Leveraging Northern Kentucky's Responses to the Opioid Crisis to Support Child Victims of the Opioid Epidemic

OVC’s mission is to enhance the nation’s capacity to assist crime victims and provide leadership in changing policies and practices to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime. OVC achieves this mission, in part, by administering discretionary award programs supported by the federal Crime Victims Fund to develop innovative training and technical assistance, and to provide direct services to improve the overall quality of victim assistance. The purpose of this solicitation is to address an urgent gap in crime victim services related to the opioid epidemic and to expand upon existing or establish new programs to provide services to children and youth who are victimized as the result of the opioid crisis. Projects selected under this solicitation will support service providers in expanding their current scope and expertise to ensure that children and youth—the most vulnerable victims impacted by the opioid crisis—are supported as they heal from the impact of crime and substance abuse.

With this award, the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet will leverage Northern Kentucky’s opioid-related efforts to conduct a pilot project within Campbell, Kenton, and Boone Counties that will aid child victims of the opioid epidemic. These locations have experienced a disproportionate rate of opioid-related deaths and nonfatal overdoses. The project will use the existing school-based Family Resource Centers (FRCs) to help identify and provide school-based services to children who have experienced abuse and neglect as a result of the opioid crisis. School-based FRCs will also make referrals to the Children’s Law Center (CLC), an agency that provides a host of trauma-informed legal and support services, including trauma-informed mediation and appointment as a Guardian ad Litem to ensure that vulnerable children and youth are able to fully access comprehensive services and support. Project staff will engage community stakeholders in the development, implementation, adaptation, and sustainment and adaptation of these efforts once the period of the grant has ended. (CA/NCF)