The Montana Attorney General’s office in Helena.
THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record
Montana will use money from a settlement with Johnson & Johnson over the company’s potentially cancer-causing baby power to bolster services for children who have been victimized by crimes, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced Wednesday.
Riverstone Health in Billings houses one of the nine accredited Children’s Advocacy Centers in Montana and received the first distribution on Wednesday of $10,000.
“I cannot imagine a better way to put the settlement dollars from Johnson & Johnson to good use. Montana’s CACs help us ensure that children who have survived heinous crimes receive the care and support they need during the investigation,” Knudsen said in a press release.
The Montana Department of Justice announced in June the state would receive $3.5 million in a multi-state settlement that totaled $700 million. In the agreement, Johnson & Johnson agreed to end manufacturing and distributing its talcum powder products.
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Montana Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) provide services for children who are victims or witnesses to crime.
Knudsen’s office said Wednesday all nine advocacy centers will receive an initial $10,000 from the settlement. Those eligible for the initial $10,000 are the Children’s Alliance of Montana, Butte Child Evaluation Center, Cascade County CAC, Emma’s House CAC, First Step Resources Center CAC, Flathead County CAC, Gallatin County CAC, Lewis and Clark County CAC, Red Bird Woman Center CAC, Yellowstone Valley CAC.
The Department of Justice is forming a working group to distribute the remaining money in coming years, including a grant program for accredited and developing programs.
“We are grateful for the additional funding made available by this settlement,” Dr. Megan Littlefield, RiverStone Health Chief Medical Officer, said in the press release from the justice department. “Since 2012, the Child Advocacy Center at RiverStone Health has provided a mentally and physically safe environment for children, and we are thankful to be able to continue to improve our medical evaluation services through this grant.”
Seaborn Larson has worked for the Montana State News Bureau since 2020. His past work includes local crime and courts reporting at the Missoulian and Great Falls Tribune, and daily news reporting at the Daily Inter Lake in Kalispell.
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Publish date : 2024-09-25 09:15:00
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