For immediate release
Award Presentation: Local Organizations Granted $1,521,900 for Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
Albertville, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention are joining local and state leaders on February 28th to present a check in the amount of $1,521,900 to local grantee organizations in Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District.
“The Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention looks forward each year to participating in our annual district check presentations. These events provide opportunities to highlight the outstanding work of our agency’s funded programs in each of the state’s Seven Congressional Districts. These community-based entities implement evidence-based programs to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect in Alabama.” said Sallye Longshore, director of the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention.
The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, also known as the Children’s Trust Fund, provides annual funding to community-based programs across the state that are dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. This year, the agency awarded a total of 175 grants statewide to a range of prevention efforts, including parent education, home visiting, fatherhood, mentoring, respite care, and community awareness programs.
This check presentation includes 21 grants to local organizations working throughout Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District. The organizations funded include: Family Success Center of Etowah County, Inc., United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Alabama, Jasper Area Family Services Center, Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast AL, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Shoals, Inc., Sheffield City School, The Link of Cullman County, Inc., Gadsden City Schools, United Way’s Success By 6, Hospice of Marshall County-
A trusted leader for 35 years in hospice home and inpatient care, Shepherd’s Cove Hospice proudly serves Blount, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Madison, Marshal, Morgan, and St. Clair Counties.
Shepherd’s Cove, Family Services of North Alabama, and Gadsden State Community College.
“Through the Children’s Trust Fund award, our team is able to provide support for children and their parent(s)/responsible adult(s) throughout the grief process. One of our programming goals is to teach children how to grieve effectively through our in-school and community grief support programs as well as educate our community on grief support tools through public awareness. Our grief support team has found that by teaching children about grief, including effective grief coping skills, that it helps build strong families and community while reducing the risk of child maltreatment,” explained Emily Sims, Foundation Director for Hospice of Marshall County– Shepherd’s Cove.
According to the 2021 Alabama Kids Count Data Book, there were 48,077 reports of child abuse and neglect in the state. The data also included 11,603 victims that year.
About the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect, a state agency founded in 1983, secures resources to fund evidence-based community programs committed to the prevention of child maltreatment. The agency advocates for children and the strengthening of families.
