Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services

Bethany Case & Lindsay Waldrop, OVC Program Specialists

What is Vision 21 (V21)?

• First comprehensive assessment of crime victim assistance field in nearly 15 years

• OVC’s roadmap (strategic plan) to transform the treatment of crime victims in this country

• Developed through a 2-year process of literature review, stakeholder forums, and consultation

• Goal: To expand the vision and impact of the crime victim assistance field

Brief OVC History

• Victims of Crime Act and the Crime Victims Fund (the Fund), Est. 1983

– Reflected the needs at the time—to give a voice to victims and provide financial resources

• Office for Victims of Crime, Est. 1984

– Administer the Fund—state formula funds, set-asides, discretionary programs

OVC Milestone Reports

President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime, 1982

New Directions from the Field: Victims Rights and Services for the 21st Century, 1998

Vision 21, May 2013

Undertaking of V21

• Began in 2010• Extensive literature review• Five stakeholder forums • Centered around four topics:

1) Defining the role of the crime victims field

2) Building the field’s capacity to better serve victims

3) Enduring challenges

4) Emerging challenges

V21 Project Partners

LSC Sites—anyone participate?

• Stakeholder forums?• Public comment?

Preliminary Findings

• Need for increased data collection and research on victimization issues

• Need for research to determine what works• Need for enhanced program evaluation• Need to reach more victims• Need for comprehensive, holistic legal assistance for victims• Need to harness technology • Need to revise the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)

o Increase funding flexibilityo Address emerging issues

V21 Final Report

• Major challenges to the integration of research into victim services.

• The tremendous need for crime victims to have access to legal assistance to address the wide range of legal issues that can arise following victimization.

• The impact of advances in technology, globalization, and changing demographics on the victim assistance field.

• The capacity for serving victims in the 21st century and some of the infrastructure issues that must be overcome to reach that capacity.

Recommendations (4)

1) Conduct continuous rather than episodic strategic planning in the victim assistance field to effect real change in research, policy, programming, and capacity building.

2) Support the development of research to build a body of evidence-based knowledge and generate, collect, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data on victimization, emerging victimization trends, services and behaviors, and victims’ rights enforcement efforts.

3) Ensure the statutory, policy, and programmatic flexibility to address enduring and emerging crime victim issues.

4) Build and institutionalize capacity through an infusion of technology, training, and innovation to ensure that the field is equipped to meet the demands of the 21st century.

How is OVC executing V21?

• Published report in May 2013

• Marketing and dissemination efforts

– Conferences

– Listserv messages

– Social media

• Congressional briefings

– Congress provided Vision 21 funding in FY 2014 and FY 2015

• New programs

New Programs

• FY2014

– Linking Systems of Care for Children and Youth

– Tribal Community Wellness Centers

– Using Technology to Expand National and International Access to Victim Services

– Building State Technology Capacity

– Victim Legal Assistance Networks

– Victim Services Mobile Application

• FY2015—more coming!

LSC Sites—How did you find the RFP?

• What about the RFP inspired you to apply?• What V21 values and practices align with your State’s

efforts?

How can I stay informed?

• Social media

– “Like” OVC on Facebook

– “Follow” OVC on Twitter

• Vision 21 online materials

– http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/vision21/

How can I help?

• Read the report!

• Share V21 materials!

– Final Report (63 pages)

– Executive summary (16 pages)

– At a Glance (2 pages)

• Identify ways that your State can align with V21

• Present about V21 and this project at conferences and meetings

Questions and comments