For children who come from a domestic violence situation, The Children’s Place provides a shelter from the abuse. 

The Children’s Place, a home designed to meet the needs of The St. Clair Children’s Advocacy Center, works to meet its mission of helping children who were in abusive situations and work to eliminate abuse so no child ever finds themselves in that situation.

That mission this week received help from Gov. Robert Bentley.

Bentley awarded a $72,000 grant for services to aid abused children in St. Clair County. The grant will help the St. Clair Children’s Advocacy Center continue providing services to children who have been abused and to family members and caregivers determined not to have been involved in the abuse. 

“This grant will help us better provide for the kids,” said Pam Kelley, The Children’s Place director. “We offer counseling services to the victims currently, but we hope to expand those services to the families in the future. Everything we get goes to expanding and bettering our services.”

The center provides counseling services, advocates to prepare victims for court and assist with other needs and forensic interviewers to assist in abuse investigations.

“Access to professional and caring assistance is important for those recovering from an abusive situation,” Bentley said. “I commend the staff of the St. Clair Children’s Advocacy Center for the support they provide to those who have suffered from such a terrible crime.”

The model for children’s advocacy centers began in Huntsville and is designed to provide a safe place for children to tell their stories. The interviews are conducted by specially-trained interviewers and recorded, alleviating the need for a child to recall the events of the abuse multiple times at various agencies.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice. ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation.

“Through our grant programs, ADECA partners with agencies like the St. Clair Children’s Advocacy Center to help ensure that when abuse happens, there is help available at no cost to victims,” ADECA Director Jim Byard Jr. said. “This assistance is vital as they take the first steps toward recovery.”

Along with grant funding, the agency relies on local, private donations to ensure services remain available to victims. For information on how you can help, financially or through volunteer work, visit stclairchildren.wordpress.com or call (205) 338-8847.