MONTGOMERY— Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $90,440 grant to a nonprofit organization that works to prevent domestic violence and assist victims in Calhoun, Cleburne, Etowah and Talladega counties.
Grant funds will help 2nd Chance Inc. to offer community events and presentations in area schools to increase awareness of the dangers of dating violence and assistance available to victims. Students will receive information about how to establish healthy relationships, signs of controlling behaviors and methods to prevent or escape from abusive situations, according to 2nd Chance officials.
“Educating our youth from an early age about the dynamics of healthy and unhealthy relationships may prevent some cases of abuse from ever happening,” Gov. Ivey said. “I commend 2nd Chance for its efforts to help students in these counties to recognize the signs of dangerous behavior and how to escape abusive situations with knowledge that help is available to them.”
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available through the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, a program under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Local matching funds of $22,610 will supplement the grant.
“ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in support of the work that staff members and volunteers of 2nd Chance perform each day to better educate and assist youth who may have found themselves in family or dating violence situations,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victims’ programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.
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Contact: Russell Sellers, Mike Presley