guidance on the COVID-19 relief package, in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, related to emergency funding for the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). The $1.9 trillion pandemic relief measure, passed on March 11, 2021, includes one-time emergency funding for CAPTA as follows: 

• $250 million in total Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) funding, divided among all 50 states and territories via a formula based on child population for community-based efforts to develop, operate, expand, enhance, and coordinate initiatives, programs, and activities to prevent child abuse and neglect and to support the coordination of resources and activities to better strengthen and support families to reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. This historic investment in CBCAP represents a 400% increase (CBCAP is currently funded at $60.6 million annually). 
• $100 million for CAPTA Title I for grants to support state child protective services programs and infrastructure (Title I is currently funded at $90 million annually)

As national organizations, the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance, Center for the Study of Social Policy, EndCAN, National Family Support Network, and Prevent Child Abuse America have been working to educate Congress about the importance of this funding to meet the needs of families who have been impacted by the pandemic. We applaud the inclusion of this vital and historic funding both to help address the challenges facing children and families today and as a down payment on critical, long- term infrastructure investments.