Supporting Suffolk County's Youth Victims'' Crimes; a Multidisciplinary Response to the Opioid Crisis

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 America’s Drug Crisis to support direct services to children and youth who are crime victims as a result of the nation’s addiction crisis.

This award made to Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk (VIBS)is funded under OVC FY2020 Enhancing Community Responses to America’s Addiction Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims. VIBS and project partner, EAC Network, will provide resources/information for young victims impacted by addiction; evidenced-based, trauma-informed counseling (individual and group); advocacy on behalf of victims; court accompaniment; case management, and other services to 500 children and youth. A Project Manager, two Counselors and a Resource Advocate will enhance staffing at VIBS and EAC and expand services in SC including: VIBS’ 24/7 crisis hotline, counseling, advocacy, and case management, and EAC’s Child Advocacy and Parenting Centers. Awareness materials will ensure that relevant SC referral partners and personnel, as well as the general public know about the services available.

CA/NCF