Cumberland, Oakland agencies allotted money for rape prevention programs
Eric Morris
The Cumberland Times-News Mon Sep 26, 2011, 10:11 PM EDT
CUMBERLAND — Two area violence crisis centers have been allotted funds this month through the Maryland government’s Community Sexual Violence Prevention & Awareness program.
Family Crisis Resource Center, of Cumberland, and the Dove Center, of Oakland, are two of 17 Maryland agencies that have received funding for their rape crisis programs.
The Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention awarded $300,000 in grants to organizations across the state in an effort to reduce rape and other forms of sexual violence through prevention.
“The money will be used to raise community awareness,” said Sara-Beth James, executive director of the Family Crisis Resource Center, who says 80 percent of the agency’s funding is through grants.
“It will fund ‘healthy relationship’ presentations at different community organization events, as well as provide workshops and fund materials given out at promotional events.”
Rape crisis centers provide educational seminars, hotline services, emergency shelters, training programs for professionals, and print materials and other resources. They aim to increase awareness regarding rape and sexual assault prevention.
Dove Center Executive Director Heather Hanline echoed James in stating that the funds will be used to further the organization’s public awareness initiative.
“The funds are already in place, as this is a continuation of a grant that we’ve had for 12 years,” said Hanline. “They will continue to be used for our brochures, newspaper ads, billboards, presentations, anything that will increase public awareness of sexual violence.”
According to the governor’s office, agencies will also use the funds to provide education, training and support services for victims, health professionals and the general public.
Family Crisis Resource Center, which has served Allegany County for more than 30 years, will receive $11,000, while the Dove Center, an Oakland-based organization that maintains four locations in Garrett County, will be granted $4,750.
The Dove Center also received a $20,000 grant Monday from the Mary Kay Foundation as part of an annual $3 million national domestic violence grant program.
The Dove Center, one of 150 domestic violence organizations participating in the program, will use the grant to support the operating expenses of its domestic violence shelter.
Family Crisis Resource Center helps between 800 and 900 domestic or sexual violence victims and their children each year, while the Dove Center sees approximately 525.
The two local agencies are private, nonprofit organizations that specialize in the intervention and prevention of domestic and sexual violence.
While violent crime is at historically low levels in Maryland, reports of rape increased by 4.9 percent in 2010, according to the governor’s office.
“We are very appreciative to the governor’s office for funding this need,” added James. “Prevention and awareness is the No. 1 way to combat the problem.”
Agencies must apply for the grant on an annual basis through a competitive grant application process. The grant’s amount, according to Hanline, is based on the population and Uniform Crime Reports of sexual violence in the area an agency serves.
Together, the 17 agencies serve all 24 jurisdictions of Maryland.
More here.
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