September is National Preparedness Month
President Biden proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month. In his proclamation, the President remarks “… we encourage all Americans to take the important steps to prepare for natural and human-made threats and to ensure that all our communities are ready for any emergency.”
In recognition of National Preparedness Month, OVC highlights the following resources.
Helping Victims of Mass Violence & Terrorism: Planning, Response, Recovery, and Resources
OVC’s Helping Victims of Mass Violence & Terrorism: Planning, Response, Recovery, and Resources toolkit helps communities prepare for and respond to the needs of victims of mass violence and terrorism in the most timely, effective, and compassionate manner possible.
Contact the OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) 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.
Webinar on Preparing and Responding to Incidents of Mass Violence
OVC TTAC will host a webinar on the role of victim assistance providers in preparing and responding to incidents of mass violence.
Date: Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. eastern time
Learn more and register for this webinar.
For additional web training to help in planning for and responding to mass violence incidents, visit the OVC TTAC Mass Violence and Terrorism page.
National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center
The Center receives funding from OVC to provide communities with evidence-based information and resources to effectively prepare for and respond to mass violence incidents.
The Center evaluates research to understand what works to help crime victims and to improve victim and mental health services through training, technical assistance, and public policy development and implementation. Visit the Tip Sheets section of their site for suggestions related to mass violence planning.
The Center’s Transcend mobile app offers a safe space for victims to heal. Users can access tools and activities on calming the body, managing distressing thoughts, maintaining healthy activity, coping with loss, and helping others. A “Get Help” feature offers contact information for crisis hotlines and other support services. Learn more and download the Transcend App.
Visit the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center website to learn more.
Improving Community Preparedness for Mass Violence Victims
This OVC-funded project provides training, technical assistance, and support to help communities augment their existing emergency response plans to ensure they effectively include immediate and long-term protocols and strategies to support victims of these events.
Honor Victims and Responders on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11
National Day of Service and Remembrance
On the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, OVC pays tribute to the 2,977 people who lost their lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. And we remember the thousands who were injured in the attacks and those who were diagnosed with a 9/11-related illness.
To honor the sacrifices made on September 11 and those made every day by members of the armed forces and their families, Americans across the country unite during the National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Learn how to participate by visiting the National Day of Service and Remembrance webpage.
20 Years Later: Remembering 9/11
Staff from the OVC-funded National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center honor the legacy of the victims of the September 11 attacks and reflect on how the attacks impacted the Nation. This compelling page lists every individual who died on that tragic day and features—
- commentary from Director Dean G. Kilpatrick, Ph.D. as he remembers the immediate aftermath of the attacks and how we can honor the memory of victims moving forward,
- a podcast on lessons learned over the past two decades,
- research on how the mental health impact of the attacks, and
- reflections from a recent visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City
Visit the 20 Years Later: Remembering 9/11 page in honor of the memory of the victims of September 11 and discover how to support victims, survivors, and communities impacted by terrorism and mass violence.
September is National Campus Safety Awareness Month
National Campus Safety Awareness Month raises awareness about safety on college and university campuses across the country.
During September, OVC highlights the Expanding SANE Services to Victims of Sexual Assault grant program. In FY 2021, we anticipate making multiple awards though this program to establish or expand Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs that focus on improving the provision of sexual assault care using a community-based approach, such as through a campus community, nonprofit, community-based, and/or Tribe-affiliated victim services provider. In FY 2020, OVC made eight awards totaling more than $3.8 million under this program to campus communities.
OVC offers a list of toll free helplines that offer services and information to victims of crime, including those on campuses. Of particular interest to campus professionals, are the following helplines.
National Sexual Assault Hotline
With support from OVC, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) provides free, confidential support services to survivors of sexual assault through its National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or its toll free hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673).
VictimConnect Helpline
This helpline is a place for crime victims to learn about their rights and options, confidentially and compassionately. VictimConnect is a weekday helpline that offers information, referrals, and resources by phone or text toll free (855-4-VICTIM) or online chat.
For information and resources on campus safety, visit the Campus Crime section of our site and the Campus Safety Awareness Special Feature section of the Office of Justice Programs website.
National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims is September 25
In 2007, the U.S. Congress designated September 25 of each year as the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. The resolution for this event states “September 25th of each year provides an opportunity for the people of the United States to honor the memories of murder victims and to recognize the impact on surviving family members.”
Visit our Events Calendar to search for memorial events throughout the country. Many of these events are free and open to the public.
Access our Homicide Victims/Co-Survivors page for information about serving homicide victims/co-survivors and to access resources from organizations, including the National Organization of Parents Of Murdered Children.