Empowering Inner Strength: Victims Assistance Program

DOJ and OVC have long recognized the critical need to support American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) victims of crime. Over time, OVC has conducted a number of tribal consultations and listening sessions to gather input from our AI/AN partners regarding the Crime Victims Fund tribal victim services set-aside. Based on the information gathered, OVC will allocate the FY 2020 funding by an interim discretionary administrative formula. The formula being used was created with significant input from tribal leaders and from the information gathered from the consultations and listening sessions. Under this award, Fort Belknap Indian Community requested funding to improve the mental, physical, and spiritual health of individuals, families, and the community by improving services to victims of crime and their families. With this funding, Fort Belknap Indian Community will: 1. Providing direct services to victims of crime, through advocacy, referrals, transportation, emergency supplies. 2) Case management, court and hospital accompaniment, outreach events, participation in MDT to support victim services 3) Healing component includes cultural advisors and teachings.