Filling the Gap in Victim Assistance Programming Regarding Hybrid Financial Exploitation to Further the Mission of the Office for Victims of Crime

The Victim Assistance Professional Development Fellowship Program supports individuals to work in fellowship positions at the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) for a period of 1 year. Fellowship grantees each work in a particular topic area enhancing and extending OVC efforts to develop and replicate innovative programs that serve crime victims. OVC fellows support OVC staff through the provision of direct operational assistance to crime victim organizations and agencies and by contributing to the design and development of innovative initiatives, training programs, technical assistance, and capacity-building efforts.

Dr. Shelly Jackson will undertake the FY12 OVC Financial Fraud and Abuse Fellowship focusing on the issue of financial fraud and abuse, with a major focus on elder financial exploitation. Additionally, the fellowship will address financial abuse (including identity theft) that is closely connected to other types of victimization, such as other forms of elder abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse. Dr. Jackson will support OVC's work with discretionary grantees to develop evidence-based training, technical assistance, and models for programs and practices that build organizational and service provider capacity in this area. Activities will include: (1) assisting in the assessment of the technical assistance, training, and capacity-building needs of victim service providers and allied practitioners; (2) supporting efforts to design and administer OVC-funded training and technical assistance initiatives; (3) working with OVC staff to develop and execute an OVC discretionary grantees' meeting; (4) contributing to the development of a quarterly electronic newsletter for OVC discretionary grantees; (5) developing reports, speeches, and articles to support OVC's training, technical assistance, and capacity-building initiatives to expand evidence-based resources for the crime victims field; (6) assisting in the collection and analysis of performance measures and other programmatic information provided by OVC grantees or subgrantees that develop training, technical assistance, and other resources that enhance crime victims' access to rights and services; (7) participating in internal and external stakeholder meetings, forums, and conferences for the purpose of providing information on OJP/OVC efforts to address elder financial abuse, the relationship between financial abuse and other types of abuse, and the corresponding gaps in provider resources and capacity to reach the victims; and (8) participating in professional development and training activities.

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