Points of view or opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Prosecutors and Trauma Exposure: Effects and Mitigation Strategies
Date: November 30, 2021Length: 1.25 hours
Summary:
Although research to date has explored the impacts of exposure to trauma for victim service providers, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, law enforcement, and EMTs, fewer studies have explored secondary trauma among prosecutors. This session provides an overview of the findings of a research study that applied qualitative methods to examine the perspectives of prosecutors in Virginia who work sex crime cases. The discussion includes mitigation strategies for criminal justice system personnel designed to enhance resiliency while working with victims of crime.
Are You Prepared? The Role of Victim Assistance Providers in Preparing and Responding to Incidents of Mass Violence
Date: September 29, 2021Length: 1.25 hours
Summary:
Mass violence incidents require preparation and coordination across a wide range of organizations and stakeholders. As a victim assistance provider, you may be expected to respond and support victims in extraordinary circumstances. Some of these activities may be very similar to the work you do every day, but there will be differences, and your role may expand to providing leadership and support to more nontraditional critical activities. How can you and other victim service providers in your community be best prepared to be part of an effective response? What existing trainings and activities used by other agencies and emergency management planners would be most helpful for your preparation? This session covers proactive strategies for connecting with local resources and identifying resources that can help prepare victim assistance practitioners for their role in mass violence incident response and recovery.
U.S. Department of Justice International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program
Date: August 25, 2021Length: 1.25 hours
Summary:
The International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP) is a unique federal program that provides financial reimbursement to victims of international terrorism and their families for expenses related to medical and mental health care, funeral and burial, repatriation of the victim’s remains, property loss, and miscellaneous expenses such as emergency travel. Eligible victims include U.S. citizens and foreign nationals working for the U.S. Government at the time of the terrorist act who suffer direct physical or emotional injury from an act of terrorism while outside the United States.
ITVERP is funded through the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve (the Emergency Reserve), a component of the Crime Victims Fund (the Fund). The Fund is financed by fines, penalties, and forfeitures paid by convicted federal criminal offenders as well as gifts, donations, and private bequests; it does not use tax dollars. This session provides an overview of ITVERP and provides an example of a typical claim and the process for responding to claims.
Victim Service Provider Program Outcome Measures
Date: July 28, 2021Length: 1.25 hours
Summary:
Measuring victim service outcomes is a key element in determining a program’s effectiveness and improving the quality of services for survivors. Data are critical for demonstrating a program’s success. Several common barriers make collecting data difficult and burdensome. Those barriers include determining what outcomes to measure, selecting an appropriate tool or method for collecting data, finding solutions that best represent the program, and integrating outcome measurement into existing processes and procedures. In this session, participants discuss best practices in measuring victim service outcomes and share solutions to common challenges. In addition, the hosts share findings from the new Outcomes Measurement Tool, a resource developed by the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center to assist programs with developing and tracking outcome data and establishing more streamlined measures.
Elder Financial Fraud - Tips for Caregivers
Date: June 30, 2021Length: 1.25 hours
Summary:
This Q&A session, presented by staff from the U.S. Department of Justice National Elder Fraud Hotline To Assist Victims of Financial Fraud, will provide examples of common types of financial fraud that occur among the older adult population, along with tips on how to identify a scam. Presenters will also provide ideas for caregivers to help identify when an older adult may be experiencing a fraudulent situation and how to address it with the older adult.
Coordinated Trauma Support Services – Collaboration To Support Survivors of Homicide and Other Traumatic Losses
Date: May 26, 2021Length: 1.25 hours
Summary:
Trauma affects individuals and communities in profound and unique ways. First responders and victim service providers may be seeking best practices to address the effects of trauma, especially for those who have experienced homicide and other forms of violence. This session provides participants with strategies to develop and deliver a coordinated response to victims that addresses the impacts of trauma using a replicable national model, Frontline Service's Traumatic Response Team.
Reimagining Our Community Responses to Intimate Partner Violence
Date: April 21, 2021Length: 1.25 hours
Summary:
As issues around race are being discussed more openly in the current environment, many victim advocates are grappling with the reality of the complex and often harmful impacts of collaborative system responses to intimate partner violence on Black and Brown victims of intimate partner violence. This session provides an opportunity to explore the intersections of experiences of racism in the Black community and offers a reimagining of how our communities respond to intimate partner violence.
Cyberharassment and Cyberstalking
Date: March 31, 2021Length: 1.25 hours
Summary:
Increasing numbers of individuals of all ages are experiencing harassment online, which can include physical threats, harassment over a sustained period, sexual harassment, or stalking. Cyberharassment, including cyberstalking, can happen on the Internet and in other digital spaces, particularly on social media sites. This session is an opportunity for advocates and other allied professionals to increase their understanding of the various ways that harassment can take place using electronic means, the effects of this type of harassment, and how best to support victims of these types of crimes.
The Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence and Title IX
Date: February 24, 2021Length: 1.25 hours
Summary:
With recent changes to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, victim service providers may be seeking best practices in providing comprehensive support to teen victims of dating violence. This session will provide an overview of victims’ rights, resources, and safety measures available under Title IX and ways to advocate and coordinate effectively with Title IX administrators in high schools and on college campuses.
Implementing Trauma-Informed Volunteer and Intern Programs
Date: January 27, 2021Length: 1.25 hours
Summary:
Presenters discuss approaches to implementing trauma-informed best practices into volunteer and intern programs, as well as explore how investing time and energy into these programs increases organizational capacity and is effective in strengthening programs, outreach, and advocacy efforts. During this session, participants will identify trauma-informed approaches that organizations can take to strengthen volunteer and intern programs; discuss innovative approaches to volunteer and intern recruitment, management, and retention; and identify resources for additional support and continuing education.
