By Beth Christian
Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
PARSONS – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced an award of $1,557,503 in Child Advocacy Center grant program funds to 20 projects across the state, including funds of $79,773 for the Randolph/Tucker County Children’s Advocacy Center. Tomblin’s announcement was made Wednesday, and the grant provides funds to assist local non-profit CACs in addressing the problem of child abuse and neglect.
RTCAC Director Lydia Johnson Grady said they were pleased to learn of the announcement of the grant funds.
“This grant works on a reimbursement basis,” Grady said. “It will be used for general operations. We have received the CAC grant for 9 or 10 years. The CAC grant program achieved its status in the state budget as having its own line item in 2006 and we have received funding through that every year.”
Grady said the grants are non-competitive. “The funding is exclusively for CACs which is fantastic,” Grady said. “The way it works is the Governor proposes an amount for the line item and the Legislature debates that through the budget negotiation process. Then, they come out with their recommended amount and it goes back through committee. The Governor either accepts that amount or tweaks that amount.”
There is a funding formula that determines how much each CAC is eligible to receive. “The formula is based on several factors like how many counties you serve, how many forensic interviews your CAC does in the prior year and population of the area you serve,” Grady said. “We have, for the past two years, been in budget limbo, as have most programs that are funded for child and family services.”
Grady said she is thrilled that the RTCAC funding has been bumped back up somewhat.
“It is still less than we received last year ($88,000) and part of that is because there are more CACs this year,” Grady said. “If more programs are developed, which is a good thing since there are about 20 counties in the state not served, they join into the pot and the pieces of the pie get a little bit smaller. That is part of growth and we understand that. We did not ask for an increase in our line item this past year because we understand the budget situation for our state.”
“It’s no secret that our state’s future lies in the hands of our children,” Tomblin said. “They are not only our most precious resource, but also our most vulnerable. As leaders, we have a duty to ensure our kids not only feel safe, but are safe at home, at school, and in every aspect of their lives. I’m confident this funding will help strengthen our state’s network of programs to put kids first and give families across the Mountain State a variety of resources to ensure our children grow up to be happy, healthy and successful.”
This state grant funding, coordinated through the West Virginia Division of Justice and Community Services (DJCS), provides financial support to child advocacy centers in need of supplemental financial assistance. “The CAC grant funds used to come from lottery money,” Grady said. “However, the Governor felt strongly the funding should be part of the general revenue. I agree, because it shows a commitment that this should be part of what we are budgeting for every year, not something that gets funding if there is enough lottery money. I have to commend Governor Tomblin for that move because I think it really speaks volumes when he said that CAC should be funded every year.”
Grady said the RTCAC is sponsoring a Poker Run for Kids on Aug. 15 at the Montrose Community Center.
“This is the 9th annual Poker Run for Kids,” she said. “Last year, we had more than 100 riders and we are hoping to meet this goal again this year. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and there is a breakfast for folks who want to purchase and load up on delicious food before hitting the road.”
Grady said there are four stops along the run – one in Parsons, one in Canaan Valley, one in Belington, one in Elkins, ending up again at the Montrose Community Center.
The RTCAC is set up to provide services directly to families and children and families can bring children to the office when there is a concern about child abuse or neglect. Grady said they focus heavily on sexual abuse, with more than 90 cases each year of sexual abuse concerns. The RTCAC also provides advocacy services, and they have an advocate on staff. She said the advocacy piece has to do with working with families when they are in crisis, because even with well-resourced families, if there is a concern of sexual abuse for their child, it is a crisis.
Additional information about the Randolph/Tucker County CAC is available by calling 304-630-2214. CAC offices are located in Parsons on the ground floor of the Tucker County Courthouse and in Elkins at 227 Third St.
