Ivey, ADECA join forces to help prevent domestic abuse in North Alabama counties

MONTGOMERY – Advocates trying to stamp out domestic abuse received good news Friday from the office of Gov. Kay Ivey. She has awarded a grant for $75,525 to the nonprofit organization Safeplace, which assists domestic violence victims and aims to help prevent abuse in six North Alabama counties.

Safeplace will use the funds to support two programs to prevent abusive behaviors.

• The Peace Program offers nonviolence classes in which batterers are encouraged to examine and change the beliefs that lead them to be abusive and controlling of their partners.
• The Harmony Program helps victims of abuse who may be showing signs of aggression in their own behaviors. The program provides a structured setting for victims to examine and change these behaviors and improve their quality of life.

The programs serve Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion and Winston counties.

“Domestic violence almost always irreparably harms lives and destroys families,” Ivey said. “I am pleased to support these funds to enable trained professionals to work to prevent these cycles of violence before they forever damage lives.”

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

“Education and prevention are two of the tools that can be effective when confronting domestic violence,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in support of these programs that seek to lessen the impact of violence on our communities.”

ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.