FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson
573-751-0290
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Matt Blunt announced today that the Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) Board of Directors approved and awarded over $1.5 million for Fiscal Year 2008 to 58 community-based child abuse prevention grantees. Located throughout Missouri, the organizations and agencies will provide programs that strengthen families to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect.
“Our children are our future, and these important grants are making important investments to strengthen Missouri families and prevent child abuse and neglect,” Gov. Blunt said. “This funding will provide education and services that nurture families and will provide resources and guidance to help families live without abuse and neglect.”
According to the Missouri Department of Social Services, in 2006, 123,298 hotline calls generated 51,396 reports of child abuse and neglect involving 74,545 children. Of those 5,279 cases substantiated, 7,217 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 appreciative of our contributors who enable the Children’s Trust Fund to provide resources for these proven prevention models each year,” said Kirk Schreiber, CTF executive director. “Our partners are diligent in their efforts to strengthen their communities by helping families learn skills to avoid abusive situations.”
Some of the funded prevention programs focus on home visitation and school-based sexual abuse prevention education. Several engage in mentoring programs that help pregnant and parenting teens by providing education, resources and support. Others provide parenting classes and introduce infant massage kits to new parents to encourage and develop positive bonding, and some programs provide safe cribs for infants. Grandparent and fatherhood initiatives, the Strengthening Families model, crisis nurseries, professional development training, and support of other underserved populations continue to be addressed through this funding. CTF also invests in programs that support families of medically fragile babies and other special needs children who are at-risk of abuse. Four specific grants will help communities develop an integrated system of delivering health, family support and social services to children and families.
CTF is Missouri’s foundation for child abuse prevention and works through grant distribution, education and awareness. CTF has distributed over $37 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 cycle, the grantee is required to fund an increasing proportion of the program’s cost.
For a complete list of CTF prevention projects funded, please visit www.ctf4kids.org or call 573-751-5147.
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