Support for abuse center high

PROVO — Abuse victims still have a place to go in Utah County.

Utah County Commissioners last week said they solidly supported the Children's Justice Center and voted to approve an application for a federal grant.

Laura Blanchard, director of the Children's Justice Center, asked the commission to approve the application for the federal Victims of Crime Act grant. The center has received the VOCA grant for several years and this year the center was going to apply for one of the competitive grants, Blanchard said.

With competitive grants, the entity giving the money decides which competing program needs or deserves the money most and the majority of the money they have is given to the chosen program. The rest of the competing programs receive whatever money is left, if there is any.

However, because of federal funding cuts Blanchard said the center would apply for the noncompetitive VOCA grant which requires the state and the county to match funds. Non-competitive grants ensure money to every program that applies, although it is less than the potential money from a competitive grant.

Blanchard said the need for the program and the funding was so critical it was too risky to try for a competitive grant.

The commission unanimously voted to approve the application for the VOCA noncompetitive grant. Because the county decided on the noncompetitive grant, county officials will have to come up with about $9,000.

Originally started in the 1980s, the center helps both victims and the county attorney's office. Victims are interviewed by therapists about the alleged abuse and those interviews are given to the prosecutor, which the county attorney's office is then able to use in court, said Utah County Commissioner Gary Anderson.

Blanchard also presented the commissioners Tuesday with the annual report.

In the past year, the center served 1,257 individuals, including children and families that have been affected by abuse. New programs were also started that involved families in the treatment process.

"There's terrific employees that are doing a great job and making a difference in this community," Blanchard said.

Commissioner Larry Ellertson said he wished the county didn't need this program but lauded the center for its work.