Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced that the Montana Department of Justice will allocate an additional $3.5 million to support Montana Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs). This funding aims to enhance the care and response for child survivors of crime and abuse across the state. The funds originate from a recent settlement with Johnson & Johnson, resolving allegations that the company sold baby powder containing carcinogenic asbestos.
CACs are dedicated facilities that assist children who have experienced abuse or other crimes during investigations. Each of Montana's nine accredited CAC programs, along with the Children’s Alliance of Montana, will initially receive an extra $10,000 to bolster their efforts in providing care for affected children.
The Department of Justice plans to establish a working group to manage the distribution of the remaining funds over several years. They also intend to open a grant application process for both accredited and developing programs. Some funds may be allocated towards increased training opportunities and other initiatives aimed at expanding these programs.
The announcement took place at RiverStone Health in Billings, which houses the Yellowstone Valley CAC. Attorney General Knudsen remarked on the importance of using settlement dollars effectively: "I cannot imagine a better way to put the settlement dollars from Johnson & Johnson to good use. Montana’s CACs help us ensure that children who have survived heinous crimes receive the care and support they need during the investigation."
Dr. Megan Littlefield, Chief Medical Officer at RiverStone Health, expressed gratitude for the funding: "Since 2012, the Child Advocacy Center at RiverStone Health has provided a mentally and physically safe environment for children, and we are thankful to be able to continue to improve our medical evaluation services through this grant."
CACs offer a secure environment for abused children and their non-offending family members following reports of sexual abuse. These centers facilitate coordination among multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) involved in investigations, reducing additional trauma by minimizing repeated interviews or disclosures by children. This approach also enhances evidence collection accuracy and increases successful prosecution chances.
Currently, Montana Child Sexual Abuse Response Teams (MCSART) under the Department of Justice maintain agreements with all nine accredited CAC programs and provide each center with annual funding of $10,000. Today's announcement builds upon this existing support framework.