Providing Training & Technical Assistance (T&TA) to Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance (CTVA) and Children’s Justice Act (CJA) Grantees
Unified Solutions Tribal Community
Development Group, Inc.
“Learning Together, Growing Together”
E-Bulletin ~ December 2015
December is AIDS Awareness Month. Around forty million people
are living with HIV throughout the world - and that number increases
in every region every day.
AIDS Awareness Month is a key opportunity to raise awareness,
commemorate those who have passed on, and celebrate victories
such as increased access to treatment and services.
According to AIDS.gov, more than one million Americans are living
with HIV, but one in five of them are not aware they are infected.
While the total number of people with HIV in the United States has
increased recently, the annual number of new infections has
remained relatively stable.
AIDS Awareness Month is important because it reminds us that HIV
has not gone away – every 9.5 minutes someone in the U.S. is
infected. There is still a vital need to raise money, increase
awareness, fight prejudice and improve education. It also serves as
a prime opportunity to remind people of how important it is to get
tested and to know your results.
**Information courtesy of Aids.gov
www.ovc.gov
www.unified-solutions.org
www.facebook.com/unifiedsolutions
www.twitter.com/ustcdgi
Page | 1
OVC Trainings
Victim Assistance Training Online (VAT Online) is a foundational
Web-based victim assistance training program that offers victim
service providers and allied professionals the opportunity to acquire
the essential skills and knowledge they need to more effectively
assist victims of crime. VAT Online has four sections: Basics, Core
Competencies and Skills, Crimes and Specific Considerations for
Providing Victim Services.
Benefits of Taking the Training
No Cost Attached. VAT Online is FREE training you can take at
your own pace.
Engaging Interactions. Engaging online interactions have been
developed to help reinforce the content including real-life scenarios,
videos and more.
Information you need to know.
1. The Basics section includes information that all victim service providers
must know, including victims' rights and the justice systems, which
provides a foundation for victim services.
2. The Core Competencies and Skills section includes modules such as
basic communication skills, confidentiality, and advocacy.
3. The Crimes section includes the characteristics and prevalence of
crime, and other information about crimes including sexual assault,
elder abuse, and child abuse.
4. The Specific Considerations for Providing Victim Services section
includes information and skills to serve populations such as LGBTQ
populations, campus/university victims of crime, and victims of sexual
assault in the military.
More Content to come. New content will be released on specific
crimes and the needs of special populations in the coming year.
To view more information about the training please visit:
https://www.ovcttac.gov/views/TrainingMaterials/dspOnline_VATOn
line.cfm
Page | 2
The Center for Native American Youth is currently
accepting applications for Champions for
Change!!
The Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) is currently seeking young Native
Americans (Ages 14-22) who demonstrate leadership and service within tribal
and urban communities, schools and/or programs.
Application Deadline: January 11, 2016
Early applications are encouraged. For more information please visit:
http://cnay.org/Online_Application.html
The CFC application asks youth to share with CNAY about their youth-led
efforts to effect change in their tribal or urban Indian communities. Previous
Champions have worked on issues ranging from teen tobacco use prevention to
suicide prevention to healthy and active lifestyles and so much more. You can
learn more about our 2013, 2014 and 2015 Champions for Change by visiting
CNAY’s website.
In addition to sharing your story, the application process requires three
recommendations from people who can speak about your leadership qualities
and efforts. Two recommendations will come from adults, and one will come from
a peer.
Additionally, adults, tribal leaders, and friends can nominate a young person for
the program. CNAY will reach out to nominated youth and invite them to submit
an application.
Questions about the program or application?
Contact CNAY Program Manager Josie Raphaelito at
josie.raphaelito@aspeninst.org or (202) 736-2905.
Page | 3
Hello OVC CTAS Tribal Grantees,
Unified Solutions (Unified) staff and consulting Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
can advise and provide training and technical assistance on a wide variety of
subjects related to victimization, program management, and other relevant
topics. Unified can provide the training at your site and you can invite your key
partners and stakeholders to the training. Please let us know what kind of
training or technical assistance you determined needing from your recent
community assessment or from discussions with your stakeholders. If you
would like a listing of training topics Unified can provide please contact one of
our staff listed on this e-bulletin.
Unified staff can also provide on-site technical assistance on a variety of
subjects ranging from facilitating community needs assessment forums or
meetings, policy reviews, or engaging your team in strategic planning sessions.
Unified can also coordinate and facilitate conference calls including calls with
your OVC Program Specialists. Please never hesitate to contact us. We are
here for you. As always, it is such a pleasure and honor to serve you and see
all the great work you are doing in your tribal communities.
Here is our Contact Information:
Stanley Pryor
Project Director
Phone: (877)-216-9914 Ext. 700
Email: Stan@unified-solutions.org
Dianne Barker Harrold
Senior Technical Assistance Specialist
Phone: (877) 216-9914, Ext. 701
Email: Dianne@unified-solutions.org
Jesucita Hernández
Technical Assistance Specialist
Phone: (877) 216-9914, Ext. 702
Email: Jesucita@unified-solutions.org
This E-Bulletin was developed
by Unified Solutions Tribal
Community Development
Group, Inc. funded through
Grant No. 2012-MU-GX-K004
and 2015-MU-GX-K074
awarded by the Office for
Victims of Crime, Office of
Justice Programs, U.S.
Department of Justice. The
opinions, findings, conclusions
and recommendations
expressed are those of the
contributors and do not
necessarily represent the
official position or policies of
the U.S. Department of
Justice.
Melissa Hayes
Senior Associate / Logistics and Materials Specialist
Phone: (877) 216-9914 Ext. 703
Email: Mhayes@unified-solutions.org
Sarah Gottsponer
Research and Materials Specialist
Phone: (877) 216-9914 ext. 704
Email: Sarah@unified-solutions.org
Page | 4