A grant will help keep advocacy for abused children in Shelby County front and center.

The Owens House in Columbiana will receive an $88,070 grant, Gov. Bob Riley announced Sept. 19.

The center is focused on offering counseling and advocacy services to victims of child abuse and their families.

&uot;We are very pleased that we received this continuation grant,&uot; Owens House director Helen Rardin said.

&uot;We are very grateful for having received this funding.&uot;

Owens House offers crisis intervention, counseling and trauma therapy to child abuse victims.

Rardin said the organization aids child victims and family members from the time an offense is reported through the prosecution of the offender and for several months after the trial.

&uot;Owens House provides compassionate and professional assistance to children who have been abused,&uot; Gov. Riley said.

&uot;I commend the center’s work to guide and support children through the recovery process.&uot;

In addition to providing services for victims and families, the center works to educate the community on the impact and consequences of child abuse.

Through speeches and presentations, the center’s staffers demonstrate how to recognize signs of abuse, what to do if an abusive situation is discovered and how to prevent future abuse from occurring.

Rardin said the center offers all of its services at no charge and that the grant would help keep those services accessible to victims of abuse