By Connor Boyd

BLOOMINGTON – Victims of child abuse across the state may become more vulnerable.

State budget cuts will soon effect all of Illinois’ child advocacy centers.

“We did receive a 10 percent budget cut, which all advocacy centers across the state received, so that’s unfortunate and we are hoping that will be restored,” said McLean County Children’s Advocacy Center spokesperson Judy Brucker.

The McLean Center helped children in McLean, Livingston and DeWitt Counties. Brucker said the local center is one of the lucky ones.

“We will still continue to provide all the services we normally would,” Brucker said. “And thankfully, we are in a position where we have had generous donors over the years who have been able to give us some funds that we can use to balance out that deficit.”

The McLean County Children’s Advocacy Center has helped in the investigations of over 300 sexual and physical abuse cases since 1999.

“Unfortunately for many advocacy centers across the state, they are in a position where they may have to reduce their services or reduce their staff as a result of the cut that they received.”

Brucker said the center received $111,000 from the state for the services they provide to children.

Connor Boyd can be reached at [email protected].