Joining Forces For Children

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, Lancaster General Hospital (LG Health) will employ a multilevel approach that will strengthen partnerships across all community sectors, reduce barriers, improve access to effective services for children and their families, and enhance communitywide capacity to identify and support young victims of the opioid crisis. The project team will lead Joining Forces for Children (JFC), a communitywide initiative, to strengthen responses across multisector stakeholders in the community, including education, child welfare, child development, behavioral health services, drug and alcohol treatment, recovery support, criminal justice, victim services, healthcare, and supportive social services. LG Health will also support a Family Advocate to work directly with children and families to navigate community resources and ensure a consistent, comprehensive, and effective network of support is provided for victims. (CA/NCF)