Developing Future Victim Specialists for Indian Country

The Developing Future Victim Specialists to Serve American Indian/Alaska Native Victims of Crime Program statutory authorities are 34 U.S.C. § 20103(c)(1)(B) and 34 U.S.C. § 20103(c)(3)(E)(i). Through this program, OVC seeks to further cultivate a workforce focused on providing services to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) victims in hard-to-staff positions and locations. By identifying and training prospective victim service professionals in, or from, the communities to be served, tribal and Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) victim service programs will be better able to fill direct victim service positions in remote Indian Country and Alaska Native locations, and in turn ensure that victims in these locations get the services they need.

Kaw Nation requested grant funds to continue a victim specialist internship program previously funded by OVC. With this funding, the Kaw Nation will recruit students from Northern Oklahoma College and Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Ponca City Branch, to intern in the Kaw Nation Family Trauma and Healing Center (KNFTHC). Funding will allow the Kaw Nation KNFTHC to provide two interns with stipends, a small book allowance, and tuition assistance; and pay for salary, benefits, travel, training, and supplies for a 1.0 FTE Advocate Specialist to supervise and train the interns. CA/NCF