I write today to express my deep appreciation to Representative Karen Hurd for her efforts to include additional funding for the Chippewa Valley Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in the Wisconsin State Budget.
Thanks to Rep. Hurd’s initiative and leadership, CACs across the state will receive an additional cumulative $2 million in annual funding in the state budget. This is a major step forward in creating more sustainable funding so that our youngest and most vulnerable victims of crime can receive justice and healing.
At the beginning of the state budget process, Rep. Hurd took the time to visit the Chippewa Valley CAC. I shared with her how urgently CACs needed additional financial support due to a reduction in federal funding. She recognized the crisis at hand and worked with other members of the Joint Finance Committee and Legislature to facilitate a significant increase in funding.
This funding will be used to provide services to child victims through forensic interviews, mental health services and victim advocacy. The forensic interview is an opportunity to provide children with a safe place to tell their story to experts who will listen to them, protect them, and help them heal. This interview minimizes trauma by ensuring that the child can provide the account in their own words and only has to provide information to one adult.
Thanks to Rep. Hurd’s efforts, the Chippewa Valley CAC can continue to give children and adolescents a voice by bringing them healing, justice and adults they can trust.

Vera Matter
Chippewa Valley Child Advocacy Center