State child abuse organizations receive federal grants

Federal grants totaling $2.26 million have been awarded to nonprofit centers that provide professional care to children who have suffered various forms of abuse, including some in our area.

Gov. Kay Ivey has announced the grants, with the money being provided by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Children who have been abused need a place where they feel safe to share what happened to them and receive needed assistance,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to award these funds to groups that are proven champions for children and which play a vital role in bringing offenders to justice.”

Below are the agencies receiving grants:

Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center – $198,945 for services including therapy, medical services, forensic interviews and expert testimony for victims of child abuse, domestic violence and related crimes in Autauga, Chilton and Elmore counties.

Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center – $80,424 for a Troy-based program serving Barbour, Bullock, Coffee and Pike counties that provides care for victims of child abuse, human trafficking and kidnapping.

Central Alabama Regional Child Advocacy Center – $77,603 to provide services including conducting forensic interviews for child abuse cases in Bibb, Dallas, Hale, Perry and Wilcox counties.

Twin Cedars Youth and Family Services Inc. – Grants of $115,699 and $59,525 to fund prevention services, personal advocacy and residential programs for victims of crimes including child physical and sexual abuse and human trafficking in Lee and Macon counties.

Alabama Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Network – $1,291,991 for a statewide program based in Opelika that provides support, technical assistance and guidance for local programs in 23 counties that provide trained volunteers to advocate for child abuse victims.

Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center – $109,352 to help investigate child abuse cases, provide services to victims and conduct prevention education programs at schools in Chambers, Clay, Coosa, Randolph and Tallapoosa counties.

Regional Child Advocacy Center – $67,020 for a program serving Choctaw, Clarke and Washington counties that offers services including emotional support, assistance with bringing offenders to justice and community education about child abuse.

Family Counseling Center of Mobile Inc. – $255,479 for a child advocacy program that works with children who are victims of abuse and non-offending parents, offering counseling, group therapy and assistance with the court process in Mobile County.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will distribute the grants. ADECA manages a range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.

— Information from the Office of Governor Kay Ivey