HARRISBURG — The first round of grants to combat child sexual abuse in Pennsylvania has been awarded from a $48 million fund endowed by Penn State as a result of the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency voted to give 44 entities $3.4 million. The money will go toward hiring forensic interviewers and victim advocates, improving access to trauma therapists and helping people get counseling in underserved areas, among other things.
The university agreed to pay the money under a settlement with the NCAA over its handling of the Sandusky scandal, and a state law requires the money to remain in Pennsylvania.