Boston Medical Center''s Violence Intervention Advocacy Program: Supporting Male Survivors of Violence

The Office for Victims of Crime’s (OVC) Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services Final Report (Vision 21) envisions that “all crime victims in the 21st century can readily access a seamless continuum of evidence-based services and support that will allow them to begin physical, emotional, and financial recovery.” However, Vision 21 recognizes there are serious challenges to achieving this goal. Improving the field’s understanding of violence and trauma and their effects on survivors are among these challenges. To this end, OVC collaborated with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to release the FY 15 Supporting Male Survivors of Violence solicitation. The solicitation sought to enhance the services available to male survivors of violence, particularly boys and men of color, and their families, by funding demonstration projects that put in place evidence-based models and practices to provide trauma-informed, comprehensive services and supporting policies for these survivors and their families. OVC and OJJDP used this solicitation to competitively select 12 demonstration sites from across the country to meet this need.

The Boston Medical Center will use this award to enhance its Violence Intervention Advocacy Program (VIAP). During the three year project period, VIAP will collaborate with seven key partners to conduct an in-depth gap analysis using focus groups, mapping of program processes and community resources, and key survivor interviews. The results of the gap analysis will be used to fill unmet program needs of male survivors of violence and their families. The project will also work to address two previously identified unmet needs: 1) resources to help male survivors find employment and housing; and, 2) expanded use of trauma-informed care that recognizes and addresses the symptoms of trauma beyond behavioral health settings.

ca/ncf

The Office for Victims of Crimes (OVC) Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services Final Report (Vision 21) envisions that all crime victims in the 21st century can readily access a seamless continuum of evidence-based services and support that will allow them to begin physical, emotional, and financial recovery. However, Vision 21 recognizes there are serious challenges to achieving this goal. Improving the fields understanding of violence and trauma and their effects on survivors are among these challenges. To this end, OVC collaborated with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to release the FY 15 Supporting Male Survivors of Violence solicitation. The solicitation sought to enhance the services available to male survivors of violence, particularly boys and men of color, and their families, by funding demonstration projects that put in place evidence-based models and practices to provide trauma-informed, comprehensive services and supporting policies for these survivors and their families. OVC and OJJDP used this solicitation to competitively select 12 demonstration sites from across the country to meet this need. The Boston Medical Center will use this award to enhance its Violence Intervention Advocacy Program (VIAP). During the three year project period, VIAP will collaborate with seven key partners to conduct an in-depth gap analysis using focus groups, mapping of program processes and community resources, and key survivor interviews. The results of the gap analysis will be used to fill unmet program needs of male survivors of violence and their families. The project will also work to address two previously identified unmet needs: 1) resources to help male survivors find employment and housing; and, 2) expanded use of trauma-informed care that recognizes and addresses the symptoms of trauma beyond behavioral health settings. ca/ncf