MOSES LAKE — A projected budget shortfall in 2026 has Washington legislators analyzing state spending, with agencies advocating to keep funding at what they say are adequate levels. Suzi Fode, director of the New Hope and Kids Hope Children’s Advocacy Center, said the news in the Senate and House budget proposals is promising.  

The Senate budget proposal included $21.3 million for statewide services, Fode said, while the House proposal allocated $20 million statewide.  

“It really is wonderful news, but not final,” Fode said in answer to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. “Now we wait for the final governor’s budget.”  

The preliminary budget proposal from Gov. Bob Ferguson allocated about $12.1 million to statewide victim services, which Fode said was about half of the money provided statewide in 2025. Fode said the current budget for New Hope and Kids Hope is about $3.2 million, with a mix of federal and state funding, grants and private donations. 

Cutting the agency’s budget could mean cutting staff, which would affect the time it takes to help victims, she said – and maybe some victims would have to seek services outside the two counties.  

“What I have always said – optimistically – is when we are faced with cuts, our team puts our nose to the grindstone, and we figure out a way to apply for different funding, ask for different funding, look at federal sources and put together something that keeps our team whole,” Fode said. “I've called it duct tape and chicken wire for the last 10 years, and I feel like we're running out of duct tape and chicken wire.” 

New Hope and Kids Hope serve crime victims in Grant and Adams counties, and while many of their clients are victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse, the services are available for all crime victims. 

“There have been increased amounts of homicides happening in our county, and we serve the secondary victims of homicide, robbery and identity theft and elder abuse – even down to bullying,” Fode said.  

New Hope and Kids Hope services provide important support for victims, she said. 

“The services that we provide to those who've been the most traumatized – they're victims of some sort of crime,” Fode said. “Domestic violence, child sexual abuse, robbery, family members who've lost someone to homicide. These folks didn't ask for that to happen, and the trauma that they encounter can destroy their lives.” 

Fode said victims benefit from early access to the help provided by New Hope and Kids Hope.  

“Early intervention and the wraparound services that we can provide here can help stabilize somebody,” she said. “Maybe they won't lose their home because they've been victimized. Maybe they'll get hooked up to therapy because they never thought about that before. Those are the kinds of things that can stabilize someone who's experiencing trauma, and that happens through an advocate.”  

New Hope and Kids Hope are the only local providers of services for victims in Grant and Adams counties, she said. The agency provides a 24/7 hotline, emergency shelter for domestic violence victims and assistance in investigating crimes against children. Its staffers help victims with court orders and attend court appearances with them. They help victims with safety plans and sponsor support groups.  

Kids Hope Director Elisa Adolphsen said Kids Hope and New Hope focus on helping victims, but the impact goes beyond that.  

“It also increases accountability for offenders when you have agencies like this. We provide victim advocates who are on the phone with prosecutors’ offices, gathering police records, ensuring that those victims’ voices are heard in that manner,” Adolphsen said. 

Kids Hope has an investigator trained to conduct interviews with children, which is important when it comes to prosecuting offenders, she said. 

“(The) forensic interviews that we do, that are used in criminal cases — they've shown that cases that go through a Children's Advocacy Center have higher prosecution rates,” Adolphsen said. “We’re very victim-centered; we want to focus on the victims, but along with that comes that (function).” 

New Hope and Kids Hope have options for people who want to donate, whether it’s money or to fill specific needs. The agency employs a therapist, and 60% of that person’s position is paid for through donations, according to information provided by New Hope. The specific needs include travel expenses for domestic violence victims looking to relocate, money for legal fees, money for food, gas, diapers and clothing, camera doorbells, cell phones and door locks, and therapeutic tools for children.  

    The budget news might be better than expected for New Hope and Kids Hope, with both the Washington House and Senate proposing to maintain existing funding.