Announcements

OVC is seeking a Communications Specialist to perform analytical, development, and implementation functions, as well as writing/editing, dissemination, contract oversight, and Web site management. Deadline to apply: May 22.

Raise awareness about child safety issues by getting involved with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s “Take 25: Make Time To Talk About Child Safety” campaign. This campaign, with funding from OJJDP and support from OVC, encourages parents and other trusted adults to teach children how to be safer.

National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW), April 26–May 2, 2009

Celebrating Victims’ Rights: Attorney General Eric  Holder recognizes 10 individuals and programs for their service to crime victims during the April 24 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Awards Ceremony held each year to honor heroic and hard-working individuals for their extraordinary service to crime victims.

Meet the Award Recipients. Visit OVC's Gallery to view their photos and biographies. The Gallery also offers posters and event photos.

To commemorate NCVRW 2009, OVC has released five new resources to help providers enhance victim services:

• Good Samaritans: Volunteers Helping Victims
• Strengthening Sexual Assault Victims’ Right to Privacy
• Victim Services in Rural Law Enforcement
• Ethics in Victim Services
• Terrorism and International Victim Assistance Services brochure

Web Forum: Topics in Crime Victims' Services

Download transcripts of the Forum's monthly hosted discussions. Find out what questions and answers were shared in these previous OVC Web Forum discussions:

• Forensic Interviewing in Tribal Communities—held April 29, 2009.
• Strengthening Sexual Assault Victims’ Rights to Privacy—held April 15, 2009.
• Providing Services to Victims of Bullying—held March 18, 2009.

For information about updates to the Web Forum and upcoming Guest Host sessions, subscribe to the Web Forum E-Alert Listserv.

Grants and Funding

Supporting Training Conferences . . .
Plan and implement the 2011 National SART Training Conference for approximately 1,000 Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) professionals with the FY09 SART Conference 2011 grant. Apply by May 14, 2009.

See also: The 5th National SANE-SART Training Conference Web site offering online registration, details on the agenda and venue, and scholarship applications.

Training & Technical Assistance

OVC has released the online-only Ethics in Victim Services Curriculum, designed to provide information and skills related to ethical standards in victim services and ethical decisionmaking. Use this download center to gather all the materials you'll need to conduct the training.

Apply now for the National Victim Assistance Academy, to be held August 2-7, 2009, in Louisville, Kentucky. Continuing Education Units will be awarded to all participants who complete all the requirements of the Foundation-Level Training, Professional Skill-Building Institute, or Leadership Institute. Apply by June 30, 2009.

The Office for Victims of Crime is a component of
the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.