FULTON COUNTY — Fulton County has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the state that will help lay the groundwork for a child advocacy center for young victims of sexual abuse, assault or maltreatment.

District Attorney Louise Sira said Wednesday that the advocacy center will provide a neutral and “child-friendly” space for police, caseworkers and families to meet to discuss their cases.

The advocacy center, which has yet to find a location, could be up and running by the end of the year, officials said.

The state grant will also allow the county to purchase video equipment for taping interviews and will cover the cost of training for counselors and caseworkers.

The grant was awarded through a collaborative effort of the state district attorney’s office, the Department of Social Services and the Mental Health Association of Fulton and Montgomery Counties.

Officials said that the child advocacy center, or CAC, is long overdue.

“The number of child protective sexual abuse complaints received by our department is not decreasing,” DSS Commissioner Sheryda Cooper said.

“The creation of the CAC will hopefully provide an environment that makes it easier to address this very sensitive issue for all those involved, especially the children,” she said.

“The center is long overdue, and the children of Fulton County who suffer abuse need to have the services provided right here in our county instead of having to travel a distance for them,” Sira said.

Janine Dykeman, the exexecutive director of the Mental Health Association of Fulton and Montgomery Counties, said that the county Department of Social Services and the state district attorney’s office deserve a lot of credit for advocating for the center.

“The association is looking forward to our collaboration with all those involved with the development and utilization of this integral center in our community,” she said.