MONTGOMERY— Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $399,335 grant to support a nonprofit organization that assists child victims of physical and sexual abuse in Morgan County.

The grant will help the Morgan County Child Advocacy Center to continue providing services including specialized investigative interviews for young victims, counseling for children and affected family members, and advocates to assist families during abuse investigations. The center provides the services in a child-friendly environment.

“Specialized assistance, advocacy and care are needed to help children who have been victimized in such traumatic ways,” Ivey said. “I commend the staff of the Morgan County Child Advocacy Center for the work they do to help children recover from abusive situations.”

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“ADECA joins Governor Ivey in supporting the important work of the Morgan County Child Advocacy Center,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “This partnership will help ensure that victims in Morgan County continue to have access to specialized assistance.”

Along with grant funding, the center relies on local, private donations to ensure that victims have access to a full range of services throughout the year.

ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim services, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation development.

Ivey notified Scott Anderson, chairman of the center’s board, that the grant had been approved.