Donors help Family & Children’s Center reach fundraising goal, as new funding challenges develop for the organization

Family & Children’s Center (FCC) is thrilled to announce that through the generosity of the organization’s donors, the agency has exceeded the $750,000 Matching Challenge Grant goal announced during the Bridges to Better Tomorrows on November 1.

More than $1M has been raised toward the unrestricted giving goal for the Bridges event. The funds support prevention, early intervention and treatment efforts to help people facing child abuse, neglect, mental health issues, AODA and trauma.

While the organization is celebrating this milestone, unforeseen funding cuts of more than $100,000 have emerged from Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) federal support. This poses a challenge to sustaining transformative programs like Matty’s Place Child Advocacy Center and Safe Visitation program in Winona, as well as Stepping Stones Child Advocacy Center and Healthy Families programs in La Crosse. If access to these critical services is removed or reduced for FCC’s clients, the impact will not only be felt by individuals and families, but also in communities throughout the area in the coming weeks, months and years.

The federal current budget being debated cuts VOCA funds by another 40 percent.

Family & Children’s Center operates 10 programs at two facilities in Winona.  Matty’s Place Child Advocacy Center, Healthy Families, Safe Visitation, Day Treatment, Treatment Foster Care, Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services, HUB, Intensive Tracking and Outpatient Counseling programs operate from the organization’s Franklin Street offices, located 601 Franklin Street, Winona, MN. Hiawatha Hall, also in Winona, provides services that prepare residents to move into independent living. Individuals 18 years and older with a mental illness or with other challenges engage in activities that encourage the growth of skills necessary for healthy, self-sufficient lives.

Winona stands to lose access to lifesaving and life-sustaining domestic violence services, child abuse and neglect programs, sexual assault, and other victim services. Without access to these critical services, the real-time impact will not only be felt by individuals and families, but also in communities nationwide.

Without adequate VOCA funding in the final Financial Year 2024 Appropriations federal budget,

FCC may not be able to maintain current services for families and victims of crimes without additional financial support from private sources.

Donations of unrestricted funds play a critical role in the agency’s total annual budget of $11.9M annually, with $2.3M required to be raised through contracts, grants and unrestricted giving. Without the support of contributions from community members, FCC would be unable to best serve 5,500 clients at locations in La Crosse, Wis. and Winona, Minn., as well as Viroqua, Sparta and Black River Falls, Wis.

Article originally appeared in the La Crosse Tribune on December 30, 2023.