MONTGOMERY— Gov. Bob Riley has awarded two economic stimulus grants totaling $40,609 to help provide free professional services to child abuse victims in eight southeast Alabama counties.

Dothan-based Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center will receive a $30,919 grant to assist victims in Barbour, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties. A $9,690 grant will help Troy-based Pike Regional Advocacy Center maintain services to victims in Bullock, Coffee and Pike counties. The funds supplement earlier grants awarded by Riley to the two organizations.

“Child abuse victims and their families deserve access to efficient, professional assistance,” Riley said. “I am pleased we are able to provide a little extra support so that these centers can continue offering the timely help that victims need.”

The Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center will use a portion of its funds to maintain adequate staffing to serve victims. The center’s therapists, family advocates and forensic interviewers help victims cope with the trauma of abuse and assist in abuse investigations. The organization also will replace out-of-date computers and purchase a color copier to produce reports, brochures and other materials to increase awareness of the center.

Pike Regional Advocacy Center will use its grant to help maintain counseling, support during legal proceedings, investigative interviews and follow-up care to victims. The center provides a comfortable environment in which children can talk about the abuse.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Justice Department as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Riley informed Scott Applefield of the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center and Scherryl Harrison of the Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center that the grants had been approved.           

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Contact: Mike Presley, Larry Childers