April 2009 AMBER Advocate is Now Available
The newest issue of The AMBER Advocate offers lessons from families of child abduction victims. The issue also highlights the U.S-Mexico border training and the first Dutch AMBER Alert, highlights from AMBER Alert Day, and other important statistics.

Training Available for Rural Law Enforcement
Registration is now open for the Technology Institute for Rural Law Enforcement, which will be held October 25-29, 2009 in California. This training is designed for the command staff or supervisory personnel of rural and small law enforcement agencies containing fewer than 50 sworn officers. Attendees will discuss initiatives and issues affecting the rural and small law enforcement community.

National Victim Assistance Academy IV
Apply now for National Victim Assistance Academy IV, to be held August 2-7, 2009, in Louisville, Kentucky. Continuing Education Units will be awarded to participants who complete all of the requirements of the Foundation-Level Training, Professional Skill-Building Institute, or Leadership Institute. Courses will be taught by teams of nationally recognized scholars, researchers, and practitioners who are leaders in the fields of victimology, criminal justice, and victims’ rights and services. The application deadline is June 30, 2009.

Women and Work Broadcast Available
The National Institute of Corrections now offers recordings of its Women and Work: Gender Responsivity and Workforce Development broadcast, which took place on September 24-25, 2008. Topics include course introduction; gender responsive principles and strategies; pathways to offending; knowing the population; guiding principles; and the Women Offender Case Management Model.

Improving Forensic Science and Medical Examiner Services
The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program awards grants to states and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services. States may apply for both “base” (formula) and competitive funds, and units of local government may apply for competitive funds. Application deadline is May 29, 2009.

Forensic Interviewing in Tribal Communities
In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month (April 2009), the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention presented a Web Forum Guest Host Session on April 29 with Hollie Strand, MFS, a forensic interviewer for the Child Advocacy Center of the Black Hills. If you missed the session, you can download the transcript.