MONTGOMERY— Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded two grants totaling $58,208 to support a program that helps child abuse victims in DeKalb and Jackson counties take the first steps toward recovery.
The grant to the DeKalb County Children’s Advocacy Center will help the organization to support and assist abused children and non-offending family members.
The center involves social workers, law enforcement officials and counselors in a partnership to offer support and long-term assistance to victims. A specially trained staff member interviews victims in a non-threatening, child-friendly environment. The interviews are videotaped for use as evidence and to spare children the trauma of recounting the details of abuse multiple times.
The center provides a family advocate to help parents understand the investigative process and help them deal with emotions brought on by the abuse. A therapist conducts sessions to help victims process and recover from the emotional trauma.
The center also works to increase awareness and prevent child abuse, bullying and dating violence by offering age-appropriate presentations for children.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ADECA administers an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, workforce development, water resource management and recreation development.
Bentley informed Dana Grimes, president of the center’s board, that he had approved the grants. Along with grants, the center relies on private donations to ensure that services continue to be available to victims free of charge.
Contact: Mike Presley, Larry Childers