FC schools recieves $25k for child abuse awareness
By Staff
Melissa Cason
The Franklin County School System accepted a grant check totaling $25,000 from the Alabama Children's Trust Fund this week.
The funding will be used to bring awareness to child abuse in the county.
Deputy Director for the Children's Trust Fund Greg Smith attended the presentation with Sen. Roger Bedford Wednesday afternoon.
"We know there is a problem, but fortunately, we know how to fix it," Smith told the group. "You are fortunate to have Sen. Bedford working for you in Montgomery. He does everything within his power to see we [the trust fund] have what we need."
Heather Darracott, with the county school system, said the money will be spent promoting child abuse awareness in the county and providing life skills for third and sixth grade students.
"We will have a really big push on child abuse awareness in April, but we will also be working to promote awareness now," Darracott said.
Bedford said child abuse was something he once thought happened somewhere else.
"When I first became a senator, I thought child abuse happened in Texas or California. I had no idea it happened in Alabama," Bedford said.
"It didn't take me long to learn I was wrong."
Bedford said our children are our most precious resource and they should be protected.
In addition to the money received by the school system, another $400,000 was given to various north Alabama agencies. The total amount presented was $432,500, and those recipients include: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Shoals, Colbert-Lauderdale Attention Homes, Inc., Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama, Franklin County School System, Healing Place, Jasper Area Family Services Center, Kid One Transport, Lawrence County Schools, Sheffield City Schools, Shoals Family Council, Inc., and United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Alabama.
Smith said the money given to these agencies make programs like Shoals Safe Exchange, Healing Hearts and fatherhood programs possible for this area.
"All of these recipients have services offered in Franklin County," Smith said. "They might not be located here, but they make a difference in Franklin County."
