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Health and mental health

Victim Impact: Listen and Learn (Child Sexual Abuse, Story 1)

December 2008

The video in this series (NCJ 223072) features the first-person account of Nia who shares her experience as victim of child sexual abuse and the ripple effect that victimization can have on family members and the community at large. A companion online only training curriculum is also available and includes a two part facilitator manual and a participant workbook.

Alcohol-Facilitated Sexual Assault in Indian Country: An Introduction to the Issues

December 2016

OVC and the Office on Violence Against Women collaborated to produce this four-video series, designed for criminal justice personnel, victim advocates, and allied professionals who work with victims of sexual assault in Indian Country. This video provides an overview of alcohol-facilitated sexual assault in Indian Country, including prevalence, historical trauma, and responses.

A Healing Journey for Alaska Natives: Community Responses with Victims and Offenders

October 2016

This video highlights holistic and community-based approaches to victims and offenders. It also addresses the significant impact historical trauma has had on some Alaska Natives. Offenders often return to their homes and communities; therefore, communities must be actively involved in reentry efforts to ensure the safety of victims and community members.

A Healing Journey for Alaska Natives: First Responders to Victims of Violence

October 2016

This video focuses on community-driven responses to victims in Alaska villages. Although many challenges remain, well-coordinated responses that integrate tribal- and community-based approaches with other resources are changing outcomes for victims and communities.

Alcohol-Facilitated Sexual Assault in Indian Country: Services and Support for Victims

December 2016

OVC and the Office on Violence Against Women collaborated to produce this four-video series, designed for criminal justice personnel, victim advocates, and allied professionals who work with victims of sexual assault in Indian Country. This public awareness video addresses various types of support for sexual assault victims in Indian Country. 

A Healing Journey for Alaska Natives: Responding to Survivors of Violence

October 2016

This video provides an overview of the multiple challenges victims face when pursuing safety and justice in Alaska, including geographic, climate, and jurisdictional realities. Traditional values, local customs, cultural practices, and trauma-informed care help victims to heal and serve to promote the well-being of communities.

Physical and Mental Health

Physical health issues can be painful reminders for crime victims. Victims may be seriously or permanently injured following a crime, and these injuries may prevent them from going to work or performing other day-to-day activities.

Victims of may suffer from mental health issues resulting from their victimization. Specifically, victims of a violent crime, such as assault and robbery, have reported feelings of distress, problems...

Homicide Victims/Co-Survivors

A homicide survivor or co-survivor is anyone who has been impacted by the death of a loved one by homicide. This includes a spouse, partner, children, siblings, and friends.

It is normal for adults and children to experience such intense feelings in the days and weeks following a homicide, and then periodically over time. Survivors are at risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and...

Mobile Apps for Crime Victims and Providers

The following mobile applications (apps) provide information and resources about various types of victimization.

The inclusion of a mobile app on this page does not constitute an official endorsement, guarantee, or approval by OVC.

Before downloading any app, you may be interested in reviewing information from the Safety Net Project, a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

OVC-Funded Apps

CheckDEC
© National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (see reuse policy).

CheckDEC

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The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit: Tools For Law Enforcement

April 2017

The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit includes tools and resources tailored specifically to the fields of victim services, emergency medical services, fire services, law enforcement, and other allied professionals, to help organizations mitigate the potentially negative effects of vicarious trauma, the exposure to the traumatic experiences of other people. For more information, visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/vtt/introduction.

The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit: Tools For Fire Services

April 2017

The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit includes tools and resources tailored specifically to the fields of victim services, emergency medical services, fire services, law enforcement, and other allied professionals, to help organizations mitigate the potentially negative effects of vicarious trauma, the exposure to the traumatic experiences of other people. For more information, visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/vtt/introduction.

Addressing Vicarious Trauma in First Responders

April 2017

The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit includes tools and resources tailored specifically to the fields of victim services, emergency medical services, fire services, law enforcement, and other allied professionals, to help organizations mitigate the potentially negative effects of vicarious trauma, the exposure to the traumatic experiences of other people. For more information, visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/vtt/introduction.

The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit: Tools for Victim Services

April 2017

The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit includes tools and resources tailored specifically to the fields of victim services, emergency medical services, fire services, law enforcement, and other allied professionals, to help organizations mitigate the potentially negative effects of vicarious trauma, the exposure to the traumatic experiences of other people. For more information, visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/vtt/introduction.

The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit

The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit (VTT) was developed on the premise that exposure to the traumatic experiences of other people—known as vicarious trauma—is an inevitable occupational challenge for the fields of victim services, emergency medical services, fire services, law enforcement, and other allied professionals; however, organizations can mitigate the potentially negative effects of trauma exposure by becoming vicarious trauma-informed.