Child Advocacy Support Groups Get Grant Money

Twenty-two projects that serve children and families across West Virginia are set to receive a total of more than $2.1 million.  

The money comes from Child Advocacy Center (CAC) Grant funding. According to a press release from Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s office, 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. 

The roughly $100,000 grants for each group will go to support services like intake, investigation and follow up for victims of abuse 3 to 17 years of age along with forensic interviewing, mental health services, advocacy and case coordination.  

“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.” 

Funds were awarded to the following Child Advocacy Center programs: 

Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Inc. – $97,822.75 
The funds will be used to provide intake, investigation, and follow up services for victims of child abuse, ages 3 to 17, in Mineral, Hampshire and Hardy counties. 

Cabell Huntington Hospital – $96,580.20 
The funds will be used to improve the work of the Child Advocacy Center at Hoops Family Children’s Hospital. 

CAMC Health Education & Research Institute – $125,754.94 
The funds will be utilized to continue funding for the CAMC Women and Children’s Child Advocacy Center, which provides forensic interviews, medical evaluations, advocacy, and therapy for children and families affected by abuse in Kanawha, Putnam, Jackson and Roane counties. 

Change Incorporated – $89,016.53 
The funds will enable the Comfort House to work closely with law enforcement, prosecutors, social workers, child protective service workers and healthcare and mental health providers to serve victims of child abuse and their families in Hancock and Brooke counties. 

Child & Youth Advocacy Center – $98,015.45 
The funds will enable the program to provide forensic interviews, advocacy, and therapy to child victims of abuse and neglect while supporting a multidisciplinary approach to investigation, prosecution, treatment and prevention in Greenbrier, Monroe and Pocahontas counties. 

Child Protect of Mercer County, Inc. – $85,268.81 
The funds will strengthen Mercer County’s Child Advocacy Center by maintaining staff who provide direct services to child victims and their non-offending family members. 

Children’s Home Society of West Virginia – $107,747.05 
The funds will provide child focused and developmentally appropriate services, including forensic interviewing, mental health services, advocacy and case coordination in Berkeley, Morgan and Jefferson counties. 

Cornerstone Family Interventions, Inc. – $86,463.19 
The funds will deepen direct services for child victims requiring Child Advocacy Center services in Boone and Lincoln counties. 

Harmony House, Inc. – $91,521.69 
The funds will ensure a comprehensive, child-friendly, multidisciplinary response to allegations of child abuse using the Child Advocacy Center model servicing Ohio and Marshall counties. 

Harrison County Child Abuse Task Force – $127,103.87 
The funds will ensure a comprehensive, child-friendly, multidisciplinary response to allegations of child abuse using the Child Advocacy Center model servicing Harrison, Doddridge, Taylor and Barbour counties. 

Just for Kids, Inc. – $93,159.69 
The funds will provide forensic interviewing, advocacy, counseling and multidisciplinary team coordination for children and families affected by criminal child abuse in Raleigh and Fayette counties. 

Logan County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. – $88,631.12 
The funds will provide a safe, child-friendly location for investigating crimes against children in Logan and Mingo counties while offering supportive services to victims. 

Marion County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. – $81,318.36 
The funds will provide forensic interviews, victim advocacy, case coordination and community outreach for child victims of sexual and physical abuse in Marion County and North Central West Virginia. 

Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. –  $83,245.41 
The funds will provide forensic interviews, evaluations, advocacy, education, referrals and therapy for child abuse victims in Monongalia County. 

Mountain CAP of West Virginia, Inc. – $86,993.12 
The funds will provide forensic interviewing, advocacy, education, trauma informed case management, therapy and supportive services for abused children in Upshur and Lewis counties. 

Nicholas County Family Resource Network – $87,667.59 
The funds will provide a child friendly environment for multidisciplinary investigations involving children who have experienced physical or sexual abuse in Nicholas and Webster counties. 

North Star Child Advocacy Center, Inc. – $134,031.22 
The funds will provide a safe, neutral setting where law enforcement and child protective service workers can observe forensic interviews of children who are alleged victims of abuse in Wood, Wirt, Ritchie, Pleasants and Calhoun counties. 

Randolph Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc. – $85,885.07 
The funds will provide forensic interviews, medical services, mental health services and advocacy for child victims and their non offending caregivers in Randolph and Tucker counties. 

REACHH Family Resource Center – $73,561.99 
The funds will provide forensic interviewing, court accompaniment, medical accompaniment, counseling, advocacy, case management and community education for children and families affected by abuse and neglect in Summers County. 

Stop the Hurt, Inc. – $89,739.17 
The funds will support a multidisciplinary approach to investigating child abuse and neglect while providing direct services to victims in McDowell and Wyoming counties. 

West Virginia Child Abuse Network, Inc. – $133,053.18 
The funds will support programs that provide hope, healing and justice for children affected by abuse while strengthening statewide responses to allegations of abuse throughout the State of West Virginia. 

Wetzel County Commission – $86,270.48 
The funds will help reduce the trauma of child abuse, protect children from maltreatment, support investigations and strengthen the community’s ability to protect children in Wetzel and Taylor counties.