Transgender Victims of Crime Toolkit

FORGE proposes to update the Responding to Transgender Victims of Sexual Assault Toolkit it developed for OVC in 2014 to extend its scope to address all the major types of violence/crime trans people are subject to and to add a particular focus on the experience of trans women and girls of color. Research for the updates will include convening 23 listening sessions of trans survivors and victim service providers to identify pressing issues, gaps in service, and best practices for addressing those gaps and victim needs. A stakeholders advisory group comprised of providers and trans community members will help FORGE identify listening session participants and co-facilitate relevant sessions that align with their expertise. Results of the listening sessions will be summarized in a formal report to OVC. 

    Input from listening sessions, stakeholders, literature reviews, identified best practices, and a review of the existing Toolkit will be combined into a memorandum to OVC that outlines proposed revisions, updates, and additions for the new Toolkit.

    More than two dozen organizations have already been recruited and confirmed for the stakeholders advisory group or other roles to provide additional expertise, resources, and best practices. Key partners and community input partners will play a central role in the development of all components in this project. Some of the confirmed partners include: the National Center for Victims of Crime, End Violence Against Women International, SPARC/Aequitas, Resource Sharing Project, International Association of Forensic Nurses, Activating Change (formerly Vera), Montana and Michigan Coalitions, Just Detention International and others. Community input partners include the Trans Latin@ Coalition, Trans People of Color Coalition, Casa Ruby, Transgender Gender-Variant and Intersex Justice Project, and other many other organizations focusing on and led by trans people of color.

    These organizations will also help FORGE staff draft and edit new content for the Toolkit.  FORGE will engage website and design consultants to design the Toolkit, which FORGE will host.

    A detailed dissemination plan will be submitted to OVC, with the following already identified to be included in the outreach and dissemination strategy: 1) pre-designed social media toolkits (for partners and other organizations to use); 2) journal articles; 3) direct promotion by FORGE and partners through social media, newsletters, and conferences; 4) a webinar; and 5) conference presentations. 

Although expected users of the Toolkit are victim service providers, trans victims of crimes and violence will be the beneficiaries of improved services.