Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia Supports Expansion of Program to Prevent Abuse of Adults with Disabilities
Training program expanding to Roanoke and Hampton Roads in partnership with The Arc of Virginia
For Immediate Release
Media Contact
Nicole Poulin
Executive Director
Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia
Cell: (804) 310-1520
Nicole.poulin@dss.virginia.gov
Richmond, Va. – The Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia awarded a $200,000 grant to expand Virginia Commonwealth University’s Leadership for Empowerment and Abuse Prevention program to Roanoke and Hampton Roads.
The LEAP program provides training on healthy relationships and information about preventing abuse to adults with disabilities. The grant will support expanding training staff in Hampton Roads and the Roanoke Region for the next two years.
“People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more than seven times as likely to experience sexual assault and more likely to know their perpetrator compared to their peers. Despite these high rates, this is a population that is often left out of efforts to address sexual abuse” said Nicole Poulin, executive director, Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia. “LEAP is one of very few evidence-based training programs in the U.S. and FACT is proud to support the expansion to ensure more individuals have access to critical abuse prevention training.”
LEAP is a collaboration between VCU’s School of Social Work and the Partnership for People with Disabilities. The training takes place in four face-to-face 90-minute sessions that are taught by a trainer with a disability and a co-trainer.
“We know the significant time and resources required to support individuals with intellectual disabilities, and FACT’s commitment to helping address this issue is deeply appreciated and comes at a crucial time. The funds will significantly enhance our ability to provide vital resources, training and support to protect vulnerable Virginians.” Said Parthenia Dinora, Ph.D., Executive Director, VCU Partnership for People with Disabilities
Last year, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health, FACT supported Richmond Residential Services Inc and The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham to become LEAP Certified Centers for Abuse Prevention and Safety. The trainers at these locations continue to offer two LEAP trainings a year and create an organization culture of empowerment and abuse prevention.
About Family and Children’s Trust of Virginia
Since 1986, the Family and Children’s Trust has been supporting work to prevent family violence across the Commonwealth of Virginia. FACT is the only organization in Virginia that promotes stability, safety and protection across generations to prevent child abuse and neglect, domestic violence and abuse and neglect against elders. As a public-private partnership that does not receive any state or federal tax dollars, we have the flexibility and agility necessary to raise funds and dedicate our resources to the areas, issues and people that need it most. FACT has become the state-wide leader in addressing the complex issues that impact family violence dynamics across the lifespan. For more information, visit https://www.fact.virginia.gov/.
