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PARKERSBURG -- The North Star Child Advocacy Center in Wood County has received $141,156 from the state of West Virginia, the governor's office announced Wednesday.
The funds will be used to provide a child-friendly, safe, neutral environment where law enforcement and child protective service workers can observe forensic interviews with children who are alleged victims of abuse.
The state awarded $2,118,686 through the West Virginia Child Advocacy Center Grant program funds to 22 non-profit projects in the state. The funds are administered by the Justice and Community Services Section of the Division of Administrative Services.
The largest allocation of the 22 went to North Star.
The Children's Home Society of West Virginia received $109,452 to provide culturally competent, child-focused and developmentally appropriate services on site, including forensic interviewing, mental health, initial and on-going advocacy, and case coordination to children and their families.
The Wetzel County Commission received $88,201. The money will be used to reduce the traumatic effects of child abuse, protect children from maltreatment, see justice for child victims, investigate abuse as a team and strengthen the community's ability to nurture children, the governor's office said.
Awards are focused on a multi-disciplinary response to the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases by providing such services as advocacy, education, forensic interviews, evaluations and referrals.