To Provide Culturally Relevant Trauma Informed Services to Native American Youth Victims of Crime that are Referred to the Kewa House Emergency Youth Shelter

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 award programs supported by the federal Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to develop innovative training and technical assistance, and to provide direct services to improve the overall quality of victim assistance.

The overall goal of the Fiscal Year 2019 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program is to provide support to tribal communities to improve services for victims of crime. Under the solicitation, OVC solicited applications for funding to support a comprehensive range of activities including needs assessment, strategic planning, program development and implementation, program expansion, and other activities needed to address the needs of a wide variety of crime victims in tribal communities.

With an award under Purpose Area 2: Coordination and Expansion of Existing Victim Service Program, the program will enhance services for victims referred to Kewa House (youth shelter) and increase coordination of services for victims with other relevant stakeholders. Funding will support: salary, benefits, travel, training, and supplies for a 0.10 FTE Kewa Family Wellness Center Director/Programs Administrator, a 0.50 FTE Youth Shelter Program Manager, a 0.75 Trauma Informed Clinician, a 1.0 FTE Certified Peer Support Specialist, and a 1.0 FTE Case Manager. Grant funding will also cover security system and video surveillance system for the youth shelter, a new data tracking system, a GSA vehicle lease, short-term/emergency assistance for victims (e.g. clothing, hygiene products, etc.), and consultant contracts for training. (CA/NCF)