Kaw Nation's Future Victim Specialist Program

Kaw Nation will use grant funds to continue operating a victim services internship and apprenticeship program that OVC has funded since 2017. Kaw Nation will recruit four community members with ties to the Kaw Nation to serve in 3-year apprenticeships in the Kaw Nation Family Trauma Healing Center (KNFTC), which serves victims of various crimes, with a special emphasis on domestic violence and sexual assault. Apprentices will shadow several victim service providers in the jurisdictional area and complete various trainings, including the OVC Victim Assistance Training Online 40-hour victim assistance training, the Tribal Court Legal Advocacy certification, and the 40-hour Oklahoma Victim Assistance Academy, among others. Apprentices will also assist experienced service providers with providing direct services to victims, developing a victim services resource library, and planning, implementing, and delivering community awareness events, training, and educational presentations related to various crime victimization topics.