MONTGOMERY— Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded $537,130 to the University of Alabama to assist sexual assault and dating violence victims at two college campuses in Tuscaloosa.
The grant will enable the university’s Women & Gender Resource Center to continue Project HOPE, a program to help victims of sexual assault and domestic or dating violence. The program is for students, staff and faculty at UA and nearby Shelton State Community College.
“College campuses should be safe places for students to learn new skills, make lifelong friends and prepare for a successful future,” Ivey said. “I support the University’s efforts to make sure no student in Tuscaloosa is victimized and to offer professional assistance for those who unfortunately become victims.”
The program offers services including a 24-hour crisis telephone line, accompaniment of victims to medical facilities, referrals for safe housing and other assistance, and support for victims as their cases progress through the criminal justice system. The project also includes an educational component to help prevent dating or domestic violence and sexual assault.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Justice Department.
“Gov. Ivey and ADECA believe that access to professional assistance and education is essential to helping prevent these crimes and assisting those who’ve been victimized,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA’s partnership with the University of Alabama ensures that this assistance remains available to those studying, teaching and working on these two campuses.”
ADECA administers an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation development.
Ivey notified Cynthia Hope, director of sponsored programs, that the grant had been approved. Local matching funds of $134,282 will supplement the grant.
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Contact: Russell Sellers, Mike Presley