News and announcements

Every April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. During this month, communities are encouraged to raise awareness and promote strategies that address the risk factors surrounding child abuse.

As part of our commemoration of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, OVC and the Office on Trafficking in Persons at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are hosting four virtual listening sessions about child trafficking...

OVC is seeking applicants for the OVC FY 2020 Services for Minor Victims of Sex Trafficking solicitation.

This program is designed to develop, expand, and strengthen assistance programs for minor victims of sex trafficking.

The objective in providing these services is to achieve increased safety, self-sufficiency, and well-being for minor victims of sex trafficking.

Objectives include:

1. Provision of services to meet the individualized needs...

"Over the last few weeks, I’ve heard from many of you in the field that COVID–19 is stretching your resources and presenting challenges to your ability to conduct victim outreach and care," states OVC Director Jessica E. Hart. "Starting with the White House, the COVID-19 response is a whole-of-government effort, and I thought it would be useful to provide a round-up of COVID-19-related...

Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives Awareness Day

On May 5, 2020, we commemorate Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives Awareness Day. This annual commemoration is a time to renew our commitment to ensuring resources are available to solve missing persons cases and providing services to victims and their families.

Learn more about some of the work being undertaken by...

New National, Toll Free Hotline Provides Help for Victims of Elder Fraud

For too long and far too frequently, fraudsters have preyed upon our senior citizens, robbing them of their hard-earned savings. To help combat fraud against older Americans, the U.S. Department of Justice launched the National Elder Fraud Hotline, managed by OVC, to provide services to adults ages 60 and older who may...

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

In his proclamation for National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, President Trump states that during this month, we "remember the victims of impaired driving, pray for the grieving families of those whose lives have been taken, and honor the law enforcement professionals who work to keep our roads safe."

To help raise awareness, we highlight the National Sheriffs'...

A Copy of an Email Sent by Kathrina S. Peterson, OVC Deputy Director, on March 31, 2020

Good Afternoon Everyone,

OVC is issuing the attached "March 2020 Updates to OVC Match Waiver Approval Process" in response to VOCA Victim Assistance Administrators comments and feedback. There are three distinct updates from the original July 2019 "OVC Match Waiver Approval Process."

First, in Section II(A)(2)...

OVC anticipates that it will upload the final VOCA formula victim assistance rule during the first week of July. It will become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. In the interim, OVC is sending this communication to VOCA Administrators to again clarify what is allowable under the current guidelines for transitional housing and legal assistance.

Regarding legal assistance, victim assistance programs can...

In all states, some form of adult protective services (APS) exists to receive reports of elder abuse. Some states utilize a statewide hotline for receiving reports of elder abuse (intake), while other states maintain a system of local level intake. Intake is conducted, among other things, to determine whether victim services should be the only referral or whether a more system-delivered response is indicated (i.e...