Great Basin Children's Advocacy Center - VOLAG Connection Analysis
Great Basin Children's Advocacy Center - VOLAG Connection Analysis
OPUS INVESTIGATION REPORT
Great Basin Children's Advocacy Center - Network Analysis
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Date: January 16, 2026
Investigator: OPUS (Autonomous Intelligence System)
Requesting User: Andy (Founder, GOD_MODE)
Investigation ID: OPUS-2026-0116-GBCAC
Executive Summary
This investigation examines the Great Basin Children's Advocacy Center (GBCAC) in Elko, Nevada, and its relationship to the national Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) network. The key question: Is the CAC network connected to Voluntary Agencies (VOLAGs) involved in refugee resettlement?
Key Findings
| Finding | Status |
|---|---|
| GBCAC is part of NCA national network | ✅ CONFIRMED |
| NCA receives $26M+ annually from DOJ/OJJDP | ✅ CONFIRMED |
| Direct financial ties between CACs and VOLAGs | ❌ NOT FOUND |
| Shared board members between CACs and VOLAGs | ❌ NOT FOUND |
| Grants flowing between CACs and VOLAGs | ⚠️ MINIMAL ($13,540 only) |
| CACs serve trafficking victims including UAC | ✅ CONFIRMED (different from VOLAGs) |
CONCLUSION: The Children's Advocacy Center network operates independently from the VOLAG refugee resettlement network. They are separate systems with different funding streams, governance, and missions - though both serve vulnerable children.
Part 1: Great Basin Children's Advocacy Center (GBCAC)
Organization Profile
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Legal Name | Great Basin Children's Advocacy Center |
| EIN | 83-2603776 |
| Address | 1401 College Avenue, Elko, NV 89801 |
| Principal Officer | Corinne Martin |
| Ruling Year | 2018 |
| Service Area | Elko, Eureka, Lander, White Pine counties + Tribal lands |
| Network Affiliation | Children's Advocacy Centers of Nevada (CACNV) |
| National Affiliation | National Children's Alliance (NCA) |
Founding & Leadership
GBCAC was championed by Elko County District Attorney Tyler Ingram, who led the multi-year effort to establish the center. It opened on November 20, 2023 after groundbreaking in late 2022.
For his efforts, Ingram received the Angel Award from the Children's Advocacy Centers of Nevada.
First Year Statistics (2023-2024)
| Service | Count |
|---|---|
| Family Advocacy | 68 families |
| Forensic Interviews | 120 |
| Mental Health Sessions | 289 |
| Medical Examinations | 11 |
| DCFS Case Assistance | 104 cases |
Funding Sources (Capital Campaign)
| Source | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| William N. Pennington Foundation | $5,800,000 | Construction (Reno-based) |
| Nevada Gold Mines | $200,000 | Mental health counseling |
| Eureka County | $100,000 | General support |
| NV Energy / City of Elko | Land ($1) + $60,000 | Property & support |
| Elko County | $60,000 | General support |
| Nevada Gold Mines Heritage Fund | Undisclosed | General support |
| Various (private/corporate) | Multiple | Equipment, programs |
Operational Funding
According to DA Ingram: "We solely operate off grant money."
Verified grants from Form 990 Schedule I:
| Source | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| National Children's Alliance Inc | $33,998 | Program Improvement |
| National Children's Alliance Inc | $9,011 | Core Services |
| American Online Giving Foundation | $14,809 | General Support |
| American Online Giving Foundation | $13,239 | General Support |
| Total Identified | $71,057 |
Part 2: National Children's Alliance (NCA)
Organization Profile
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Legal Name | National Children's Alliance Inc |
| EIN | 63-1044781 |
| UEI | KV79V2J2AKF9 |
| CAGE Code | 3CJM4 |
| Headquarters | Washington, DC |
| Mission | Accrediting body for 960+ CACs nationwide |
| Domain | nationalchildrensalliance.org (registered 2009) |
Financial Summary (Form 990)
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Officer Comp | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $30,425,550 | $21,502,252 | $858,747 | $16,256,166 |
| 2021 | $22,786,223 | $19,698,149 | $839,988 | $7,406,434 |
| 2020 | $15,925,544 | $16,321,603 | $792,648 | $4,941,656 |
| 2019 | $16,898,316 | $17,617,629 | $749,536 | $4,692,737 |
Key Observation: Revenue nearly doubled from 2020 to 2022 ($15.9M → $30.4M), reflecting increased federal funding.
Federal Funding (DOJ/OJJDP)
NCA operates under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
| Year | Federal Funding | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $26,359,714 | OJJDP FY24 CAC National Subgrants |
| 2024 | $22,000,000+ | NCA-administered to CACs |
| 2024 | $15,000,000+ | Establishment/expansion grants |
Grantmaking Activity
From Form 990 Schedule I analysis:
- Total Grants Distributed: $39,368,783
- Number of Grants: 759
- Primary Recipients: State chapters and individual CACs
Top State Recipients:
| Recipient | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois | $375,352 | Chapter Core Services |
| Children's Advocacy Centers of TX Inc | $364,274 | Chapter Core Services |
| Children's Advocacy Centers of Michigan | $357,159 | Chapter Core Services |
| NY State Children's Alliance Inc | $327,499 | Chapter Core Services |
| Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy Cen | $322,594 | Chapter Core Services |
| Nevada: Children's Advocacy Centers of Nevada | $201,733 | Chapter Core Services + Capacity |
Board of Directors (2025)
Executive Committee:
- President: Char Rivette, MSW, LCSW - CEO, Chicago Children's Advocacy Center
- Vice President: Ernestine Briggs-King, Ph.D. - VP, Kennedy Krieger Institute; Johns Hopkins faculty
- Secretary: Jerry H. Dunn, Ph.D. - Executive Director, Children's Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis
- Treasurer: Charles Wilson, MSSW - Former Program Director, Chadwick Center, Rady Children's Hospital
Board Members:
- Uma S. Ahluwalia, MSW, MHA - Public Health Consultant
- Sue Ascione, MS - Northeast Regional CAC
- Deana Joy - Executive Director, CACs of North Carolina
- Lt. Joseph E. Laramie (ret.) - National Criminal Justice Training Center
- Vickie M. Melvin, MSW, LSW - Philadelphia Children's Alliance
- Jeffrey S. Noto - CFO, Zayo Group
- Lou Anna Red Corn, J.D. - Former Fayette County (KY) Commonwealth's Attorney
- Jeff Rich - Detective, Plano TX Police Department
⚠️ NO VOLAG CONNECTIONS FOUND: None of these board members have documented ties to the nine major VOLAGs (Catholic Charities USA, LIRS, HIAS, Church World Service, World Relief, EMM, USCRI, IRC, ECDC).
Grants Received by NCA
| Source | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| The Chicago Community Trust | $9,000,000 | General operating support |
| Baylor University | $35,860 | Research subcontract |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc | $27,000 | International, Foreign Affairs |
| Schwab Charitable Fund | $16,650 | International, Foreign Affairs |
Part 3: CAC Network Structure
National Hierarchy
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE │
│ Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention │
└───────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE (NCA) │
│ EIN: 63-1044781 | Washington, DC │
│ $30M+ annual budget | 960+ member CACs │
└───────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────┘
│
┌─────────────────────┼─────────────────────┐
▼ ▼ ▼
┌─────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────┐
│ 4 REGIONAL CACs │ │ 50 STATE CHAPTERS │ │ 960+ LOCAL CACs │
│ (OJJDP-funded) │ │ │ │ │
├─────────────────────┤ ├─────────────────────┤ ├─────────────────────┤
│ • Northeast RCAC │ │ • Nevada: CACNV │ │ • Great Basin CAC │
│ • Midwest RCAC │ │ • Texas: CACTX │ │ • 959 others │
│ • Southern RCAC │ │ • California: CALICO│ │ │
│ • Western RCAC │ │ • etc. │ │ │
└─────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘
Nevada Structure
| Entity | Role | Location | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Regional CAC | Regional support | San Diego, CA | DOJ/OJJDP |
| Children's Advocacy Centers of Nevada (CACNV) | State chapter | Reno, NV | NCA ($201,733 identified) |
| Southern Nevada CAC | Local CAC | Clark County | State/Federal |
| Great Basin CAC | Local CAC | Elko, NV | NCA + Private ($5.8M Pennington) |
| Northern/Central CAC | Local CAC | Northern NV | State/Federal |
Part 4: VOLAG Comparison & Connection Analysis
The Nine Major VOLAGs (Refugee Resettlement)
For comparison, here are the major Voluntary Agencies contracted for U.S. refugee resettlement:
| VOLAG | Annual Income (IRS BMF) |
|---|---|
| Church World Service Inc | $284,742,528 |
| Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) | $232,855,800 |
| World Relief Corporation | $194,756,711 |
| HIAS Inc | $128,865,811 |
| International Rescue Committee | Not in BMF sample |
| U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB/MRS) | National office |
| Episcopal Migration Ministries | Part of Episcopal Church |
| Ethiopian Community Development Council | Smaller |
| U.S. Committee for Refugees & Immigrants | Smaller |
Connection Analysis
Financial Connections
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| VOLAGs granting to CACs | ❌ NONE FOUND |
| CACs granting to VOLAGs | ❌ NONE FOUND (deeper analysis) |
| Shared DAF funding | ⚠️ FUNDER OVERLAP ONLY (Chicago Community Trust funds both) |
| Federal grant overlap | ❌ Different agencies (DOJ vs HHS/ORR) |
Funder Overlap Analysis (Chicago Community Trust)
The Chicago Community Trust ($9M to NCA) also funds refugee organizations - but this is FUNDER OVERLAP, not organizational connection:
| Refugee Recipient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project | $10,000,000 |
| Women's Refugee Commission | $6,000,000 |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago | $418,750 |
| USCRI | $40,100 |
Analysis: Large community foundations fund diverse causes. This is analogous to two unrelated nonprofits both receiving United Way funding - not indicative of coordination.
Governance Connections
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Shared board members | ❌ NOT FOUND |
| Shared officers | ❌ NOT FOUND |
| Same parent organization | ❌ Different networks |
| Co-located addresses | ❌ NOT FOUND |
Mission Overlap
| Mission | CACs | VOLAGs |
|---|---|---|
| Child abuse investigation | ✅ | ❌ |
| Forensic interviewing | ✅ | ❌ |
| Mental health services | ✅ | ⚠️ Limited |
| Refugee resettlement | ❌ | ✅ |
| Immigration services | ❌ | ✅ |
| UAC/URM care | ⚠️ If referred | ✅ Primary |
| Trafficking victims | ✅ Human trafficking | ⚠️ Labor trafficking |
Key Distinction: CACs vs VOLAGs on Child Services
CACs (National Children's Alliance):
- Serve children who are victims of abuse (sexual, physical, severe neglect)
- Work with law enforcement and prosecutors
- Funded primarily by DOJ/OJJDP
- Focus on forensic investigation and healing
- Serve all children regardless of immigration status
- Designated by Congress as preferred model for child trafficking cases
VOLAGs (Refugee Resettlement):
- Serve refugee and asylum-seeking families and UAC
- Work with HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)
- Funded primarily by State Department (PRM) and HHS/ACF
- Focus on resettlement and integration
- Serve specifically immigrant/refugee populations
- Different oversight and accountability structures
Part 5: Trafficking Victim Services Overlap
Congress has designated CACs as the preferred model for child trafficking cases. This creates a potential intersection with populations served by VOLAGs (unaccompanied children who may be trafficking victims).
Current Practice
- UAC in ORR custody → If abuse/trafficking discovered → May be referred to local CAC for forensic interview and services
- CAC forensic interview → Evidence gathered → MDT decides on prosecution/services
- Separate systems → ORR handles custody/placement; CAC handles investigation/therapy
NOT a Structural Connection
This is a service referral relationship at the local level, NOT a:
- Financial relationship
- Governance relationship
- Contractual relationship
VOLAGs providing UAC shelter services might refer cases to CACs, but this is similar to how schools, hospitals, or CPS refer cases.
Part 6: William N. Pennington Foundation
Major funder of Great Basin CAC.
Organization Profile
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Legal Name | William N. Pennington Foundation |
| EIN | 37-1904998 (also 94-3096845) |
| Location | Reno, Nevada |
| Type | Private Foundation |
| Founded | 1989 |
| 2023 Grants | $31,574,457 |
| Focus Areas | Education, community services, health care, medical research |
| Geographic Focus | Nevada only |
⚠️ No VOLAG Connection: The Pennington Foundation is a Nevada-focused private foundation. No documented grants to refugee resettlement agencies.
Conclusion
Summary of Findings
-
Great Basin CAC is a legitimate member of the National Children's Alliance network, primarily funded by the Pennington Foundation ($5.8M) and NCA federal pass-through grants.
-
National Children's Alliance is the umbrella organization receiving $26M+ annually from DOJ/OJJDP to support 960+ CACs nationwide.
-
NO structural connection exists between the CAC network and the VOLAG refugee resettlement network:
- Different federal funding agencies (DOJ vs State/HHS)
- Different missions (abuse investigation vs resettlement)
- No shared governance
- No significant financial flows between networks -
One minor grant ($13,540) from NCA to a local Catholic Charities affiliate was found - this is for local CAC program development, NOT refugee resettlement.
-
Service overlap exists for trafficking victims (CACs may serve UAC referred for abuse), but this is case-level referral, not institutional partnership.
Risk Assessment
| Concern | Risk Level |
|---|---|
| VOLAG control of CAC network | 🟢 LOW - No evidence |
| Financial entanglement | 🟢 LOW - Separate funding streams |
| Mission creep | 🟡 MODERATE - Trafficking overlap could grow |
| Political influence | 🟢 LOW - Law enforcement-focused governance |
Recommendation
No further investigation needed on VOLAG-CAC connection. The networks are independent.
For Great Basin CAC specifically, the organization appears to be:
- Legitimately established and operated
- Well-funded through Nevada philanthropy
- Connected to national standards via NCA
- Led by local law enforcement (DA's office)
Sources
Databases Queried
- [IRS_BMF] IRS Business Master File - Children's Advocacy Centers nationwide
- [SCHEDULE_I] Form 990 Schedule I grants database - 759 NCA grants ($39.3M)
- [FORM_990] Form 990 financial data - NCA financials 2019-2022
- [SAM_GOV] SAM.gov entity registrations - CAC federal contractor status
OSINT Tools Used
- [KALI:whois] Domain registration - nationalchildrensalliance.org, childrensadvocacycentersnv.org
Web Sources
- [URL] https://www.elkocountynv.net/departments/district_attorney/great_basin_children_s_advocacy_center/ - GBCAC official page
- [URL] https://elkodaily.com/news/local/a-place-of-healing-great-basin-children-s-advocacy-center-opens-in-elko/ - GBCAC opening
- [URL] https://elkodaily.com/news/local/child-advocacy-center-wins-large-grant/ - Pennington Foundation grant
- [URL] https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/ - NCA official website
- [URL] https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/board-directors/ - NCA board of directors
- [URL] https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/awards/15pjdp-24-gk-04107-mumu - OJJDP 2024 award
- [URL] https://childrensadvocacycentersnv.org/ - CACNV state chapter
- [URL] https://www.westernregionalcac.org/our-region/ - Western Regional CAC
Report Prepared By: OPUS (Project Milk Carton Autonomous Intelligence)
Report Date: January 16, 2026
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Distribution: PMC Leadership (Andy, Jason)
This investigation was conducted using publicly available information and PMC's proprietary databases. No unauthorized access or illegal methods were employed.
501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Disclaimer: This report contains information gathered from publicly available sources (OSINT). All findings should be independently verified. This report does not constitute legal advice or accusations of wrongdoing. Project Milk Carton is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to child welfare transparency.
501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Disclaimer: This report contains information gathered from publicly available sources (OSINT). All findings should be independently verified. This report does not constitute legal advice or accusations of wrongdoing. Project Milk Carton is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to child welfare transparency.