Across Massachusetts, front-line advocates say the safety net for kids who have been sexually exploited online is about to shrink fast. With federal grant dollars drying up just as Beacon Hill finalizes the fiscal 2027 budget, they warn that core services are on the chopping block. In a letter to the Boston Globe, Thomas King, executive director of the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance, said his organization is bracing for at least a 30 percent funding cut that would scale back therapy, legal advocacy, and forensic interviewing. Providers say the hit could not come at a worse time, with reports of online exploitation climbing sharply across the state.
Federal Shortfall Leaves Local Programs Scrambling
The state office that distributes victim grants says a funding gap in the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) pipeline is driving the crisis. According to Mass.gov, only $25 million in VOCA funds was available to divide among more than $47 million in requests, leaving many programs with an average reduction of roughly 35 percent and forcing awards to 88 programs to be scaled back.
Advocates Say Cuts Will Strip Therapy and Legal Support
King’s letter to the Boston Globe warns that the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance is staring down a funding decrease of at least 30 percent. “Without this urgent funding intervention, children and families face greater barriers to safety, healing, and recovery,” he wrote, pointing to Globe reporting that described seized digital devices stored in a secure Department of Correction facility in Milford as a sign of the scale of online exploitation cases in the Commonwealth.
Online Exploitation Reports Jump While Resources Shrink
The Globe’s broader investigation found that reports are already surging. State police received more than 23,000 tips in 2025 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline, a roughly 77 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Boston Globe. Advocates say that spike makes the looming cuts especially risky, because local child advocacy centers often serve as the only trauma-informed option for families outside the state’s urban hubs.
Beacon Hill Faces High-Stakes Budget Call
MOVA and partner organizations are urging lawmakers to plug the gap by adding a $13.8 million “TRUST Line” to the FY27 budget, a move they say would prevent program closures and stabilize services, according to Mass.gov. The fiscal year process is moving quickly, the new budget takes effect July 1, and, according to malegislature.gov, committee votes and conference negotiations will determine the final spending levels.
MOVA has called on residents to contact their legislators in support of the TRUST Line and has circulated an advocacy toolkit for stakeholders, according to MOVA. Providers, meanwhile, are drafting contingency plans for layoffs and reduced hours, and the decisions made at the State House in the coming weeks will determine whether those plans become reality.
