Bentley Grants to Assist Child Abuse Victims in East Alabama | News

MONTGOMERY, AL - Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded grants totaling $124,987 to ensure that child abuse victims in five east Alabama counties have access to professional support.

A $73,055 grant will help the Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center continue providing counseling, advocacy services and court assistance for young victims of physical and sexual abuse in Chambers, Randolph and Tallapoosa counties. The Child Advocacy Center of East Alabama is receiving $51,932 to help continue its Family Advocacy Program that offers counseling and other activities to help victims and their family members in Lee and Macon counties.

“Compassionate, professional assistance can go a long way in helping victims recover,” Bentley said. “I commend the staffs of these organizations for assisting victims to begin the healing process.”

Specially trained staff members at both centers conduct investigative interviews of victims in a child-friendly environment. The interviews are shared with agencies involved in abuse investigations, eliminating the need for children to recall the details of their abuse multiple times.    

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Justice Department.

Bentley informed Damon Lewis, president of the Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center’s board, and Beth Vaughan, president of the Child Advocacy Center of East Alabama, that the grants had been awarded. Matching funds of $18,263 will supplement the Tri-County grant and $12,983 will supplement the award for the Child Advocacy Center.

In addition to grants, both organizations depend on local, private contributions to ensure a full range of assistance is available to victims.