Professional Development Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is eligible?
Service providers from any organization — public, nonprofit, or faith–based — that assists victims of crime but does not have an adequate budget to support training are eligible for the OVC Professional Development Scholarship Program:

• Victim service providers.
• Victim service advocates.
• Social service providers.
• Mental health workers.
• Healthcare professionals.
• Substance abuse workers.
• Law enforcement professionals (who provide direct victim services).
• Prosecutors (who provide direct victim services).

What is the amount of the scholarship?
Individuals can receive up to $1,000 in scholarship funds, and multidisciplinary teams up to $5,000. (A multidisciplinary team consists of individuals from various disciplines collaborating to assist victims. One example of such a team would be a SART, or Sexual Assault Response Team, which typically consists of a prosecutor, a victim advocate, a forensic nursing or medical practitioner, and a law enforcement officer). No single discipline can be represented more than once within the team. Each team member must fill out an application. Individual applications CANNOT be duplicates of one another, nor completed by the same person for the entire team.

What is the due date for the scholarship application?
The completed application form must be received by OVC TTAC at least 45 days prior to the start of the requested event. And the event must be less than a year away.

What are the criteria for scholarship awards?
Scholarship awards are based on the following criteria:

• The applicant has provided direct services to, or worked on behalf of, victims of crime in his or her current organization for at least one year.
• The applicant's organization has insufficient funds for training.
• The training is delivered by a stable organization. The organization must have provided crime victim services for a minimum of 12 months. The listed services should remain available for the foreseeable future.
• The application clearly states how the training relates to the applicant's current work in serving victims of crime.
• The training will significantly increase knowledge or skills of the applicant.
• The request for training is supported by the applicant's organization.
• The event has been deemed to further OVC's organizational mission and professional objectives for victim services staff.
• The event focuses primarily on victims' rights, services, and/or skills and educational development.

Additional Information:

• Scholarships are awarded based on the availability of funding.
• OVC reserves the right to deny scholarships to individuals or multidisciplinary teams seeking financial support to attend:
  • A training or event supported by other OVC discretionary or formula grant funding.
  • A training or event whose program content or message does not support the mission, goals, or stated priorities of OVC.
• Only one individual per organization may receive a Professional Development Scholarship in any 12-month period from the date of the event.
• Scholarships are nontransferable.

What does the scholarship pay for?
The OVC Professional Development Scholarship covers some or all of the following:

• Tuition/Registration fees.
• Transportation expenses (up to the government rate).
• Lodging expenses (up to the government rate).
• Meals/incidentals (up to the government rate).

How do I apply?
There are several ways you can apply for the OVC Professional Development Scholarship.

• Complete the online application after clicking "Apply" below.
• Download the application here (PDF, 59 KB | MS Word, 887 KB).
• Call 1-866-OVC TTAC (1-866-682-8822) and ask for an application.

If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact the OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center at the address below.

Please send the completed application to:

Office for Victims of Crime
Training and Technical Assistance Center
OVC Professional Development Scholarship Program
10530 Rosehaven Street, Suite 400
Fairfax, VA 22030

Phone: 1-866-OVC TTAC (1-866-682-8822)
TTY: 1-866-682-8880
Fax: 703-279-4673

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