Kadarius Toney’s time in Kansas City has come to an end, according to Adam Schefter. Toney was one of the final cuts as the Kansas City Chiefs trimmed their roster to 53 ahead of the regular season.

Toney was drafted by the New York Giants with pick No. 20 in the 2021 NFL draft. As a rookie he caught 39 passes for 420 yards and zero touchdowns. Midway through his second season the Giants gave up and traded Toney to the Chiefs for a third- and sixth- round pick. He played sparingly for the Chiefs on their run to Super Bowl LVII.

Last season he appeared in a career-high 13 games and caught 27 passes before he was benched for the final three regular season games. He did not play during the playoffs as the Chiefs won their second straight Super Bowl.

During the offseason it looked like Toney was part of the team’s plans according to ESPN. The embattled wide receiver worked out with Patrick Mahomes in Texas and during training camp Andy Reid teased using him at running back, but with the team bringing back JuJu Smith-Schuster, he obviously became expendable again.

In an ideal world, my job wouldn’t exist. Children’s Advocacy Centers would be superfluous. Crime would never touch our communities.

The reality is very different.

Last year, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas provided more than 8,500 services — from forensic interviews, to mental health care, to advocacy services — to 4,400 children facing the severe aftermath of victimhood. The reality is that the 17 accredited CACs in the state serve children from infancy to 18 years of age, of all races and walks of life, guiding them through the criminal justice system as they heal from their traumas.

For years, Kansas CACs have been crucial for children and their families in the aftermath of violent crimes such as sexual assault, physical abuse, witness to violence, child sex trafficking. In some of their toughest moments, the centers offer solace and support. CACs are instrumental in helping victims navigate the harrowing journey toward recovery and justice.

But now, their services are in jeopardy. Budget cuts loom and the threat of shutdown is real.

As the executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas, my mission has been to promote excellence in child abuse response and prevention through training, support, and statewide mobilization of our member CACs. This effort aims to create centers of distinction dedicated to supporting children and families through some of the most traumatic circumstances in their lives. Rather than leaving child victims to shoulder the burden of seeking justice and facing victimhood alone, our victim services professionals provide the crucial support these young victims need. However, to continue offering these indispensable services, CACs require adequate funding.

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), and through it the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), has assisted CACs in their crucial work for decades. Unlike taxpayer-funded initiatives, VOCA provides a sustainable federal funding source that bolsters numerous service providers dedicated to aiding millions of crime victims each year. Through this critical support, countless children and their families have found solace during their most difficult moments.

I’ve seen firsthand the way our services step into these young lives. A girl was sexually abused by her babysitter’s husband when she was only 3 years old. Her mother reached out to her local center the next day and from that first moment, the child was ushered into the recovery process by the committed staff. Over the next few years, she was given everything necessary to overcome her trauma. Now, after the resolution of her case, the girl is still in contact with her Family Advocate and offers her story to demonstrate how vital CACs are for these children and their families.

CACs are ceaseless advocates for crime victims, dedicated to ensuring they receive the necessary time and resources to heal and rebuild their lives.

This year, VOCA grants saw a $600 million federal cut. Across the board, the nation’s nearly 1,000 CACs are being forced to consider making cuts or shutting their doors.

Kansas is lucky to have received state support through the Governor’s Grants Program, adding an additional $1.8 million to the fiscal year 2024 budget and $1.1 million to the projected budget for fiscal year 2025, stabilizing programming and ensuring uninterrupted services to the children and families at all 17 Kansas CACs. While grateful for the increase stateside, our centers remain underfunded to meet the current need for services in our communities.

This vital injection into CAC funding won’t save it all. VOCA cuts will still leave thousands without essential services like victim advocacy, mental health services. These survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse will not have the same access to services or the support that we have provided for decades.

Already, Kansas CAC’s are unable to reach 32% of the state. Further limitation of our services will see that percentage grow, cutting off countless children that need to reach our doors, it will result in shrinking staffs, shutting down satellite centers and leaving our rural communities to fend for themselves without the funds to establish their own CAC. The Kansas Legislature has taken care to keep doors open in our urban and rural communities, but we are still around $4 million short to meet the demand.

At the end of the day, VOCA cuts mean that child victims will have to carry the trauma of their abuse alone.

Before addressing long-term reform in CVF funding, we must stop the bleeding from cuts that directly impact victims and survivors. That is exactly what U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) proposes with the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024. This bill is intended to maintain current service levels nationwide and provide more time for the CVF to close the funding gap. But most importantly, it will allow CACs throughout the U.S. to continue operations at the highest level.

The reality is that to end the programs for these young crime victims would be to abandon them. We owe crime victims more than that.

Kasey Dalke is executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.

MANHATTAN — Until now, we could only speculate on how Kansas State football’s depth chart would look heading into the 2024 season.

But coach Chris Klieman provided some clarity on Monday, as the Wildcats released their first official two-deep with the opener scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

Here are a few observations.

Kansas State football QB Avery Johnson cool and calm ahead of season opener

Kansas State football WR Sterling Lockett is ready to add to the family legacy

Kansas State football creative with extra positions

K-State frequently has listed 12 players on its offensive depth chart to allow for either a fullback or third wide receivers. Now, suddenly, there are 13 positions on offense, and 12 on defense.

Adding names to the list no doubt keeps more players happy, but also illustrates the Wildcats’ depth at several positions.

On offense, there now are two tight ends and two running backs to go with three wide receivers, while the defense lists three defensive ends. There is no shortage of players in the mix.

The tight end expansion allows for both sophomore Garrett Oakley and senior Will Swanson to claim starter status, while at running back junior DJ Giddens and sophomore Colorado transfer Dylan Edwards can say the same.

The three starters now listed at defensive end — the Wildcats’ base defensive is two ends and a nose tackle up front — are super-senior Brendan Mott, senior Cody Stufflebean and either Austin Peay transfer Travis Bates or redshirt freshman Chiddi Obiazor.

Veterans dominate the Wildcats’ top roster spots

The Wildcats boast experience at just about every position, as evidenced by a depth chart that names no freshmen and only six sophomores as potential starters.

And of the sophomores — Oakley at tight end, Avery Johnson at quarterback, Edwards at running back, Jayce Brown at receiver, Bates at defensive end and Austin Romaine at middle linebacker — all had significant roles last year with the Wildcats. All except for Bates, a transfer who started as a redshirt freshman at Austin Peay.

But the Wildcats have high hopes for last year’s freshmen, most of whom redshirted. The depth chart includes eight redshirt freshmen.

Damian Ilalio nailes down nose tackle job

One surprise, and it wasn’t entirely unexpected, was the emergence of junior Damian Ilalio as the starting nose tackle ahead of super-senior Uso Seumalo.

Ilalio, a Manhattan High School product, drew praise from his coaches throughout the spring and fall, while returning starter Seumalo missed most of the spring with an injury.

While both will see significant playing time, Ilalio has separated himself with his leadership ability.

We have some answers on special teams

There was not much news coming out of preseason camp with regards to specialists, but now we have an idea at last.

To nobody’s surprise, senior Chris Tennant is back to handle kickoffs, field goals and extra points, but redshirt freshman Simon McClannan has won the punting job.

The Wildcats also list a number of playmakers in the return game, with Edwards, Brown and receiver Keagan Johnson still battling for kickoff return duties, while Edwards or sophomore receiver Sterling Lockett will field punts.

Kansas State football’s first official 2024 depth chart

OFFENSE

WR — Keagan Johnson; Jadon Jackson or Ty Bowman

TE —Garrett Oakley, Brayden Loftin

LT — Easton Kilty, John Pastore

LG — Hadley Panzer, Andrew Leingang

C — Sam Hecht, Michael Capria

RG — Taylor Poitier or Andrew Leingang; Alex Key

RT — Carver Willis, Drake Bequeaith

TE — Will Swanson; Will Anciaux or Andrew Metzger

QB — Avery Johnson; Ta’Quan Roberson or Jacob Knuth

RB — DJ Giddens, Joe Jackson

RB — Dylan Edwards, La’James White

WR — Jayce Brown, Sterling Lockett

WR — Dante Cephas, Tre Spivey

DEFENSE

DE — Brendan Mott; Tobi Osunsanmior Ryan Davis

NG — Damian Ilalio, Uso Seumalo, Asher Tomaczewski

DE — Travis Bates or Chiddi Obiazor

DE — Cody Stufflebean, Jordan Allen

SLB — Desmond Purnell, Asa Newsom

MLB — Austin Romaine, Beau Palmer, Terry Kirksey

WLB — Austin Moore, Rex Van Wyhe, Zach Wittenberg

CB — Jacob Parrish, Justice James

SS — VJ Payne; Colby McCalister or Wesley Fair

JS — Jordan Riley, Jack Fabris

FS — Marques Sigle; Nickendre Stiger or Daniel Cobbs

CB — Keenan Garber; Jordan Dunbar or Donovan McIntosh

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK — Chris Tennant, Leyton Simmering

P — Simon McClannan, Teagan Cobb

LS — Mason Olguin, Keane Bessert

KR — Dylan Edwards or Jayce Brown or Keagan Johnson

PR — Dylan Edwards or Sterling Lockett

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.