The Coalition Against Rape and Domestic Violence (CARDV) serves victims of domestic and sexual violence in Callaway County, and recently a group of William Woods University women secured a grant to help the organization continue its work.
The Delta Chi chapter of Alpha Chi Omega applied for and won a $3,500 grant for CARDV, beating out competition from other chapters across the country. Each year two deserving nonprofits receive the grant available from the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation.
Erica Nanney, executive director/sexual assault program coordinator for CARDV, was ecstatic when she heard the news of the grant.
“The clients, survivors and staff of CARDV are really blessed to have the local Alpha Chi Omega chapter members for support,” said Nanney. “We are really blessed to have help from the sorority in the financial aspect, as well as through the effort and time they put in throughout the year; whether it is helping with the building or having donation drives.”
The grant will help CARDV continue to provide counseling to victims of domestic violence. A grant CARDV previously received had run out, and the organization only had enough money to continue a minimum amount of counseling.
Callaway County has limited mental health counseling options. Only CARDV provides counseling specifically designed for victims and survivors of domestic violence who are trying to heal amid or after trauma, domestic assault, and sometimes a lifetime of physical and sexual abuse.
Empowering individuals who have been affected by domestic and/or sexual violence to make choices that will promote their personal safety, well-being, and self-sufficiency is the guiding principle behind every CARDV interaction.
“The grant is going to help a lot of victims and help us provide what they need,” LeAnn Chapman, volunteer/outreach coordinator-victim advocate for CARDV, said.
The organization’s counseling program focuses mostly on adult, female victims of intimate partner violence. The counselor, a licensed clinical social worker, has worked in the domestic violence field for almost 20 years and has extensive training in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.
“We are so relieved that we received the funding and we’re very excited to use it,” Nanney said. “The grant will fund the program for about three months.”