Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded a $22,000 grant to a northwest Alabama agency to assist students, faculty and staff who become victims of sexual assault.
The Shoals Crisis Center in Florence will use the funds for its rape response program that serves colleges and universities in Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence and Marion counties. Trained volunteers provide on-campus awareness programs and assistance to any student or school employee who becomes the victim of sexual assault.
Earlier, Bentley awarded the center a $146,848 grant to help with its overall program that serves victims of sexual assault in the five-county region. The agency assists victims and their families to escape violent situations at home and provides other free services once victims are out of harm’s way.
The center offers a 24-hour helpline for all victims, accompaniment to hospitals, help navigating the legal system, counseling, referrals and related support. In addition to grants, the agency relies on local financial contributions from the public to fund its services.
Bentley notified Angie Hamilton, board president, that the grant had been approved. The state used an allocation from the U.S. Department of Justice to fund the grant, which is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
ADECA manages a wide range of programs supporting law enforcement and public safety, economic development, workforce development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.
Contact Jim Plott or Larry Childers