Programs receive thousands in grant funds

The Children's Trust Fund of Alabama recently presented $232,500 in grant money for several local programs.

The local programs include Colbert-Lauderdale Attention Homes Inc., Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Inc., Family Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit of Lauderdale County, The Healing Place, Safeplace Inc., Sheffield City Schools, the Shoals Family Success Center Inc. and United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Alabama.

Paul Smelley, deputy director of the Children's Trust Fund of Alabama, said that each year, the Children's Trust Fund is able to fund close to 200 programs across the state. This year, close to $5 million in grants were awarded.

Smelley said the grant application process is competitive and in order to receive the grant, the programs must show effectiveness.

"The quality of programs in the Shoals is so very good," he said.

Milton Jackson, field director for the Children's Trust Fund of Alabama, said the mission of the trust fund is to prevent child abuse and neglect.

"By having the different types of programs, this is where we can help the people in your area and help prevent child abuse and neglect," Jackson said. "That is our heart and soul, to make a difference in what is going to happen to the children and their families."

Marian Loftin, director of the Children's Trust Fund of Alabama, said Alabama is ranked 48th in the nation in child well-being. Also, child abuse and neglect costs the state more than $520 million a year, according to a study by the University of Alabama's College of Human Environmental Sciences and the Center for Business and Economic Research.

"We have an issue with not enough investment made early in children and in families," Loftin said.

She said the programs that the Children's Trust Fund has been able to support is an investment in families and children.

"Colbert and Lauderdale have done a wonderful job in the Shoals area of having programs that can strengthen families and protect children," she said.

Melinda McCoy, prevention program coordinator with Safeplace, said the organization's program, Kids on the Block, received $15,000 in grants from the Children's Trust Fund.

"We are going to educate the elementary age, special needs children about sexual abuse, physical abuse, bullying and emotions through the use of our curriculum and educational puppets and props," McCoy said.

Close to 13 elementary schools in Lauderdale county and the city of Florence will be visited by Safeplace representatives beginning in October, as a part of the program.

Another group of programs funded with grants from the trust fund, includes the Family Life University, Life Lab, and Plan for Effective Parenting programs through the recently-established Shoals Family Success Center Inc.

Corinne Reese, executive director of the Shoals Family Success Center, said that without the support of the Children's Trust Fund, their programs would not have been able to come about.

"Programs really aren't the primary focus of the center, but I want it to be an outgrowth of what we're already here to do," Reese said.

Kenda Williams can be reached at 740-5720 or kenda.williams@timesdaily.com.