Escambia child advocacy center receives grant funding

Published 4:15 pm Friday, November 22, 2013

The Kathy Hill Child Advocacy Center in Brewton will benefit from a nearly $46,000 grant from the state.

Gov. Robert Bentley on Friday announced the $45,971 grant to the center, which serves Conecuh, Escambia and Monroe counties.

“Abuse is a terrible crime that no child should suffer,” said Bentley. “I am grateful to organizations like these  that help those who have been victimized.”

The Regional Child Advocacy Center in Grove Hill also received state grant funding.

The centers work with law enforcement and other agencies, providing a child-friendly atmosphere to conduct interviews with the children. This allows the child to tell the details of the abuse once, rather than have to recall the details mutliple times. Counseling, court advocacy and other services are provided to the child and family members not involved with the abuse.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Justice. ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, energy conservation, workforce development, water resource management and recreation.

Bentley notified Michael Goldman, board chairman of the Regional Child Advocacy Center, and Stephen Billy, board chariman of the Escambia County Regional Child Advocacy Center, that the grants had been approved.