Grant Funds UA Programs Helping Alabama’s Children

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention has awarded $1,134,400 in funding for programs in Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District aimed at educating communities about child abuse and neglect and implementing innovative approaches to prevent it.

Among the groups receiving grant money is Child Development Resources at The University of Alabama.

The Children’s Trust Fund presented the 2017 grants to prevention partners in a Nov. 2 ceremony at UA’s Child Development Research Center. The Child Development Resources’ award supports the Parenting Assistance Line and Baby TALK (Teaching Activities for Learning and Knowledge) programs housed in UA’s College of Human Environmental Sciences.

“We pride ourselves on being a valuable resource for developmentally appropriate information and connection to resources and services for our local and statewide families,” said Dr. April Kendrick, director of Child Development Resources.

“This important work would not be possible without the partnership and funding of The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention,” Kendrick said. “We are so pleased to continue our work on their behalf to help families grow and succeed.”

Baby TALK focuses on children from birth to 3. It encourages parents to establish a nurturing relationship with their children, teaches them infant development information and suggests developmentally appropriate activities.

Baby TALK visits families that deliver a baby during a stay on the obstetric units at DCH Regional Medical Center and Northport Medical Center. Baby TALK also sees families in waiting rooms of the Tuscaloosa County Health Department, University Medical Center and Maude Whatley Health Center.

Another service called Baby TALK Times provides parent-child interaction within a support group format.

PAL provides assistance to parents and other caregivers of children ages birth through 18 through a statewide toll-free number. The calls are fielded by a parent resource specialist who will listen and offer information. The line is available Monday through Friday at 866-962-3030. Information is also available online at http://www.pal.ua.edu/.

The Alabama Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Act, adopted by the Alabama Legislature in 1983, addressed the state’s growing problem of child neglect and maltreatment. To tackle the issue at its origin instead of merely treating symptoms, the act established the Children’s Trust Fund.

These state dollars provide annual support for community based prevention programs. The Children’s Trust Fund has focused on supporting family-strengthening programs and investing upfront in efforts to enhance the chance that children in Alabama grow up in a nurturing and supportive home.

Four other Tuscaloosa area organizations received grants: Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Alabama, Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa, United Cerebral Palsy of West Alabama and Tuscaloosa’s One Place.

Other agencies receiving funds are BAMA Kids, Central Alabama Regional Child Advocacy Center, Children of the Village Network, Children’s Policy Council of Dallas County, Dallas County Family Resource Center, Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization, Pickens County Family Resource Center, Sowing Seeds of Hope and YMCA of Selma-Dallas County.