Vox Pop - Praises Sen. Jesse James for work on state budget

I write today to express my deep appreciation to Senator Jesse James for his efforts to include additional funding for the Chippewa Valley Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in the Wisconsin State Budget.

Thanks to Sen. James’ initiative and leadership, CACs across the state will receive an additional $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, Sen. James met with me as I shared how urgently CACs needed additional financial support due to a reduction in federal funding. He 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 Sen. James’ 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, Eau Claire