More than $7 million is flowing into the Kansas City region to help victims of crime

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KCTV) — More than $7 million is coming to the Kansas City metropolitan area to help crime victims who may currently be overlooked due to a federal program.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly recently announced that over $28 million has been awarded to state organizations that assist child and adult victims of crime throughout the Sunflower State.

“It is critical for victims of crime to have support and access to services so they can recover and find a sense of justice,” said Governor Kelly. “These investments will ensure that Kansas residents across the state are not left alone after a crime.”

Kelly said the bipartisan legislature helped increase state grants to maintain programs in Kansas, which have been hit by cuts compared to the federal victim assistance program, the Victims of Crime Act.

The Governor noted that a total of $28,046,331 was awarded to domestic violence and sexual assault programs, child protection centers and court-appointed special advocate programs.

Kelly noted that the programs use state funds to provide housing, advocacy and safety planning to those who have been victims of sexual assault or domestic violence. Staff also provide services and information to those who call SafeLine Kansas' statewide, language-accessible crisis hotline at 888-363-2287.

Meanwhile, the governor said child-focused, community-based programs that coordinate investigations and interventions for abused children also received funding to hire and train staff, provide services to victims and caregivers, and coordinate interdisciplinary case review teams.

In closing, Kelly said CASA programs recruit, train and support citizen volunteers who work with courts, legal and child protection professionals to find permanent placements for abused or neglected children. The money is used to train volunteers for these tasks.

Kelly noted that honorees from the Kansas City metropolitan area include:

• The Center for Sexual Trauma and Abuse Treatment, Lawrence – $503,326
• The Willow Domestic Violence Center, Lawrence – $944,633
• SAFEHOME, Overland Park – $1,576,167
• Alliance Against Domestic Violence, Leavenworth – $329,303
• Friends of Yates, Kansas City – $1,517,066
• Municipal Sexual Assault Prevention Organization, Kansas City – $1,369,713
• Douglas County Child Protection Center, Lawrence – $95,637
• Sunflower House, Shawnee – $554,261
• First Judicial District CASA Association, Leavenworth – $255,063
• Douglas County CASA, Lawrence – $51,251
• CASA of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties, Overland Park – $202,625
• First Judicial District CASA Association, Leavenworth – $51,638
• Total: $7,450,683

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