Transitional Trauma Therapy

OVC’s mission is to enhance the nation’s capacity to assist crime victims and provide leadership in changing policies and practices to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime. OVC achieves this mission, in part, by administering discretionary award programs supported by the federal Crime Victims Fund to develop innovative training and technical assistance, and to provide direct services to improve the overall quality of victim assistance. The purpose of this solicitation is to address an urgent gap in crime victim services related to the opioid epidemic and to expand upon existing or establish new programs to provide services to children and youth who are victimized as the result of the opioid crisis. Projects selected under this solicitation will support service providers in expanding their current scope and expertise to ensure that children and youth—the most vulnerable victims impacted by the opioid crisis—are supported as they heal from the impact of crime and substance abuse.

With this award, Family Support Services of North Florida (FSSNF) will expand and enhance its Transitional Trauma Therapy (TTT) to reach child victims of the opioid crisis—ages birth to three—who are involved in the child welfare system in Duval County, Florida. TTT is a multidisciplinary program that incorporates trauma-trained therapists in the removal and transition process to help reduce the effects of trauma and expedite the safety and stabilization of families. This program has been succesfully implemented with older children and youth; OVC grant funding will enable these critical services to reach the youngest crime victims, their families, and substitute caregivers to minimize the harm caused by the opioid crisis. (CA/NCF)