September is National Preparedness Month
President Trump has proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month. In his proclamation, the President states “we cannot always know when the next crisis will occur, but we can know that we will be prepared by committing ourselves to a culture of resilience.”
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 a victim-centered resource for professionals, including Victims of Crime Act state administrators, emergency planning managers, law enforcement officials, prosecutors’ offices, victim service providers, and health care providers.
Contact the Office for Victims of Crime 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. As a complement to the this targeted toolkit assistance, visit www.ovcttac.gov/massviolence for additional victim-related resources such as a web training series to help in planning for and responding to mass violence incidents.
The National Mass Violence Victimization Resource 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 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.
Visit the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center website to learn more.
Volunteer to Honor the Victims and Responders of 9/11
On the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the Office for Victims of Crime joins Americans across the country as they unite during the National Day of Service and Remembrance.
“There are no words that can convey the depth of grief that families, friends, and the Country felt for the nearly 3,000 lives that were taken, and thousands more that were impacted,” remembers Director Jessica Hart. “On this day of service, let us remember the victims, survivors, and the heroes who served on the frontlines in response to the 9/11 attacks.”
Learn how you can get involved by visiting the National Day of Service and Remembrance webpage, 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 the wake of the pandemic, it is more important than ever to commemorate this month as National Campus Safety Awareness Month and to commit ourselves to raising awareness about the safety on college and university campuses across the country” states Office for Victims of Crime Director Jessica E. Hart in a video message.
In recognition of National Campus Safety Awareness Month, the Office for Victims of Crime highlights our Fiscal Year 2020 Expanding SANE Services to Victims of Sexual Assault on Campus grant program. We anticipate making multiple awards though this program to establish and/or expand Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs that will offer medical forensic care, advocacy, and other victim services to sexual assault survivors on college campuses.
Read A Campus Safety Awareness Month Like No Other blog from the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking for information about new regulations for campus sexual assault reporting and safety recommendations for students attending online classes.
For additional 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.
14th Annual National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims Commemorated 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 states that this day 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.”
“Join me today on National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims as we honor those who have been taken from us too soon and acknowledge the tireless efforts by organizations, advocates, and first responders who seek justice in their names,” remarked Office for Victims of Crime Director Jessica Hart.
Visit our Events Calendar for additional events throughout the country. Many of these events are free and open to the public.
Visit our Homicide Victims/Co-Survivors page for additional information about serving homicide victims/co-survivors.