Miss America, NCA take to Capitol Hill on behalf of Child Advocacy Centers

Miss America 2013 Mallory Hagan urges Congress and the White House to restore funding to Victims of Child Abuse Act
National Children’s Alliance
Washington, D.C.


This week, Miss America 2013 Mallory Hagan is taking to Capitol Hill on behalf of the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) to advocate for restoring funding to the Victims of Child Abuse Act. She will meet with Senators, Members of Congress, and the media about the importance of restoring this vital funding which permits Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) to operate across the country.

Like last year, the President’s budget request zeroed out funding for the Victims of Child Abuse Act, leaving the future of CACs in jeopardy. However, the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittees in the Senate and House of Representatives have restored funding to the tune of $19 million, bucking the White House and putting vulnerable children ahead of politics.

“Child abuse is an issue that is very close to my heart,” said Mallory Hagan, Miss America 2013. “Children across the country are victims of unspeakable actions, and they need the support that Child Advocacy Centers provide. This is an issue that will not go away on its own and it can’t be swept under the rug. Children are the future of this great country, and we need to be sure we protect those who can’t stand up for themselves.”

Bud Cramer, former Member of Congress and founder of the National Children’s Advocacy Center said, “I am grateful to have Miss America come to Washington to speak on behalf of this critical program. Although the House and Senate have corrected this oversight, we must keep the pressure up so that the White House and Department of Justice restore funding for Child Advocacy Centers in their FY 2015 budget.”

Child abuse costs the American people more than $124 billion per year. CACs save money by making coordinated investigations more efficient and more effective. In fact, a cost-benefit analysis showed that traditional investigations cost 36% more than CAC-collaborative investigations. CACs also share the goal of stopping abuse before it even starts. Nationwide, and in just the last year, CACs provided child sexual abuse prevention education to more than 500,000 individuals – adults and children.

For more information about National Children’s Alliance, visit www.nationalchildrensalliance.org.

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About National Children’s Alliance 
National Children’s Alliance is the national association and accrediting body for the over 750 Children’s Advocacy Centers and 47 State Chapters serving each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Dedicated to helping local communities respond to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient, and put the needs of child victims of abuse first, National Children’s Alliance provides support and advocacy to its accredited membership, as well as numerous developing centers, multidisciplinary teams and child abuse professionals around the country, and the world. As the national authority on multidisciplinary approaches to supporting child victims of abuse, the purpose of National Children’s Alliance is to empower local communities to provide comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to victims of child abuse. Founded in 1990, National Children’s Alliance provides accreditation opportunities, financial assistance, training, technical assistance, research and education to communities, child abuse professionals and children’s advocacy centers throughout the United States in support of child abuse intervention, advocacy and prevention. www.nationalchildrensalliance.org

About the Miss America Organization
The Miss America Organization is the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women and one of the nation’s leading achievement programs. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local affiliates made available more than $45 million in scholarship assistance. The 2014 Miss America Competition will mark its fourth consecutive year on ABC, live from Atlantic City, New Jersey.  The show will air on Sunday, September 15th at 9 p.m. EST. For more information, visit www.missamerica.org