MONTGOMERY— Gov. Bob Riley has awarded 11 grants totaling $561,301 to south Alabama organizations that provide help to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. In addition, one grant was awarded to a program that offers alternative sentencing for juvenile offenders, and another grant will help students avoid violence and drugs.
“These programs provide vital services to many residents of south Alabama,” said Riley. “I am pleased to support these efforts.”
The following grants were awarded:
• Two grants totaling $41,397, including $20,000 in economic stimulus funding, to the Crenshaw County Commission for a domestic violence investigator at the Sheriff’s Office. The investigator arrests abusers and raises awareness of domestic violence and available resources for victims.
• Four grants totaling $376,776, including $39,960 in stimulus funding, to the House of Ruth in Dothan for services to domestic violence and sexual assault victims. The organization offers a 24-hour crisis line, safe shelter, advocacy services and counseling at no cost to victims. Staff members also promote awareness and provide training on domestic violence issues to college students and youth in the center’s service area that includes Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties.
• Three grants totaling $99,488, including $19,782 in stimulus funding, to Opportunity House in Opp for services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Conecuh, Covington and Monroe counties. A 24-hour crisis line, emergency shelter, counseling and court advocacy are offered to victims.
• $27,000 to the Wise Center for Child Abuse Prevention which offers counseling, prevention education and intervention services to families and survivors of domestic violence. The center, located in Dothan, serves Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties.
• $16,640 to the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center. The center began helping victims in 1994 and offers counseling, medical exams by specially-trained nurses and other support services in Henry and Houston counties.
• $40,000 to the Geneva County Children’s Policy Council. The organization provides alternatives to confinement for juveniles by offering weekly classes that focus on delinquent behaviors, drug use, gang activity and driving offenses. The staff also conducts community service projects.
• $30,000 to the Henry County Board of Education for a violence and drug prevention program at Abbeville High School. The “Too Good for Drugs and Violence” program will be provided to students and will be supported by a drug testing program, a Web-based anonymous reporting system and a referral process to obtain counseling.
Along with grants, the nonprofit organizations depend on local, private donations to continue offering free services to victims.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available to the state by the U.S. departments of Health and Human Services, Justice and Education. A portion of the funding was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
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Contact: Josh Carples; Larry Childers
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