Justice for Victims. Justice for All.
Office for Victims of Crime
skip navigation
Browse By Topic

Cultural Awareness

Cultural awareness is a willingness to learn about, communicate with, and effectively interact with people and communities across cultures. It comprises an individual’s or community’s experiences, values cross-cultural skills, and awareness of and attitudes toward different cultural practices. Often, community and interpersonal conflicts and tensions arise from an inability to understand the actual or perceived race, color, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability of another person or group. Communities can respond to these tensions by developing viable, mutual opportunities, understandings, training and technical assistance opportunities, and other proactive measures.

The following resources provide guidance on communicating with and responding to members of various cultural groups.


OVC and OVC-Sponsored Publications

Outreach to Underserved Teen Victims of Crime (2012) OVC-Sponsored, Grant, 40 pages, NCJ 238800.
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and the National Center for Victims of Crime (National Center), with funding from OVC, produced this guidebook and accompanying Web-based resources to provide an overview of the challenges faced in conducting outreach to underserved teen victims of crime. The materials highlight examples of the various projects and resources developed and implemented in local communities through the Underserved Teen Victims Initiative.
Abstract | PDF
 
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)
 
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
 
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)
 
Existe Ayuda: Help Exists Toolkit (May 2011) OVC, Electronic Document, 0 pages, NCJ 234271.
This toolkit includes replicable Spanish-language tools and resources to help improve the cultural competence of service providers and the accessibility of services for Spanish-speaking victims of sexual violence. Resources include the following: glossaries-Spanish terms related to sexual assault and trafficking; presentations-PowerPoint slides used in presentations to promotoras (community health workers) and victim advocates; and tools-a pocket card, handout, factsheets, and scripts for public service announcements and outgoing answering machine messages.
Abstract | HTML
 

OJP Publications

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
 
Lifecourse Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence and Help-Seeking among Filipina, Indian, and Pakistani Women: Implications for Justice System Responses (July 2010) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 123 pages, NCJ 236174.
The goal of this research project is to enhance the understanding of Asian battered women's experiences in seeking help from the criminal justice system (CJS) and other (non-CJS) programs and develop recommendations for system responses to IPV in Asian communities.
Abstract | PDF
 
Final Report: Participatory Evaluation of the Tribal Victim Assistance Programs at the Lummi Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe (August 2009) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 159 pages, NCJ 228190.
This report summarizes the results of process evaluations of two tribal victim assistance programs - the Lummi Victims of Crime Program in Washington State and the Passamaquoddy Tribal Victim Outreach Advocate Program in Maine - both of which are federally funded "on-reservation" victim assistance programs intended to provide permanent, accessible, and responsive crime-victim assistance services on tribal lands.
Abstract | PDF
 

Back to Top

Cultural awareness is a willingness to learn about, communicate with, and effectively interact with people and communities across cultures. It comprises an individual’s or community’s experiences, values cross-cultural skills, and awareness of and attitudes toward different cultural practices. Often, community and interpersonal conflicts and tensions arise from an inability to understand the actual or perceived race, color, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability of another person or group. Communities can respond to these tensions by developing viable, mutual opportunities, understandings, training and technical assistance opportunities, and other proactive measures.

The following resources provide guidance on communicating with and responding to members of various cultural groups.


Cultural awareness is a willingness to learn about, communicate with, and effectively interact with people and communities across cultures. It comprises an individual’s or community’s experiences, values cross-cultural skills, and awareness of and attitudes toward different cultural practices. Often, community and interpersonal conflicts and tensions arise from an inability to understand the actual or perceived race, color, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability of another person or group. Communities can respond to these tensions by developing viable, mutual opportunities, understandings, training and technical assistance opportunities, and other proactive measures.

The following resources provide guidance on communicating with and responding to members of various cultural groups.


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 Sep 19 2012 at 2:00PM, Laura Zárate, Founding Executive Director of Arte Sana and cofounder of ALAS, and Kimber Nicoletti-Martinez, MSW, Director of Multicultural Efforts to end Sexual Assault (MESA), and Ana Isabel Vallejo, J.D./LL.M., Codirector/Attorney, VIDA Legal Assistance, Inc. and Human Trafficking Academy Project Coordinator, hosted a discussion on Responding to Latina/o Victims of Crime

On Jun 6 2012 at 2:00PM, Michael Munson, cofounder and Executive Director of FORGE, and Rebecca Waggoner, Director of OutFront Minnesota’s Anti-Violence Program, hosted a discussion on Understanding Violence Against Transgender Individuals

On Sep 21 2011 at 2:00PM, Rupaleem Bhuyan, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, and L. Patricia Ice, Director of the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance Legal Project, hosted a discussion on Victim Assistance for Undocumented/ Temporary Immigrants

On Jan 27 2010 at 2:00PM, Suzanne Koepplinger, Executive Director of the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center, and Alexandra Pierce, principal investigator and author of "Shattered Hearts: The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of American Indian Women and Girls in Min, hosted a discussion on Serving American Indian Victims of Sex Trafficking

Cultural awareness is a willingness to learn about, communicate with, and effectively interact with people and communities across cultures. It comprises an individual’s or community’s experiences, values cross-cultural skills, and awareness of and attitudes toward different cultural practices. Often, community and interpersonal conflicts and tensions arise from an inability to understand the actual or perceived race, color, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability of another person or group. Communities can respond to these tensions by developing viable, mutual opportunities, understandings, training and technical assistance opportunities, and other proactive measures.

The following resources provide guidance on communicating with and responding to members of various cultural groups.


What is the role of the Community Relations Service (CRS) of the U.S. Department of Justice?
The Community Relations Service (CRS) is the U.S. Department of Justice's "peacemaker" for community... Read More

How can I order OVC publications and products?
Many OVC publications and products are available in hardcopy and can be ordered from the National Cr... Read More

More FAQs

Cultural awareness is a willingness to learn about, communicate with, and effectively interact with people and communities across cultures. It comprises an individual’s or community’s experiences, values cross-cultural skills, and awareness of and attitudes toward different cultural practices. Often, community and interpersonal conflicts and tensions arise from an inability to understand the actual or perceived race, color, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability of another person or group. Communities can respond to these tensions by developing viable, mutual opportunities, understandings, training and technical assistance opportunities, and other proactive measures.

The following resources provide guidance on communicating with and responding to members of various cultural groups.


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

Cultural awareness is a willingness to learn about, communicate with, and effectively interact with people and communities across cultures. It comprises an individual’s or community’s experiences, values cross-cultural skills, and awareness of and attitudes toward different cultural practices. Often, community and interpersonal conflicts and tensions arise from an inability to understand the actual or perceived race, color, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability of another person or group. Communities can respond to these tensions by developing viable, mutual opportunities, understandings, training and technical assistance opportunities, and other proactive measures.

The following resources provide guidance on communicating with and responding to members of various cultural groups.


Publications

OVC and OVC-Sponsored Publications

Outreach to Underserved Teen Victims of Crime (2012) OVC-Sponsored, Grant, 40 pages, NCJ 238800. The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and the National Center for Victims of Crime (National Center), with funding from OVC, produced this guidebook and accompanying Web-based resources to provide an overview of the challenges faced in conducting outreach to underserved teen victims of crime. The materials highlight examples of the various projects and resources developed and implemented in local communities through the Underserved Teen Victims Initiative.
Abstract | PDF
 
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)
 
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
 
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)
 
Existe Ayuda: Help Exists Toolkit (May 2011) OVC, Electronic Document, 0 pages, NCJ 234271. This toolkit includes replicable Spanish-language tools and resources to help improve the cultural competence of service providers and the accessibility of services for Spanish-speaking victims of sexual violence. Resources include the following: glossaries-Spanish terms related to sexual assault and trafficking; presentations-PowerPoint slides used in presentations to promotoras (community health workers) and victim advocates; and tools-a pocket card, handout, factsheets, and scripts for public service announcements and outgoing answering machine messages.
Abstract | HTML
 

OJP Publications

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
 
Lifecourse Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence and Help-Seeking among Filipina, Indian, and Pakistani Women: Implications for Justice System Responses (July 2010) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 123 pages, NCJ 236174. The goal of this research project is to enhance the understanding of Asian battered women's experiences in seeking help from the criminal justice system (CJS) and other (non-CJS) programs and develop recommendations for system responses to IPV in Asian communities.
Abstract | PDF
 
Final Report: Participatory Evaluation of the Tribal Victim Assistance Programs at the Lummi Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe (August 2009) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 159 pages, NCJ 228190. This report summarizes the results of process evaluations of two tribal victim assistance programs - the Lummi Victims of Crime Program in Washington State and the Passamaquoddy Tribal Victim Outreach Advocate Program in Maine - both of which are federally funded "on-reservation" victim assistance programs intended to provide permanent, accessible, and responsive crime-victim assistance services on tribal lands.
Abstract | PDF
 

Back to Top

Related Resources

Federal Resources

National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS)
NCJRS is a federally funded resource offering information on victimology and victim assistance, criminal justice, juvenile justice, information to support research, policy, and program development worldwide. NCJRS supplies the victim services field with resources, publications, and program information. The NCJRS library collection includes more than 30,000 resources relevant to the field.
 
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): Community Relations Service (CRS)
CRS, the "peacemaker" arm of the U.S. Department of Justice for community conflicts and tensions, provides expert guidance and assistance to community officials and civic leaders to help resolve and prevent racial and ethnic conflict, violence, and civil disorders.
 

Non-Governmental Resources

Arte Sana
Arte Sana (Art Heals) is a national Latina-led nonprofit organization committed to ending sexual violence and aggression and engaging marginalized communities as agents of change. This organization promotes awareness, healing, and empowerment through bilingual professional training, community education, and the arts.
 
Casa de Esperanza
This organization provides bilingual advocacy and services to Latina victims of intimate partner violence. Victims may contact the Casa de Esperanza 24-hour crisis line at 651-772-1611.
 
National Latin@ Network
A project of Casa de Esperanza, the Network provides bilingual information and resources for people working within Latin communities to prevent and eliminate domestic violence. This Web site includes a resource library, public policy updates and action alerts, informative videos, training opportunities, and a blog among other culturally-specific information.
 
National Multicultural Institute (NMCI)
NMCI works with individuals, organizations, and communities to facilitate personal and systemic change in order to build an inclusive society that is strengthened and empowered by its diversity.
 

Back to Top


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 Sep 19 2012 at 2:00PM, Laura Zárate, Founding Executive Director of Arte Sana and cofounder of ALAS, and Kimber Nicoletti-Martinez, MSW, Director of Multicultural Efforts to end Sexual Assault (MESA), and Ana Isabel Vallejo, J.D./LL.M., Codirector/Attorney, VIDA Legal Assistance, Inc. and Human Trafficking Academy Project Coordinator, hosted a discussion on Responding to Latina/o Victims of Crime

On Jun 6 2012 at 2:00PM, Michael Munson, cofounder and Executive Director of FORGE, and Rebecca Waggoner, Director of OutFront Minnesota’s Anti-Violence Program, hosted a discussion on Understanding Violence Against Transgender Individuals

On Sep 21 2011 at 2:00PM, Rupaleem Bhuyan, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, and L. Patricia Ice, Director of the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance Legal Project, hosted a discussion on Victim Assistance for Undocumented/ Temporary Immigrants

On Jan 27 2010 at 2:00PM, Suzanne Koepplinger, Executive Director of the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center, and Alexandra Pierce, principal investigator and author of "Shattered Hearts: The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of American Indian Women and Girls in Min, hosted a discussion on Serving American Indian Victims of Sex Trafficking


FAQs

What is the role of the Community Relations Service (CRS) of the U.S. Department of Justice?
The Community Relations Service (CRS) is the U.S. Department of Justice's "peacemaker" for community... Read More

How can I order OVC publications and products?
Many OVC publications and products are available in hardcopy and can be ordered from the National Cr... Read More

Back to Top


Funding

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.

Back to Top


EventsDirectoryE-Mail UpdatesRSS
Facebook     Twitter     You Tube
 
National Calendar of Crime Victim Assistance-Related Events
Upcoming Event(s)

Online Directory of Crime Victims Services.