Recognizing National Preparedness Month
President Trump has proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month. In his proclamation, the President states that we "honor and express our immense appreciation for the brave first responders who risk their lives to help others before, during, and after emergencies."
OVC’s Helping Victims of Mass Violence & Terrorism: Planning, Response, Recovery, and Resources toolkit provides communities and emergency managers with the framework, lessons learned, strategies, and resources to—
- conduct planning and preparation before an incident occurs,
- mitigate the effects of future acts on victims, including first responders,
- respond to active incidents, and
- recover after an incident of mass violence or terrorism occurs.
The toolkit is designed to serve as a victim-centered resource for a wide range of professionals.
Contact the OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center at [email protected] or 1–866–682–8822 for information about free custom training or technical assistance related to the toolkit and your mass violence recovery plans.
Volunteer to Honor the Victims and Responders of 9/11
On the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Americans will unite to participate in the National Day of Service and Remembrance.
This commemoration continues an inspiring tradition of engaging in charitable service on 9/11 in tribute to the victims, survivors, and the heroes who rose up in service in response to the attacks.
Learn how you can get involved by visiting the National Day of Service and Remembrance web page, where you can find opportunities to volunteer or register your volunteer project.
Ensuring Campus Safety for College and University Students
National Campus Safety Awareness Month raises awareness about safety on college and university campuses across the country.
Law enforcement, mental health, student affairs, school administrators, and legal professionals—charged with identifying, assessing, and managing violence risk at colleges and universities throughout the United States—provide an incredible service under unique and often challenging circumstances.
In recognition of National Campus Safety Awareness Month OVC provides the following list of federal and federally sponsored resources to promote safety on campus and serve victims of campus crime:
- Campus Crime section, on the OVC website.
- Campus Safety Awareness Special Feature, on the Office of Justice Programs website.
- Clery Center for Security on Campus.
- Center for Changing Our Campus Culture.
Commemorating National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. This event is commemorated annually from September 15 to October 15.
During this month, OVC highlights our Existe Ayuda Toolkit. The toolkit includes replicable Spanish-language tools and resources to help improve the cultural competence of service providers and the accessibility of services for Spanish-speaking victims of sexual violence. Resources include:
- Glossaries: Spanish terms related to sexual assault and human trafficking.
- Presentations: PowerPoint presentations for promotoras (community health workers) and victim advocates.
- Tools: a pocket card, handout, fact sheets, and scripts for public service announcements and outgoing answering machine messages.
View our Recursos en Español (Spanish Resources) page for additional resources to assist Spanish-speaking victims of crime and links to other helpful Spanish language websites.