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.

Bridging the Systems to Empower Victims: Mental Health and Victim Services Training Guide (May 2000 reprint)
This OVC resource manual has two parts. The instructor resource manual (NCJ 179217) for curricula on victim empowerment (with attention to rape victims) contains articles and information written from either a mental health or a victim services perspective. (The document was originally printed in 1996 under the title Victim Empowerment: Bridging the Systems-Mental Health and Victim Service Providers (NCJ 161862). The student resource manual (NCJ 163173) presents workshop materials and training tips for a 2-day training program designed to foster cooperation and collaboration between victim service and mental health providers.
Instructor manual: HTML
Student manual: HTML, ASCII (299 kb), or PDF (426 kb)

Child Physical and Sexual Abuse: Guidelines for Treatment (Revised Report: April 2004)
Developed by the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at the Medical University of South Carolina and the Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress at the Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, with funding by OVC, these new guidelines recommend specific mental health treatment protocols—based on sound theory and clinical-anecdotal literature—to improve the treatment of child physical and sexual abuse. This document is available electronically from the National Victims Research and Treatment Center Web site. PDF (430 kb)

Children at Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs: Helping Meth's Youngest Victims (June 2003)
This bulletin (NCJ 197590) describes the health and safety risks faced by children who live at or visit clandestine methamphetamine labs. Measures are suggested to respond to children's mental and physical health issues when law enforcement officers seize meth labs. The experiences of several states that use multidisciplinary teams are offered as examples of promising interventions and the importance of collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies to ensure the care and protection of these children is emphasized.

Community Crisis Response (August 1999)
This fact sheet (FS 000148) describes OVC's role in providing support to communities that have suffered crimes resulting in multiple victimizations or communitywide trauma.

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.

Health Care Community, New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century (August 1998)
This bulletin (NCJ 172818) is a reprint of chapter 7 from New Directions and deals specifically with promising practices and recommendations related to the Health Care Community. An executive summary and 17 other bulletins complete the set.

Mental Health and Mass Violence: Evidence-Based Early Psychological Intervention for Victims/Survivors of Mass Violence (October-November 2001)
This report (NIH 02-5138) emphasizes that although more research is needed, existing data and clinical experience can guide the mental health community’s response to mass violence. The report, which targets professionals in the field of psychology, researchers, employers, and local, state, and federal officials, describes what is and is not effective and outlines which questions require further research. The report was developed by the National Institute of Mental Health, the U.S. Departments of Defense, Justice, and Veterans Affairs, and the American Red Cross. PDF (1.7 mb; 123 pages)  

Mental Health Community, New Directions from the Field: Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century (August 1998)
This bulletin (NCJ 172818) is a reprint of chapter 8 from New Directions and deals specifically with promising practices and recommendations related to the mental health community. An executive summary and 17 other bulletins complete the set.

Mental Health Needs, National Victim Assistance Academy Text (2002)
The NVAA text emphasizes foundations in victimology and victims' rights and services, as well as new developments in the field of victim assistance, and contains a chapter on victims' mental health needs.

A Multimedia Program for Physically Injured Crime Victims (April 2006)
This multimedia program offers victims an educational DVD (NCJ 213709), brochure (BC 000728), and bulletin (NCJ 212974) for use during their hospitalization for crime-related injuries. The program provides victims of violent crime with information about emotional responses to victimization, elements of medical follow-up, physical rehabilitation processes, and the criminal justice system. Also available in other languages.

A Multimedia Program To Improve Criminal Justice System Participation and Reduce Distress Among Physically Injured Crime Victims (April 2006)
This OVC Bulletin (NCJ 212974) is a component of A Multimedia Program for Physically Injured Crime Victims. The bulletin outlines the theories and research that led to the creation of a DVD and brochure designed to inform physically injured crime victims about the recovery process and their rights in the criminal justice system. Also available in other languages.

OVC National Directory of Victim Assistance Funding Opportunities 2001 (September 2001)
This OVC resource directory (NCJ 189218) lists by state and territory the contact names and information for federally funded crime victim assistance programs and includes particulars on grant programs that help state and local agencies prepare for and respond to incidents of domestic terrorism and criminal mass casualty.
HTML, ASCII (300 kb), or PDF (969 kb)

Privacy of Victims’ Counseling Communications (November 2002)
Eighth in the OVC Legal Series, this bulletin (NCJ 192264) provides an overview of state laws and issues related to the privacy of communications between victims and their counselors.

The Victim Assistance Field and the Profession of Social Work (March 2006)
This OVC bulletin (NCJ 210592) enhances the capacity of professional social workers to respond to the needs of adult victims of violent crime. It describes the pilot program's objectives, which included conducting a professional awareness campaign, providing training to social workers on victims' rights and services, developing links between professional social work and victim assistance organizations, and replicating the project with other NASW chapters.

Working with Grieving Children After Violent Death: A Guidebook for Crime Victim Assistance Professionals (August 1996)
This 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 Instuctor's Guide (NCJ 178939) is also available.