North Alabama agencies awarded more than $3M to assist domestic violence victims

MONTGOMERY – Several regional agencies have received much-needed funding to help them support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, abuse and exploitation.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs said Thursday that Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded grants totaling $3.03 million to seven North Alabama agencies that provide services to victims of abuse. ADECA is administering the grants from funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Domestic violence too often shatters lives, leaving victims and their families in vulnerable situations,” Ivey said. “The agencies receiving these grant funds directly serve victims and their families, providing shelter and resources to recover, and raising public awareness of avenues to overcome such violence.”

• Safeplace Inc. was awarded two grants totaling $1.35 million to provide services including shelter, a 24-hour help line, personal advocacy, emotional support, assistance navigating the criminal justice system, violence intervention and help in filing compensation claims to victims in Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion and Winston counties.
• Crisis Services of North Alabama Inc. has received two grants totaling $800,635 for services including shelters, outreach and the DV Responder program, which assists law enforcement in responding to domestic violence calls in Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties.
• Victim Services of Cullman Inc. has been awarded two grants totaling $311,677 to provide shelter and supportive services to domestic violence victims and their children in Cullman County while raising awareness of domestic, dating and family violence.
• Domestic Violence Crisis Services will use its $209,541 in grant funds for education and prevention services, including working with schools and summer programs to promote healthy relationships in Cherokee, DeKalb and Marshall counties.
• AshaKiran Inc. is receiving $155,870 to provide confidential and culturally sensitive assistance to foreign-born and underserved communities dealing with domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in Jackson, Limestone and Madison counties.
• Family Resource Center of Northwest Alabama Inc. serves domestic violence victims in Walker County, and its crisis line and shelter also provide services to residents of neighboring counties, including Winston, Cullman, Blount, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Fayette and Marion. It has received a grant of $150,326.
• One Place of the Shoals will use its $45,534 grant to provide services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse and elder abuse in Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion and Winston counties.

“Gov. Ivey and ADECA are dedicated to ensuring critical services are readily available to victims of domestic violence, no matter where they live in Alabama,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “I applaud these agencies also for their work to break the cycle of violence.”

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