Four grants will now allow Covington County to share more than $250,000 in grant funds that will not only help combat crime, but also help victims recover.

The announcements, which came Monday from Gov. Bob Riley’s office, stated the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center received two grants totaling $196,476 to aid child abuse victims in Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties. The center offers counseling services, a child-friendly atmosphere for conducting interviews, therapy programs and an advocacy program to help victims and their families navigate the legal system.

Two additional grants, totaling $63,786, are helping the Exchange Center for Child Abuse Prevention provide services to child abuse victims in Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties. Formerly known as the Wise Center, the organization offers counseling, prevention education and intervention services to victims of family violence.

And lastly, the county will share in an $85,000 award to the Dale County Commission for the Southeast Alabama Violent Crimes/Narcotics Criminal Intelligence Program, the program that collects and distributes criminal intelligence information on violent crimes, drug dealers and child predators for use by law enforcement officials in Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties.

-Stephanie Nelson