Child crime victim services (ccvs), led by kids matter INC., will expand and strengthen victim services for child crime victims in wisconsin

The Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Victims of Crime awarded $498,500 to Kids Matter, Inc. on October 1, 2025, under the Crime Victim Assistance/Discretionary Grants program (CFDA 16.582) to expand and strengthen victim services for child crime victims in Wisconsin.

Kids Matter will deliver immediate outreach and intake, legal representation to secure guardianship and access to care, and crisis and individual counseling services to three populations: children who survived parental homicide, drug-endangered children, and child victims of sexual assault who lack a protective parent. Services will be trauma-informed and evidence-based, addressing critical service gaps for vulnerable victims who face legal, systemic, and practical barriers to accessing timely assistance.

The award runs through September 30, 2028, with place of performance in Glendale, Wisconsin. Kids Matter operates as a Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization, serving underserved child crime victims through a multidisciplinary services team including crisis counselors, victim services attorneys, trauma-informed therapists, victim peer support specialists, and Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers.

The purpose of the ccvs project is to address critical service gaps for child survivors of parental homicide, drug-endangered children, and child victims of sexual assault who lack a protective parent, populations who are often unidentified and unable to access timely, essential victim services due to legal, systemic, and practical barriers. The project will serve children by providing trauma-informed, evidence-based services tailored to the unique needs of these vulnerable victims. Services will include immediate outreach and intake, legal representation to secure guardianship and access to care, and crisis and individual counseling.