15 March 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)- The Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County is asking the City of Wichita for $2 million.
The agency says the number of children drastically increased after the COVID-19 pandemic, and while the number is going down, it’s still higher than before the pandemic.
“Staff is recommending approval of that, mostly because the Child Advocacy Center has had such significant results with families and children that encountered abuse early in their lives,” Wichita City Manager Robert Layton said.
The entire expansion project is expected to cost $12 million. Sedgwick County commissioners already approved $2 million for it.
“I think that’s important to know is that the problems of child abuse have worsened as a result of the various things that happened in the community during COVID,” Layton said.
If approved, the money would come from the ARPA funds. Layton says the city has been talking with the CAC about the expansion and money for at least six months.
“They’ve also documented how much money you can save if you have an early intervention. Or if you’re even more successful you could prevent child abuse that there’s a significant savings that goes well beyond our $2 million investment,” Layton said.