Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Victim's Services

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 competitive award programs supported by the federal Crime Victims Fund to develop innovative training, technical assistance, and direct service projects designed to improve the overall quality of services delivered to crime victims.

The overall goal of Tribal Victim Service program is to provide support to Indian tribes to improve services for victims of crime. Under this program, funding supports a range of activities including needs assessment, strategic planning, program development and implementation, program expansion, and other activities to address the victim service needs of tribes.

With this award, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma will pay for salary, benefits, travel, and supplies for a 1.0 FTE in-house Licensed Professional Counselor for all three years of the grant and a 1.0 FTE Victim Advocate starting in year 2 (when current OVC funding for the Victim Advocate expires). Funding will also be used to contract with a licensed counselor to lead Healing Circle group counseling sessions (incorporating traditional Choctaw cultural practices) twice per year. With increased funding, they will also provide emergency/short term victim needs such as clothing, personal hygiene products, emergency food, gas, etc. starting in year 2 of the grant.
(CA/NCF)