MONTGOMERY – A pair of nonprofit organizations that serve victims of domestic violence and child abuse in Walker and Marion counties are receiving help from grants totaling $375,889 awarded by Gov. Robert Bentley.
Grants of $248,389 will help the Jasper-based Family Resource Center of Northwest Alabama continue providing free services to domestic violence victims. A $127,500 grant will help the Walker County Children’s Advocacy Center continue offering child-friendly care and assistance to child victims of abuse and neglect.
“Those who have suffered from abuse in their homes should have access to timely, free and thorough care from professional providers,” Bentley said. “I commend the efforts of both organizations to reach out and help those who often feel afraid to speak for themselves.”
The Family Resource Center of Northwest Alabama offers a range of assistance to victims, including a 24-hour crisis telephone line, emergency shelter, court advocacy, relocation expense assistance and referrals to service providers that can help with other needs. Matching funds of $41,846 will supplement the grants.
The agency also is one of 17 domestic violence centers in the state to receive additional funding through the state’s Domestic Violence Trust Fund. The fund, created through the state marriage license fee, is distributed quarterly to the agencies and is used to provide shelter for victims and to conduct educational and prevention programs.
The Walker County Children’s Advocacy Center offers a child-oriented environment for counseling, advocacy and specialized interviews to assist investigations. Matching funds of $21,509 will supplement the grant.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, workforce development, energy conservation, economic development, water resource management and recreation.
“ADECA’s partnerships with the Family Resource Center of Northwest Alabama and the Walker County Children’s Advocacy Center support their important work in assisting families as they begin to recover from the horrible crimes committed against them,” ADECA Director Jim Byard Jr. said.
Bentley notified William Watt, the Family Resources Center board president, and William Adair Jr., the Child Advocacy Center board president, that the grants had been approved.
Along with grants, both centers rely on local, private donations to ensure that these free services remain available.
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Contact: Russell Sellers, Mike Presley