LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — The Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence (ACCARDV), based at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), has awarded a total of $630,000 to 11 organizations to support projects aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect.
Organizations that operate or develop programs to prevent child abuse and neglect will receive $100,000 per year for two years to support their mission.
To qualify for these grants, programs must focus on children, parents, prospective parents, or professionals.
“This is our third year issuing requests for proposals for child abuse and neglect grants,” said Laura A. Robertson, executive director of the committee, which is headquartered in the UAMS College of Academic Affairs. “This is the largest amount of funding we have ever awarded, but it has also been our most competitive application process to date, and we had some very promising programs that we were unable to fund this term.”
The commission was established 30 years ago by the state of Arkansas to strengthen the investigation, prosecution, treatment, support and prevention of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence through education programs and services.
The committee is also partnering with experts who are working on ways to address human trafficking linked to child abuse, sexual abuse and domestic violence.
Applications for state and federal grants opened in January and were due March 22nd.
By the deadline, 23 applications had been received requesting various amounts up to $100,000.
The 11 applicants selected through this process were chosen by an external review team and will receive grants ranging from $15,000 to $100,000, with distribution set to begin on July 1.
The list of selected applicants and their grant amounts is as follows:
The Arkansas Building Effective Services to Response to Trauma (ARBEST) program, run with support from the UAMS Psychiatry Institute, received $98,942 to support a new collaboration with statewide Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) programs. The program aims to develop a comprehensive training and support system to help CASA volunteers combat secondary traumatic stress and burnout. Volunteers work directly with children living in foster care who are at high risk for abuse and neglect. The Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence received $100,000 to establish a parent-child legal aid program in two divisions of the Pulaski County Circuit Court. The program provides free legal representation and expert testimony to victims of domestic violence and their children to help them obtain protective orders.
Grandma’s House Child Advocacy Center, which provides a safe place for child abuse victims and their families in Baxter, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton and Searcy counties, received $23,496 to partner with other area organizations to provide abuse prevention education to children, families and those who work with children. Community Connections, a nonprofit that provides free after-school activities for children and youth with disabilities and their families, received $93,651 to add a full-time family and child abuse prevention coordinator and expand services and events. Carter’s Crew, a nonprofit that serves youth ages 12-17 and their parents in central Arkansas, received $97,330 to add parenting classes, support groups, family nights, career readiness workshops, reading and financial literacy programs, intensive case management and access to a food and clothing pantry.
The White County Domestic Violence Prevention Center, which helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, received $30,599 to expand services to at-risk children and families in the area. Services include parenting classes for those facing custody issues, domestic violence charges or who need help rebuilding their homes.
Arkansas Children’s Hospital received $15,565 for an initiative to support hospitalized patients who are victims of physical, sexual and other abuse, and to provide education, support and referrals to other families with long-term hospitalizations. It also educates parents on infant health, safe sleep habits, shaken baby syndrome, home safety and the dangers of hot cars, and hopes to expand to the hospital’s Northwest Arkansas campus in its second year. The Arkansas Legal Services Center received $50,000 to continue a program evaluating callers to the helpline so they can provide more legal representation to families at risk of child abuse. The funds will also be used to provide a monthly community helpdesk. White River Women’s Shelter received $50,000 to continue its programs of crisis counseling, personal advocacy and case management for at-risk clients, to offer classes on child abuse prevention, parenting skills, the impact of domestic violence on children and healthy family relationships, and to provide community awareness events.
Hanna Pregnancy Resource Center in El Dorado received $50,000 to provide parenting and life skills programs, reintegration programs for incarcerated parents and home visiting programs for parents.
The Cooper Anthony Marcy Child Advocacy Centers in Hot Springs and Benton, which provide vital services to abused children, received $50,000 to continue their elementary school programs in Saline, Garland, Grant and Montgomery counties, using the Monique Barr Foundation curriculum designed to protect children from bullying, child abuse and exploitation.
Robertson said it’s important to determine which projects will benefit children across the state and provide services that don’t currently exist.
“Grants were awarded to organizations all across the state, from Union County to Baxter County,” Robertson said. “Many of the organizations have a presence throughout the state, including ARBEST, the Arkansas Coalition to Prevent Domestic Violence and Arkansas Child Protection.”
“We hope this grant will help expand prevention efforts across Arkansas and promote healthy and safe families,” Robertson said.
The Commission’s 25 members are appointed by the government and represent victim support agencies and service providers in the law enforcement, medical and mental health fields.
Tara Thomas Agency stands at the forefront of the entertainment industry, with years of experience dedicated to nurturing the most exceptional talents and successful acts.
