CHARLESTON –Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today presented $1,480,103 in Child Advocacy Center (CAC) Grant Program Funds for 21 projects. These funds are awarded to local nonprofit Child Advocacy Centers throughout the state to address the growing problem of child abuse and neglect.

“We are entrusted with the safety and well-being of West Virginia’s children,” Gov. Tomblin said. “Through these grants our communities can better protect our children through advocacy, education and evaluations among others.”

The 2012 Legislature re-appropriated funding to implement a system of child advocacy centers throughout the state. This funding is intended to provide grant relief to be distributed through the West Virginia Division of Justice and Community Services (DJCS) to those child advocacy centers in need of supplemental financial assistance.

Local centers who received funding:

• Cornerstone Family Interventions, Inc., located in Boone County, received $34,528 to be used for the implementation of the Child Advocacy Center in order to ensure a comprehensive, culturally competent multidisciplinary investigative team response to allegations of child abuse in a dedicated, child-friendly setting and provide or facilitate mental health interventions and victim advocacy services. The contact there is Monica Ballard, who can be reached at 304-369-5283 or cfinc@yahoo.com.

• The Logan County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. received $88,729.00 to provide site based services to victims of child maltreatment and ensure each case has the full support of the multidisciplinary team, thereby decreasing trauma and increasing support in Logan County. The contact there is Beth Cook, who can be reached at 304-792-6261 or thelogancac@yahoo.com.

To see a complete list of grant recipients, visit governor.wv.gov.