The following information resources may offer victim assistance information, research findings, educational materials, or strategies for program and policy development specific to this topic. A general listing of all OVC publications is also available.

Coping With the Holidays: After the Death of a Loved One or When You Are a Victim/Crime Survivor (November 2005)
Anticipation of a holiday without a friend or family member can be harder than the actual holiday itself. This OVC Web-page resource has suggestions from survivors for getting through the holidays.

From Pain to Power: Crime Victims Take Action (September 1998)
Following an overview of the effects of crime on its victims, this OVC monograph (NCJ 166604) addresses some of the benefits of community involvement for crime victims, including rebuilding self-esteem, reducing isolation, regaining a sense of power, and dealing with fear and anger. The monograph discusses victim assistance, victims' rights advocacy, and violence prevention and presents some caveats regarding victim activism.

OVC Handbook for Coping After Terrorism: A Guide to Healing and Recovery (September 2001)
This OVC handbook (NCJ 190249) provides victims of terrorism with information based on the expertise of mental health, crisis counseling, and victim assistance professionals. The handbook is intended to help these victims understand their reactions to an act of terrorism or mass violence. Also available in other languages.
HTML, ASCII (20 kb), or PDF (165 kb)

Providing Relief to Families After a Mass Fatality: Roles of the Medical Examiner's Office and the Family Assistance Center (November 2002)
This bulletin (NCJ 188912) offers medical examiners, coroners, and victim assistance professionals guidance, resources, and lessons learned about working with victims' families after a mass fatality event. Recommendations are drawn from the disaster response practices used by the National Transportation Safety Board and the experiences of the Oklahoma City Medical Examiner's Office during the aftermath of the 1995 terrorist bombing in that city.

When Your Child Is Missing: A Family Survival Guide, Third Edition (May 2004)
This OJJDP guide, written by parents and family members who have experienced the disappearance of a child, contains their combined advice concerning what to expect when a child is missing, what needs to be done, and where to go for help. It explains the role that various agencies and organizations play in the search for a missing child and discusses some of the important issues that need to be considered. Available in Spanish.

Working with Grieving Children After Violent Death: A Guidebook for Crime Victim Assistance Professionals (August 1996)
This OVC guidebook (NCJ 165814) is intended as a "quick reference" for victim assistance professionals in their work with children, parents, teachers, and school counselors, clergy members, and others as they address the needs of grieving children who have been touched by the death of a family member or close friend. An Instructor's Guide (NCJ 178939) is also available.