Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Announces Grants to Fight Child Abuse and Neglect
JEFFERSON CITY–Governor Matt Blunt announced today that the Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) Board of Directors approved and awarded over $1.6 million for Fiscal Year 2007 to 63 community-based child abuse prevention grants throughout Missouri. The organizations and agencies selected will provide programs and services that help support families to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect.
“The Children’s Trust Fund’s grants help to provide services and education to help families live in an environment that is free from abuse and violence,” Blunt said. “I commend the Children’s Trust Fund for working to make positive differences in the lives of children and their families.”
According to the Missouri Department of Social Services, in 2005 there were 54,108 reports of child abuse and neglect involving 80,577 children. Of the 5,812 cases substantiated, 8,158 children were involved. Abused and neglected children are at higher risk for negative outcomes such as adolescent pregnancy, substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, academic failure and criminal activity.
“We are so pleased to provide this funding to communities across our state thanks to the generosity of our contributors,” said Kirk Schreiber, CTF executive director. “Through proven prevention models, our partners help families acquire skills to overcome and avoid abusive situations and provide a safe environment for their children.”
Many of the prevention programs being funded focus on home visitation and school-based prevention education, which include counseling, crisis intervention and parenting classes. Several engage in mentoring programs that focus on helping pregnant and parenting teens by providing education, resources and support. Others introduce infant massage kits to new parents to encourage and develop positive bonding, and some programs will provide safe cribs for infants. Grandparent and fatherhood initiatives, the strengthening families model, crisis nurseries, professional development training, and support of Latino families and victims of domestic violence continue to be addressed through this funding. CTF also invests in programs that support families of medically fragile babies and other physically challenged and disabled children who are at-risk of abuse. Several will help communities develop an integrated system of delivering health, family support and social services to children and families in order to improve outcomes, reduce duplication and costs, and ultimately reduce the risks of child abuse and neglect.
CTF is Missouri’s foundation for child abuse prevention and has distributed nearly $35 million of non-general revenue funding toward prevention efforts since being created by the Missouri General Assembly in 1983. Funding for community based prevention grants is awarded for one year with the possibility of renewal for an additional four years based on the performance outcome of the program and the availability of CTF funding. During the last three years of the grant cycle, the local community organization is required to fund an increasing proportion of the program’s cost.
For a complete list of CTF prevention projects funded for Fiscal Year 2007, please visit www.ctf4kids.org or call 573-751-5147.
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