OVC’s Child Victims and Witnesses Support Materials offer age appropriate resources to support children and youth during their involvement with the justice system as a victim or witness to a crime.
A new update is available. OVC is excited to release a set of picture books, comic books, and graphic novels focused on the unique challenges faced by children and youth victims and witnesses in Tribal communities.
Many child victims and witnesses in American Indian/Alaska Native communities have endured multiple forms of violence and victimization over time, as have their families and communities. As such, the materials offer information about healing from trauma in a culturally responsive format.
The materials are designed for children in three different age groups: 2–6, 7–12, 13–18, and feature artwork and stories developed by Native artists and authors. They can be used to teach children—
- how the justice system works,
- what their rights are,
- the roles of the different practitioners they might meet, and
- how they can cope with the difficult feelings they might have.
Guides for practitioners and caregivers are available to provide information on how to use the materials.
This product was created by the Center for Court Innovation with funding from OVC.