These materials were developed under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). OVC funded the University of Massachusetts Lowell School of Criminology and Justice Studies, along with partners from the University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and University of Massachusetts Medical School. The purpose of this cooperative grant was to develop innovative, multidisciplinary education models that address victimization issues and responses to crime victims.

Linda Williams, Ph.D., UMass Lowell; David Hirschel, Ph.D., UMass Lowell; and Alison Cares, Ph.D., Assumption College and UMass Lowell served as the Principal Investigators. Mary Frederick, UMass Lowell, was the Project Manager.

Project partners include:

• Andrea Leverentz, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Boston
• Susan Krumholz, Ph.D., J.D., University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
• Ira Packer, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School

Grant subrecipients for curriculum development and testing include:

• Linda Bass, Ph.D., Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, Friends University
• Marcel Beausoleil, Ph.D., Criminal Justice Department, Fitchburg State University
• Michael deArellano, Ph.D., National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina
• Jennifer Gibbs, Ph.D., Department of Criminal Justice, West Chester University
• Janel Leone, Ph.D., Psychology Department, Siena College
• Christina Lopez, Ph.D., Institute of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina
• Sheila Peters, Ph.D., Psychology Department, Fisk University
• Dani Smith, Ph.D., Sociology Department, Fisk University
• Janet Stamatel, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, University of Kentucky

Other key contributors include:

• Eve Buzawa, Ph.D., School of Criminology and Justice Studies, UMass Lowell
• Robert Eckstein, Psy.D., Department of Psychology and Justice Studies, University of New Hampshire
• Bridget Marshall, Ph.D., Department of English, UMass Lowell
• Alison Moll, M.Ed., UMass Boston
• Melissa Schaefer Morabito, Ph.D., School of Criminology and Justice Studies, UMass Lowell
• Kerry Seitz, M.A., Sunrise Career Coaching, Massachusetts

The material was tested and/or peer reviewed by many groups and individuals, including:

• Kevin Becker, Psy.D., Massachusetts Victim Assistance Academy
• Lisa Bostaph, Ph.D., Department of Criminal Justice, Boise State University
• Julie Coon, Ph.D., Roger Williams University
• Shahara Drew, Ph.D., Department of English, Assumption College
• Mario Gaboury, Ph.D., J.D., Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Science, University of New Haven
• Daniel Hamilton, Center for Hope and Healing, Lowell, Massachusetts
• Roi Holt, Victim Assistance Program Coordinator, U.S. Department of the Interior
• Jill Lohmeier, Ph.D., Graduate School of Education, UMass Lowell
• Maureen Lowell, Ph.D., Department of Justice Studies, San Jose State University
• Mai Lin Rogoff, M.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School
• Deb Stanley, Ph.D., University of Baltimore
• Rhoda Trietsch, LMHC, LCSW, The Counseling Center, UMass Lowell
• UMass Lowell Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences First Year Experiences Seminar Faculty
• UMass Lowell Department of English College Writing Faculty