Opportunity Overview
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) is accepting applications for the 2027 Child Advocacy Center Development initiative under the state Endowment Act. The program is designed to help counties that currently lack an NCA-member Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) develop a new CAC and strengthen multidisciplinary response for children affected by physical or sexual abuse.
Funding and Deadline
PCCD is announcing approximately $1.5 million for this initiative and expects to fund five three-year grants. Budgets may not exceed $300,000 per award, or $100,000 per year. Applications must be submitted through PCCD Egrants by May 31, 2027 at 11:59 PM. The funding announcement does not state a timezone, so Atlas does not infer one.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility is open to a Pennsylvania county that does not currently have an NCA-member CAC or MDIT, subject to the full statutory and PCCD requirements. Applicants must identify the region to be served; obtain a joint endorsement from the District Attorney, law enforcement, and Children and Youth Services for each county to be served; demonstrate an intention to apply for National Children’s Alliance membership during the three-year project period; obtain a PennCAC endorsement; and remain in good standing with PCCD.
The underlying multidisciplinary investigative team structure is directly relevant to healthcare: Pennsylvania law requires the MDIT to include, at minimum, a health care provider, county caseworker, and law-enforcement official.
Mandatory Pre-Application Gate
Do not start with Egrants alone. Before submitting an application, the MDIT members must send PCCD a letter of intent and the applicant must participate in a conference call with PCCD and Children’s Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania (PennCAC). The applicant agency must also be registered in Egrants, have at least two registered users, and have at least one user with the e-signature role.
Eligible Development Costs
Eligible expenses may include MDIT training and development, furnishings, equipment and construction to establish the CAC location, training for CAC staff such as forensic interviewing and victim advocacy, and a dedicated position to coordinate MOUs/protocols, formal case review, and case tracking. Funds are non-supplanting and must be tied to creation of the CAC.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 93/100. This is a high-value pediatric and trauma-response infrastructure opportunity because it combines child-protection services, healthcare-provider participation, multidisciplinary investigation, victim advocacy, facility development and service-access expansion.
N9+ Direct Vendor Fit: 18/100 conditional. Equipment is an allowable development cost, but the solicitation does not specifically authorize connected clinical-exam or telehealth hardware. Any such equipment should be tied directly to an approved CAC service model and confirmed with PCCD before budgeting.
QC Healthcare Fit: 25/100 conditional. Healthcare participation is built into the MDIT model, but this announcement primarily funds CAC development rather than physician staffing. Clinical-service contracting should not be assumed eligible unless supported by the approved project and PCCD guidance.
Immediate Next Step
Confirm county eligibility and the current NCA/CAC landscape, convene the MDIT, secure the required joint county endorsements, submit the pre-application letter of intent, complete the required PCCD/PennCAC conference call, obtain PennCAC support, verify Egrants access, and build a three-year non-supplanting budget before the May 31 deadline.
Official source: Pennsylvania PCCD — 2027 Child Advocacy Center Development Funding Announcement.