CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Gov. Patrick Morrisey has announced more than $2.1 million in grant funding to support Child Advocacy Centers across West Virginia, providing resources for 22 projects that serve children and families affected by abuse and neglect.
According to the governor’s office, a total of $2,128,850.88 in Child Advocacy Center (CAC) Grant funding was awarded to strengthen the state’s multidisciplinary response to child abuse and neglect. The funding will support services including advocacy, forensic interviews, medical evaluations, counseling, education and other assistance for child victims.
“Protecting West Virginia’s children is one of our most important responsibilities,” Morrisey said. “These grants ensure that children who have experienced abuse receive the care, advocacy, and support they need while helping law enforcement, prosecutors, medical professionals, and child advocates work together to pursue justice and protect our most vulnerable citizens.”
The Child Advocacy Center Grant Program provides funding to local nonprofit child advocacy centers that assist child victims of abuse and neglect through a coordinated, child-focused approach. The grants are administered by the Justice and Community Services Section of the West Virginia Division of Administrative Services.
Grant recipients include:
- Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc. — $97,822.75 for intake, investigation and follow-up services for child abuse victims ages 3 to 17 in Mineral, Hampshire and Hardy counties.
- Cabell Huntington Hospital — $96,580.20 to improve the Child Advocacy Center at Hoops Family Children’s Hospital.
- CAMC Health Education & Research Institute — $125,754.94 to continue funding the CAMC Women and Children’s Child Advocacy Center serving Kanawha, Putnam, Jackson and Roane counties.
- Change Incorporated — $89,016.53 to support Comfort House services for child abuse victims and their families in Hancock and Brooke counties.
- Child & Youth Advocacy Center — $98,015.45 to provide forensic interviews, advocacy and therapy in Greenbrier, Monroe and Pocahontas counties.
- Child Protect of Mercer County, Inc. — $85,268.81 to maintain staff providing direct services to child victims and their non-offending family members.
- Children’s Home Society of West Virginia — $107,747.05 for child-focused services in Berkeley, Morgan and Jefferson counties.
- Cornerstone Family Interventions, Inc. — $86,463.19 to expand services for child victims in Boone and Lincoln counties.
- Harmony House, Inc. — $91,521.69 to support child advocacy services in Ohio and Marshall counties.
- Harrison County Child Abuse Task Force — $127,103.87 for services in Harrison, Doddridge, Taylor and Barbour counties.
- Just for Kids, Inc. — $93,159.69 to provide forensic interviewing, advocacy, counseling and multidisciplinary team coordination in Raleigh and Fayette counties.
- Logan County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. — $88,631.12 for child advocacy services in Logan and Mingo counties.
- Marion County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. — $81,318.36 to provide forensic interviews, victim advocacy and outreach in Marion County and North Central West Virginia.
- Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. — $83,245.41 for forensic interviews, evaluations, advocacy and therapy in Monongalia County.
- Mountain CAP of West Virginia, Inc. — $86,993.12 for services in Upshur and Lewis counties.
- Nicholas County Family Resource Network — $87,667.59 to support multidisciplinary investigations in Nicholas and Webster counties.
- North Star Child Advocacy Center, Inc. — $134,031.22 to provide services in Wood, Wirt, Ritchie, Pleasants and Calhoun counties.
- Randolph Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc. — $85,885.07 for child advocacy services in Randolph and Tucker counties.
- REACHH Family Resource Center — $73,561.99 for forensic interviewing, counseling, advocacy and related services in Summers County.
- Stop the Hurt, Inc. — $89,739.17 to support child abuse investigations and victim services in McDowell and Wyoming counties.
- West Virginia Child Abuse Network, Inc. — $133,053.18 to strengthen statewide child advocacy programs.
- Wetzel County Commission — $86,270.48 to support child protection efforts in Wetzel and Taylor counties.
