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An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

Juvenile (under 18)

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.

The Tribal Resource Tool: Resources for Survivors of Crime and Abuse

Search the Tribal Resource Tool to help locate services available to American Indian and Alaska Native survivors of crime and abuse. This OVC-funded resource was created by the National Center for Victims of Crime, National Congress of American Indians, Tribal Law and Policy Institute, and the StrongHearts Native Helpline.

Linking Systems of Care for Children and Youth Project

This demonstration project was designed to reach underserved children, youth, and families in Illinois, Montana, Ohio, and Virginia who are victims of crime. The four demonstration sites worked in their states to meet the needs of children and youth (and their caregivers) who had been exposed to violence. A Coordinator Toolkit provides guidance and tools for jurisdictions interested in replicating this project.

Changing Minds

This national campaign seeks to raise awareness, teach skills, and inspire public action to address children's exposure to violence and trauma. Funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, this campaign seeks to engage teachers, coaches, counselors, doctors, nurses, law enforcement officers, and other professionals and caregivers on proven ways to help heal the damage of childhood trauma.

When Your Child's Identity Is Stolen

This site provides information on how to protect your child's identity, signs that your child's identity may have been stolen, and what to do if your child is an identity theft victim.

TransUnion: Child Identity Theft

This site provides information about how parents and guardians can check the TransUnion credit file of a minor child to ensure they have not been targeted by identity theft.

Stolen Futures: A Forum on Child Identity Theft

OVC and the Federal Trade Commission held a forum in 2011 to discuss child identity theft. Read transcripts from forum sessions that explored the nature of child identity theft—including foster care identity theft and identity theft within families—with the goal of advising parents and victims on how to prevent the crime and how to resolve child identity theft problems.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Violent Crimes Against Children

This FBI program's mission is to—

  • decrease the vulnerability of children to sexual exploitation;
  • develop a nationwide capacity to provide a rapid, effective, and measured investigative response to crimes against children; and
  • enhance the capabilities of state and local law enforcement investigators through programs, investigative assistance, and task force operations.

National Runaway Safeline

The mission of the National Runaway Safeline is to help keep America's runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. Contact the Safeline toll free at 800-RUNAWAY (800-786-2929), text at 66008, or via online chat.