Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Wednesday that four Lawrence organizations have been awarded $172,670 for victims’ services programs.

“Organizations throughout Kansas provide essential services to crime victims,” Schmidt said. “These funds will enable these key partners to continue serving victims in their communities.”

The grants will fund these projects:

• $8,500 to allow Douglas County Court-Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, to recruit, train and supervise volunteers to advocate on behalf of children who are in the court system because of abuse or neglect.
• “This will allow us to concentrate even more on the role of our volunteers being in the education realm,” said Diana Frederick, CASA’s executive director.
• $65,570 to The Willow Domestic Violence Center for advocacy for survivors of domestic violence in the court system and promote awareness of the organization’s services.
• “It’s important to maintain these services in our community because domestic violence can be a hidden problem, and these social services the Willow provides at least attempt to end survivors’ suffering,” said Joan Schultz, the center’s interim director.
• $50,000 to GaDuGi SafeCenter Inc. for community education and awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault and to develop community impact initiatives to reduce crime in these areas. The center also will receive $7,500 to provide three art-based support groups for women and children affected by sexual violence.
• “We are appreciative of the increase in protection from abuse funding from the office of the attorney general, and we look forward to enhancing our services to Douglas County,” said Sarah Jane Russell, the center’s executive director.
• $41,000 to TFI Family Services Inc. for a child exchange and visitation center to provide a safe environment for supervised visitations and child exchanges.

Money for the projects comes from the State Protection from Abuse Fund, Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund and Child Exchange and Visitors Center Fund, funded by court fees and costs. The Victims’ Services Grants Program this year awarded nearly $2.2 million in grants to local and state victim assistance organizations, according to Schmidt’s office.