MONTGOMERY— Three nonprofit groups assisting child abuse and domestic violence victims in west Alabama are receiving a little extra support from economic stimulus grants totaling $54,431.

Gov. Bob Riley awarded the grants to help Turning Point of West Alabama, Family Resource Center of Northwest Alabama and West Alabama Children’s Advocacy Center maintain services to victims in seven counties.

“The services provided by these organizations are an important part of the recovery process for abuse victims,” Riley said. “These organizations depend heavily upon individual contributions so I urge area residents to be generous in their support.”

Riley awarded $30,754 to Turning Point, a shelter assisting domestic violence victims in Bibb, Fayette, Hale, Lamar, Pickens and Tuscaloosa Counties. The grant will help the organization retain workers who staff the shelter during overnight hours and weekends. The relief workers monitor security at the emergency shelter, answer the 24-hour crisis line and assist victims staying at the shelter.

The Family Resource Center will use a $16,377 grant to avoid potential cuts to staff hours and to replace outdated office equipment. The organization provides emergency shelter, a 24-hour crisis line, counseling and other services for victims in Walker County.

A $7,300 grant will go to the Children’s Advocacy Center, a group serving child abuse victims in Lamar, Fayette and Pickens counties. The grant will help prevent the reduction of hours the center’s staff assists victims and their families. The center provides a child-friendly environment in which victims are interviewed about the abuse. Counseling and other support services also are offered.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Justice Department as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Riley informed Pauline Mills of Turning Point, Linda Burns of the Family Resource Center and Mac Washington of the West Alabama Children’s Advocacy Center that the grants had been approved.

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Contact: Mike Presley, Larry Childers