Is federal funding in jeopardy for Valley Program for Aging Services, Court Appointed Special Advocates or the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center?
Readers have reached out to AFP in recent weeks wanting to know more about potential federal cuts and the impact on staffing and programs in the region.
Below is a roundup of the questions we received and what we learned from each of the agencies. Spoiler alert: there’s a lot of uncertainty.
President Donald Trump and his administration are advancing a ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ through Congress. The bill has already passed in the U.S. House and includes more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid over 10 years.
The administration has also terminated hundreds of grants to nonprofits across the country due to what it says is a change in the priorities of the White House. Organizations received a letter terminating funding but gave agencies 30 days to appeal, according to reporting by Reuters.
VPAS: ‘Uncertainty” about impact, potential cuts ‘very concerning’
A reader asked us to look into potential cuts to Valley Program for Aging Services.
About: VPAS offers an array of services including Meals on Wheels, Medicare consultations, senior transportation, emergency services/financial assistance, cafes with noon meals, caregiver support and more. It also offers a Farm Market Fresh for Seniors program that provides coupon books with vouchers for local farmer’s markets and Senior Cool Care program which provides fans and air conditioners to eligible recipients.
VPAS Executive Director Beth Bland said at this stage, they do not have any final information on potential cuts at the federal level.
“Everything is speculation,” Bland told AFP. “We hope to have some more definite information in the next few weeks.
“This is very concerning, and it will be better when we know what we are actually dealing with, but right now, it is only uncertainty.”
Blue Ridge CASA likely to lose $28K national grant
Another reader expressed concern about funding for the local Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, after three federal grants were terminated by the Department of Justice.
AFP reached out to Blue Ridge CASA about federal cuts and the potential impact to the local organization.
About: Blue Ridge CASA for Children is a nonprofit organization advocating for children who have experienced abuse or neglect through recruitment, training and supervision of community volunteers. There are more than 300 children on a waiting list for the local CASA. According to its annual report, in 2024, 66 advocates served 126 children in the region. Grants made up 50 percent of its $586,000 in revenue in the calendar year. Blue Ridge CASA serves the cities of Staunton, Waynesboro and Harrisonburg and the counties of Augusta, Rockingham, Page and Shenandoah.
“We were tentatively approved for a grant from National CASA for $28,000 before they lost all their federal funding,” Angela Crawford, chief executive officer, told AFP.
She said all inquiries about federal funding should be directed to the National CASA office. We reached out to the contact she provided on May 29. We did not receive a response.
“As of today – we have not lost any additional funding,” Crawford told AFP.
The Department of Justice terminated three federal grant awards for the national Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, in April. In a letter, the DOJ said the grants were being terminated because “they no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities.”
The program has been funded by Congress for more than three decades. The loss of funding, CASA said, would impact training, technical assistance and subawards to member programs across the country.
“Without these funds, the work of CASA/GAL [Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian Ad Litem] programs across the country will be impacted along with more than 200,000 children involved in child abuse and neglect proceedings,” a statement from CASA posted on their website said.
CASA said it would suspend all services and supports funded by the grants including subaward disbursements to state and local CASA/GAL programs across the country.
“We are marshalling every resource available to us to address this situation and strengthen our appeal given that our work as a network is in alignment with DOJ’s goal of protecting American children.”
WWRC: No impact from federal funding reductions?
A reader asked AFP to look into staffing cuts at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center in Fishersville. According to the tip, the administration at WWRC had already started cutting staff in the nursing department. The reader said “the nurses fear for their license.”
About WWRC: WWRC served more than 2,500 participants in the fiscal year 2024. It currently employs 202 individuals to help the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services vocation rehabilitation clients reach employment goals.
AFP reached out to WWRC and asked specifically about federal cuts, reduction in staffing, and specifically, nursing cuts at the facility.
“WWRC to date has not been impacted by any federal funding reductions,” said Betsy Civilette, communications director for the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services.
As far as staffing, here was her response: “WWRC constantly examines its programs and offerings to better meet the vocational rehabilitation needs of the center’s participants. This includes realignment and restructuring of programs and staffing models as necessary to best meet the needs and demands of individuals who seek vocational rehabilitation services from the center.”
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Crystal Graham
