What is CBCAP?
Why were CBCAP programs created?
What changes in CBCAP programs have been initiated with recent program instructions to states?
What is the target population for CBCAP programs?
What activities are authorized under CBCAP?
What legislation supports CBCAP?
What reporting requirements are present for CBCAP grantees?
How much is the funding allotment for each state or program?
How do states apply for funding? (2008 PI Information)
Who manages the CBCAP program at the Federal Level?
What events are held in support of CAPTA and CBCAP programs?
What is CBCAP?
CBCAP stands for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention. It refers to specific types of child abuse prevention programs that exist in every state in the U.S.
Why were CBCAP programs created?
CBCAP programs were established by Title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Amendments of 1996 and most recently reauthorized in June of 2003. The purpose of the CBCAP program is:
- to support community-based efforts to develop, operate, expand, enhance, and, where appropriate, to network, initiatives aimed at the prevention of child abuse and neglect,
- to support networks of coordinated resources and activities to better strengthen and support families to reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect, and
- to foster an understanding, appreciation, and knowledge of diverse populations in order to be effective in preventing and treating child abuse and neglect
What changes in CBCAP programs have been initiated with recent program instructions to states?
The program instructions issued to states in February of 2008 changed 2 significant areas in terms of grants management for CBCAP State Lead Agencies. Some of these changes were based on feedback from State Lead Agencies. The changes include:
- The FY2008 Annual Report will be due at the same time as the FY2009 application next year.
- Starting with the FY2008 award, States will now have three years to obligate AND liquidate the grant funds.
- The Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Program and the Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education were added to the List of Programs for Potential Collaboration and Coordination.
To view the PI from previous years, click here to go the Children's Bureau web site.
What is the target population for CBCAP programs?
CBCAP programs should have some activities available to the general population such as public awareness and education about preventing child abuse and neglect. In addition, programs should also target services to vulnerable families that are at risk of abuse or neglect. These families include:
- Parents (all, new, teens, etc.)
- Parents and/or children with disabilities
- Racial and ethnic minorities
- Members of underserved or underrepresented groups
- Fathers
What activities are authorized under CBCAP?
CBCAP programs are authorized to fund child abuse prevention programs in their service area that provide a multitude of services and supports. These services and programs can include:
- Comprehensive support for parents
- Promote the development of parenting skills
- Improve family access to formal and informal resources
- Support needs of parents with disabilities through respite or other activities
- Provide referrals for early health and development services
- Promote meaningful parent leadership
Programs can also; finance the development of a continuum of preventive services through public-private partnerships, financing the start-up, maintenance, expansion, or redesign or child abuse prevention programs, maximizing funding through leveraging funds, and financing public education activities that focus on the promotion of child abuse prevention.
What legislation supports CBCAP?
The key Federal legislation addressing prevention in child abuse and neglect is the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) which was originally enacted in 1974. This Act has been amended several times in the last 31 years and was most recently amended and reauthorized on June 25, 2003, by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-36).
This legislation has been summarized in a booklet by the US Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Children’s Bureau. This booklet presents CAPTA as amended by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003. The booklet also contains the Adoption Opportunities program and Abandoned Infants Assistance Act, as amended. It can be downloaded in PDF or HTML format.
What reporting requirements are present for CBCAP grantees?
State lead agencies are required to submit a report annually for activity from the previous year. Reports have previously been due 90 days after the close of each Federal fiscal year (ie: December 31). With the issuance of the 2008 PI this process is changing however. Starting with the 2009 application, the report and application will be one process. More information will be issued detailing how states should handle the report due in December of 2008. As before, these reports are submitted by the state lead agency to the Federal Regional Office and to the Federal Program Officer. For a list of frequently asked questions on reporting, click here.
Once these reports are submitted, FRIENDS completes a summary of each state’s report to examine for trends and areas of focused programming. To read these annual summaries, click here.
How much is the funding allotment for each state or program?
The appropriation for FY 2007 is currently anticipated at $41.7 million. Of that allotment, 1% must be set aside for purposes spelled out in legislation. These are to 1) fund Indian tribes and tribal organizations and migrant programs, 2) continue funding for the NRC for CBCAP, and 3) continue funding for program support.
The remainder of the funds are distributed to states and territories under a formula grant. This process allows that:
- Seventy percent (70%) of the funds will be allotted proportionately among the states based on the number of children under age 18 residing in each state, except that no state shall receive less than $175,000,
NOTE: Given the increase in the FY 2005 appropriation, a decision was made to set the minimum grant for this 70% portion to $200,000 so that all States may benefit from the increase. Future-year minimum grants will depend on the availability of funds appropriated annually for this program, “except that no State shall receive less than $175,000.”
- Thirty percent (30%) of the funds will be allotted proportionately among the states based on the amount of private, State or other non-Federal funds leveraged and directed through the currently designated state lead agency in the preceding fiscal year.
The funding allotments are estimations each year based on the variables present in determining funding amounts. Each state must provide cash match of 20% in non-Federal funding of the total allotment. The match funds may come from state or private funding.
 Estimated funding allotments for FY 2008
How do states apply for funding?
The Governor in each state designates a lead entity to administer the funds for the implementation of community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect. Once designated, State lead agencies must then submit an application for funding annually. The instructions for this application are included in a program instruction (PI) that is released in the spring of each year.
To view a listing of the currently designated state lead agencies by state, click here.
To view a list of frequently asked questions in applications, click here.
Who manages the CBCAP program at the Federal Level?
The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN) at the Children's Bureau, Administration for Families, USDHHS is responsible for overseeing and managing the CBCAP program. OCAN provides support to the state lead agencies through many avenues which include the provision of funds to the National Resource Center on CBCAP or FRIENDS which is available to provide training and technical assistance to lead agencies on the requirements of the program. In addition, OCAN staff work closely with the ACF Regional Office staff who also provide a secondary review of the State applications and reports.
What events are held in support of CAPTA and CBCAP programs?
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month each year. For 2008 the theme is Promoting Healthy Families in Your Community. There are downloadable resources on Child Abuse Prevention available in English and Spanish. You can read more about Child Abuse Prevention Month and download the free resources at the National Clearinghouse for Child Abuse and Neglect Information website.
The Children's Bureau also sponsors biennial conferences at which professionals and volunteers discuss a broad range of policy, research, program, and practice issues concerning the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse and neglect. Roundtable discussions, poster and plenary sessions, and workshops bring together many disciplines and perspectives to foster new working relationships, exchange information on research, and review practice issues and model programs.
The next conference will be the 17th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect. This conference is planned for March 2009 in Atlanta, GA. Additional information on this conference will be released in coming months.
CBCAP grantees are also required to attend an annual meeting each spring which provides grantees with valuable information and opportunities to network with other programs. This meeting is held as a pre-conference event at the National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect on odd years and as a stand alone event in even years. For more information on the event from 2007 or for information about 2008, click here.
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