The Kentucky Attorney General's office announced grants totaling nearly $220,000 from the Child Victim's Trust Fund to organizations across the commonwealth.
Child Watch received $24,653 for its “Safety Tools and Golden Rules” program. It will provide child sexual abuse prevention education for 400 teachers and staff, 5,000 parents or caregivers, and 13,000 children including campers at the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Boys and Girls Ranch.
“Funding from the Child Victims’ Trust Fund makes it possible for us to empower students in elementary schools throughout the Purchase Area with tools to prevent or stop sexual abuse from happening to them,” said Janie Criner, executive director of Child Watch Counseling. “We are honored to partner with General Cameron to bring this life-saving information to children and educators in our community.”
Child Watch serves 13 western Kentucky counties including Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, and Trigg.
“Funding child abuse prevention programs is one step toward our shared goal of ending child abuse in the Commonwealth, and I commend these hard working organizations for their dedication to protecting Kentucky’s children,” said Attorney General Cameron. “We continue working diligently each day to protect Kentucky’s children from the neglect and abuse that has plagued our state for far too long.”
Kentucky’s 15 Children’s Advocacy Centers received more than $65,000 to offset costs associated with administering more than 880 child sexual abuse medical exams.
CVTF also awarded statewide grants of $24,442 to South Central Kentucky Kids on the Block in Bowling Green, $26,603 to Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky in Lexington, and a regional grant of $56,574 to Family Nurturing Center of Florence.
In addition to these grants, organizations can apply for sponsorships of up to $5,000 to host child sexual abuse prevention conferences. Earlier this year, the fund provided $985 in sponsorship funds to support the 2020 Child Abuse Prevention Conference organized by the Pennyrile Allied Community Services/Community Collaboration for Children. The fund awards a total of $25,000 in sponsorships throughout the year, and organizations can apply for sponsorships by visiting icareaboutkids.ky.gov.
The Attorney General’s Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention (CSAEP) Board oversees CVTF, a non-profit that provides funding for child sexual abuse prevention programs and reimbursements for child sexual abuse medical exam expenses that are not covered by Medicaid or private insurance.
Kentuckians wishing to join the fight to end child abuse can donate to the CVTF by making a private donation, by purchasing an “I Care About Kids’ license plate, or by donating a portion of your state income tax refund.
To report suspected child abuse, contact local law enforcement or the Child Protection Hotline by calling 1-877-KYSAFE1 (1-877-597-2331).
