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OVC and OVC-Sponsored Publications

Through Our Eyes: Children, Violence, and Trauma (February 2013) OVC, 0 pages, NCJ 241394.
This video series addresses the needs of children exposed to crime, abuse, and violence; highlights major issues in child victimization; identifies promising practices for service providers and others working with young victims; and shows how trauma-informed care can help child victims recover to lead healthy, productive lives. A companion resource guide accompanies each video.
Abstract | HTML
 
National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) Theme DVD 2013 (December 2012) OVC, 0 pages, NCJ 240784.
Part of the NCVRW Resource Guide, this DVD includes a 5-minute feature video —New Challenges. New Solutions. —and three 30-second television public service announcements (PSAs) that address the topics of child sexual abuse, child sex trafficking, and elder abuse. OVC encourages organizations to use the introductory theme DVD throughout the year at public awareness, education, and training events in local communities to promote and advance the cause of justice for victims of crime.
Abstract | HTML
 
National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) Resource Guide 2013 (December 2012) OVC, 130 pages, NCJ 239229.
This guide is designed to help communities and victim assistance providers promote awareness of crime victim issues, the Guide includes educational content, campaign materials, artwork, and a theme DVD. New this year are three pre-produced 30-second PSAs addressing child sexual abuse, child sex trafficking, and elder financial fraud.
PDF | HTML (English) | HTML (Spanish)
 
2013 National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) Poster (October 2012) OVC, PS000025.
The 2013 National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) theme poster is available for download in 11" x 17" in color and black and white and can be customized for your organization before printing. You also may order the 22" x 28" color version, which features the theme colors of blue and black through the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) by visiting www.ncjrs.gov.
PDF (Color) | PDF (Black & White)
 
Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination Research Forum: Summary of Research Questions Identified (March 2012) OVC, NCJ 239602.
On March 28-29, 2012, the Office for Victims of Crime in partnership with the National Institute of Justice held a forum on research related to sexual assault medical forensic examinations (SAMFE). This forum explored gaps in the existing research related to the technical aspects of SAMFE. The goal was to identify research needed to bring a stronger evidence base to the SAMFE. A report was produced describing the conversation of the forum and the identified research needs.
PDF | HTML
 

OJP Publications

Implementation of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Practitioner Evaluation Toolkit (August 2012) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 145 pages, NCJ 240916.
The purpose of this project was to conduct an implementation evaluation of the SANE Practitioner Evaluation Toolkit. The authors selected six SANE programs (two rural, two mid-sized, and two urban) and provided comprehensive technical assistance to help these programs work through the steps in the Toolkit so that they could evaluate whether their programs were having a beneficial impact on prosecution rates.
Abstract | PDF
 
Evaluating the Work of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Programs in the Criminal Justice System: A Toolkit for Practitioners (August 2012) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 227 pages, NCJ 240917.
The focus of this Toolkit is the impact of SANE programs on the progression of sexual assault cases through the criminal justice system, meaning how many cases make it how far through the system. To that end, the Toolkit is designed to provide practitioners with the necessary information for understanding and evaluating SANE programs' impact on prosecution rates in their own community.
Abstract | PDF
 
Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination Research Forum: Summary of Research Questions Identified (March 2012) NIJ, NCJ 239602.
On March 28-29, 2012, the Office for Victims of Crime in partnership with the National Institute of Justice held a forum on research related to sexual assault medical forensic examinations (SAMFE). This forum explored gaps in the existing research related to the technical aspects of SAMFE. The goal was to identify research needed to bring a stronger evidence base to the SAMFE. A report was produced describing the conversation of the forum and the identified research needs.
PDF | HTML
 
People with Dementia as Witnesses to Emotional Events (April 2011) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 30 pages, NCJ 234132.
Elderly person with dementia are often the only witnesses to crimes against them, such as physical or financial elder abuse, yet they are disparaged and discounted as unreliable. Clinical experience with this population indicates that significant emotional experiences may be salient to people with dementia, and that certain behaviors and characteristics enhance their credibility as historians. This is the first systematic research to identify people with dementia with reliable emotional memory and their characteristics.
Abstract | PDF
 
Effectiveness of Coordinated Outreach in Intimate Partner Violence Cases: A Randomized, Longitudinal Design (March 2011) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 142 pages, NCJ 238480.
The current study tested the prediction that early coordinated victim outreach would improve criminal justice outcomes as well as increase victim safety and empowerment among victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). In collaboration with research, criminal justice, and community-based partners, this project evaluated an innovative outreach program for racially and ethnically diverse IPV victims whose cases had come to the attention of the criminal justice system.
Abstract | PDF
 

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Each month the Nation's experts answer your questions about best practices in victim services. Below are upcoming and most recent session discussions in this topic:

On Feb 28 2013 at 2:00PM, Mitru Ciarlante, Director of Child & Club Safety for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Dr. John Rich, Professor and Chair of Health Management and Policy at the Drexel University School of Public Health, hosted a discussion on Reaching Young Men of Color Exposed to Violence

On Aug 29 2012 at 2:00PM, Vivian Brown, founder and former CEO of Prototypes, and Amy Fleischauer, LMSW, Director of Victim Services at the International Institute of Buffalo, hosted a discussion on Implementing Trauma-Informed Care in Victim Services Settings

On Mar 21 2012 at 2:00PM, Rev. Dr. Bernard "Skip" Keels, Director of the University Chapel at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, and Elsie Boudreau, LMSW, Alaska Native Justice Center , hosted a discussion on Responding to Survivors of Clergy Abuse

On Feb 15 2012 at 2:00PM, Jenifer Markowitz, Medical Advisor for AEquitas: The Prosecutor’s Resource on Violence Against Women, and Jennifer Gentile Long, Director of AEquitas: The Prosecutors' Resource on Violence Against Women, hosted a discussion on Assisting Older Victims of Intimate Partner Sexual Violence

On Jan 27 2012 at 2:00PM, Karen Kalergis, Associate Director of Education and Communications at the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault at the University of Texas, and Janice Harris Lord, licensed social worker, professional counselor, and private consultant on crime victims' issues, hosted a discussion on Building Resiliency Within Victim Service Organizations


How can I order the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) DVD, Cómo Recuperarse de sus Lesiones Relacionadas con el Delito, NCJ 215732?
The Cómo Recuperarse de sus Lesiones Relacionadas con el Delito DVD, NCJ 215732, can be ordered thro... Read More

How can I order the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) DVD, Victims with Disabilities: A Forensic Interview-Training Techniques for Interviewing Victims with Communication or Cognitive Disabilities Training Kit, NCJ 234678?
The Victims with Disabilities: A Forensic Interview-Training Techniques for Interviewing Victims wit... Read More

How can I order the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) DVD, First Response to Victims of Crime, NCJ 211619?
The First Response to Victims of Crime DVD, NCJ 211619, can be ordered through the Shopping Cart sec... Read More

How can I order the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) video, First Response to Victims of Crime, NCJ 211618?
The First Response to Victims of Crime VHS, NCJ 211618, can be ordered through the Shopping Cart sec... Read More

How can I order the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) First Response to Victims of Crime Guidebook, NCJ 231171?
The First Response to Victims of Crime: A Guidebook for Law Enforcement Officers, NCJ 231171, which ... Read More

More FAQs


FY 2013 An Evidence-Based Approach to Understanding and Addressing Vicarious Trauma in Victim Assistance Professionals, Law Enforcement Officers, and Other First Responders (PDF 208 kb)
Deadline: 06/13/2013
One cooperative agreement of $1,250,000 will be awarded to support the examination, assessment, identification, and pilot testing of evidence-based policies, practices, procedures, and protocols designed to facilitate an understanding of and comprehensive approach to addressing vicarious (or secondary) traumatic stress in victim assistance professionals, law enforcement personnel, and other first responders who are subject to the impact of traumatic stress due to large-scale incidents of criminal mass violence or a series of exposures to an accumulation of traumatizing incidents. Those applying are urged to begin in advance of the June 13, 2013, deadline.


FY 2013 Services for Victims of Human Trafficking (PDF 457 kb)
Deadline: 06/10/2013
Approximately seven cooperative agreements of up to $400,000 each will be awarded to provide timely, high-quality services to victims of human trafficking as defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, as amended, and to enhance interagency collaboration and coordination in the provision of services to such victims. Funding will support either a comprehensive array of services for all trafficking victims, or specialized services for trafficking victims. Funding also will support efforts to increase the capacity of communities to respond to victims through the development of interagency partnerships and professional training, public outreach, and awareness campaigns. Those applying are urged to begin in advance of the June 10, 2013, deadline.

More Funding Opportunities


Publications

OVC and OVC-Sponsored Publications

Through Our Eyes: Children, Violence, and Trauma (February 2013) OVC, 0 pages, NCJ 241394. This video series addresses the needs of children exposed to crime, abuse, and violence; highlights major issues in child victimization; identifies promising practices for service providers and others working with young victims; and shows how trauma-informed care can help child victims recover to lead healthy, productive lives. A companion resource guide accompanies each video.
Abstract | HTML
 
National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) Theme DVD 2013 (December 2012) OVC, 0 pages, NCJ 240784. Part of the NCVRW Resource Guide, this DVD includes a 5-minute feature video —New Challenges. New Solutions. —and three 30-second television public service announcements (PSAs) that address the topics of child sexual abuse, child sex trafficking, and elder abuse. OVC encourages organizations to use the introductory theme DVD throughout the year at public awareness, education, and training events in local communities to promote and advance the cause of justice for victims of crime.
Abstract | HTML
 
National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) Resource Guide 2013 (December 2012) OVC, 130 pages, NCJ 239229. This guide is designed to help communities and victim assistance providers promote awareness of crime victim issues, the Guide includes educational content, campaign materials, artwork, and a theme DVD. New this year are three pre-produced 30-second PSAs addressing child sexual abuse, child sex trafficking, and elder financial fraud.
PDF | HTML (English) | HTML (Spanish)
 
2013 National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) Poster (October 2012) OVC, PS000025. The 2013 National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) theme poster is available for download in 11" x 17" in color and black and white and can be customized for your organization before printing. You also may order the 22" x 28" color version, which features the theme colors of blue and black through the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) by visiting www.ncjrs.gov.
PDF (Color) | PDF (Black & White)
 
Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination Research Forum: Summary of Research Questions Identified (March 2012) OVC, NCJ 239602. On March 28-29, 2012, the Office for Victims of Crime in partnership with the National Institute of Justice held a forum on research related to sexual assault medical forensic examinations (SAMFE). This forum explored gaps in the existing research related to the technical aspects of SAMFE. The goal was to identify research needed to bring a stronger evidence base to the SAMFE. A report was produced describing the conversation of the forum and the identified research needs.
PDF | HTML
 

OJP Publications

Implementation of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Practitioner Evaluation Toolkit (August 2012) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 145 pages, NCJ 240916. The purpose of this project was to conduct an implementation evaluation of the SANE Practitioner Evaluation Toolkit. The authors selected six SANE programs (two rural, two mid-sized, and two urban) and provided comprehensive technical assistance to help these programs work through the steps in the Toolkit so that they could evaluate whether their programs were having a beneficial impact on prosecution rates.
Abstract | PDF
 
Evaluating the Work of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Programs in the Criminal Justice System: A Toolkit for Practitioners (August 2012) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 227 pages, NCJ 240917. The focus of this Toolkit is the impact of SANE programs on the progression of sexual assault cases through the criminal justice system, meaning how many cases make it how far through the system. To that end, the Toolkit is designed to provide practitioners with the necessary information for understanding and evaluating SANE programs' impact on prosecution rates in their own community.
Abstract | PDF
 
Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination Research Forum: Summary of Research Questions Identified (March 2012) NIJ, NCJ 239602. On March 28-29, 2012, the Office for Victims of Crime in partnership with the National Institute of Justice held a forum on research related to sexual assault medical forensic examinations (SAMFE). This forum explored gaps in the existing research related to the technical aspects of SAMFE. The goal was to identify research needed to bring a stronger evidence base to the SAMFE. A report was produced describing the conversation of the forum and the identified research needs.
PDF | HTML
 
People with Dementia as Witnesses to Emotional Events (April 2011) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 30 pages, NCJ 234132. Elderly person with dementia are often the only witnesses to crimes against them, such as physical or financial elder abuse, yet they are disparaged and discounted as unreliable. Clinical experience with this population indicates that significant emotional experiences may be salient to people with dementia, and that certain behaviors and characteristics enhance their credibility as historians. This is the first systematic research to identify people with dementia with reliable emotional memory and their characteristics.
Abstract | PDF
 
Effectiveness of Coordinated Outreach in Intimate Partner Violence Cases: A Randomized, Longitudinal Design (March 2011) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 142 pages, NCJ 238480. The current study tested the prediction that early coordinated victim outreach would improve criminal justice outcomes as well as increase victim safety and empowerment among victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). In collaboration with research, criminal justice, and community-based partners, this project evaluated an innovative outreach program for racially and ethnically diverse IPV victims whose cases had come to the attention of the criminal justice system.
Abstract | PDF
 

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Related Resources

OVC Funded Resources

9-11 Healing and Remembrance
The 9-11 Healing and Remembrance Program is a program of the Mental Health Association of New York City (MHA-NYC), funded by OVC. The program aims to assist and support those affected by the 9-11 terrorist attacks as they travel and participate in 10th anniversary events.
 
9/11 Remembrance: Resources Compiled by OVC
This section of the OVC site contains a list of government and nonprofit organizations, programs, publications, and events related to September 11th and victims of terrorism. Created for the observance of the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001, these resources continue to provide useful information and assistance to victim service professionals and the public.
 
National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC): Cyberbullying
The National Crime Prevention Council, through funding from OVC, offers resources including fact sheets and four podcasts about general cyberbullying information, taking action in schools, creating community change, and how teens feel about cyberbullying.
 

Federal Resources

Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS)
CMHS works in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in overseeing national efforts to provide emergency mental health services to survivors of Presidentially declared disasters.
 
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) has been reinstated and will provide compensation for any individual (or a personal representative of a deceased individual) who suffered physical harm or was killed as a result of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001, or the debris removal efforts that took place in the immediate aftermath of those crashes. On January 2, 2011, President Obama signed into law the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-347) which expands the pool of applicants eligible for the Fund to include individuals who experienced injuries associated with the attacks or subsequent debris removal. The VCF site allows users to obtain a list of the kinds of documents and information needed in order to process claims; register for the VCF online, the first step in submitting your claim; fill out an online eligibility form to determine VCF eligibility; submit a claim online; and review Frequently Asked Questions.
 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
The mission of the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI) is to create an environment within the department (HHS) that welcomes the participation of faith- and community-based organizations as valued and essential partners assisting Americans in need. CFBCI's mission is part of the department's focus on improving human services for our country's neediest citizens. This center leads the department's efforts to better utilize faith- and community-based organizations in providing effective human services.
 
Womenshealth.gov
NWHIC's mission is to provide leadership to promote health equity for women and girls through sex/gender-specific approaches.
 
World Trade Center Health Program
This program monitors, screens, treats and supports responders who responded to the disaster site at the World Trade Center in New York City and who may have been affected physically or mentally by their service. The site is designed to provide information related to all aspects of the World Trade Center Health Program, to highlight new developments in the program as they occur, and to help individuals find information of particular interest for them.
 

Non-Governmental Resources

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
For three decades, the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law has been the nation's leading legal advocate for people with mental disabilities.
 
Compassionate Friends
This nonprofit, self-help support organization offers friendship and understanding to bereaved parents, grandparents, and siblings. TCF provides an opportunity for sharing with and learning from other grievers.
 
Gateway to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Information
PTSDinfo.org provides resources and referrals to learn more about coping with traumatic stress.
 
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP)
NCAVP addresses the pervasive problem of violence committed against and within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and HIV-affected communities.
 
National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, Inc. (POMC)
POMC provides the ongoing emotional support needed to help parents and other survivors facilitate the reconstruction of a "new life" and to promote healthy grief resolution.
 

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Web Forum Discussions

Each month the Nation's experts answer your questions about best practices in victim services. Below are upcoming and most recent session discussions in this topic:

On Feb 28 2013 at 2:00PM, Mitru Ciarlante, Director of Child & Club Safety for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Dr. John Rich, Professor and Chair of Health Management and Policy at the Drexel University School of Public Health, hosted a discussion on Reaching Young Men of Color Exposed to Violence

On Aug 29 2012 at 2:00PM, Vivian Brown, founder and former CEO of Prototypes, and Amy Fleischauer, LMSW, Director of Victim Services at the International Institute of Buffalo, hosted a discussion on Implementing Trauma-Informed Care in Victim Services Settings

On Mar 21 2012 at 2:00PM, Rev. Dr. Bernard "Skip" Keels, Director of the University Chapel at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, and Elsie Boudreau, LMSW, Alaska Native Justice Center , hosted a discussion on Responding to Survivors of Clergy Abuse

On Feb 15 2012 at 2:00PM, Jenifer Markowitz, Medical Advisor for AEquitas: The Prosecutor’s Resource on Violence Against Women, and Jennifer Gentile Long, Director of AEquitas: The Prosecutors' Resource on Violence Against Women, hosted a discussion on Assisting Older Victims of Intimate Partner Sexual Violence

On Jan 27 2012 at 2:00PM, Karen Kalergis, Associate Director of Education and Communications at the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault at the University of Texas, and Janice Harris Lord, licensed social worker, professional counselor, and private consultant on crime victims' issues, hosted a discussion on Building Resiliency Within Victim Service Organizations


FAQs

How can I order the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) DVD, Cómo Recuperarse de sus Lesiones Relacionadas con el Delito, NCJ 215732?
The Cómo Recuperarse de sus Lesiones Relacionadas con el Delito DVD, NCJ 215732, can be ordered thro... Read More

How can I order the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) DVD, Victims with Disabilities: A Forensic Interview-Training Techniques for Interviewing Victims with Communication or Cognitive Disabilities Training Kit, NCJ 234678?
The Victims with Disabilities: A Forensic Interview-Training Techniques for Interviewing Victims wit... Read More

How can I order the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) DVD, First Response to Victims of Crime, NCJ 211619?
The First Response to Victims of Crime DVD, NCJ 211619, can be ordered through the Shopping Cart sec... Read More

How can I order the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) video, First Response to Victims of Crime, NCJ 211618?
The First Response to Victims of Crime VHS, NCJ 211618, can be ordered through the Shopping Cart sec... Read More

How can I order the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) First Response to Victims of Crime Guidebook, NCJ 231171?
The First Response to Victims of Crime: A Guidebook for Law Enforcement Officers, NCJ 231171, which ... Read More

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Funding

FY 2013 An Evidence-Based Approach to Understanding and Addressing Vicarious Trauma in Victim Assistance Professionals, Law Enforcement Officers, and Other First Responders (PDF 208 kb)
Deadline: 06/13/2013
One cooperative agreement of $1,250,000 will be awarded to support the examination, assessment, identification, and pilot testing of evidence-based policies, practices, procedures, and protocols designed to facilitate an understanding of and comprehensive approach to addressing vicarious (or secondary) traumatic stress in victim assistance professionals, law enforcement personnel, and other first responders who are subject to the impact of traumatic stress due to large-scale incidents of criminal mass violence or a series of exposures to an accumulation of traumatizing incidents. Those applying are urged to begin in advance of the June 13, 2013, deadline.


FY 2013 Services for Victims of Human Trafficking (PDF 457 kb)
Deadline: 06/10/2013
Approximately seven cooperative agreements of up to $400,000 each will be awarded to provide timely, high-quality services to victims of human trafficking as defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, as amended, and to enhance interagency collaboration and coordination in the provision of services to such victims. Funding will support either a comprehensive array of services for all trafficking victims, or specialized services for trafficking victims. Funding also will support efforts to increase the capacity of communities to respond to victims through the development of interagency partnerships and professional training, public outreach, and awareness campaigns. Those applying are urged to begin in advance of the June 10, 2013, deadline.

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National Calendar of Crime Victim Assistance-Related Events
Upcoming Event(s)

Online Directory of Crime Victims Services.