Over the past two decades, the victim services field has grown from an ad hoc set of grassroots volunteer groups to a network of professional organizations. The mission of the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) is to support the development of the field by increasing the Nation's capacity to provide crime victims with skilled, capable, and sensitive assistance. OVC TTAC achieves this using comprehensive, high-quality training and technical assistance resources for victim service providers, advocates, and allied professionals.

What OVC TTAC Offers

OVC TTAC pursues its mission through a variety of coordinated training and technical assistance activities. Each activity falls into one of OVC TTAC's three core functions:

Needs assessment. OVC TTAC employs a variety of tools-surveys, stakeholder discussion groups, and document reviews-to assess the needs of key constituencies and track changes in these needs.

Capacity building. By developing and delivering training and technical assistance resources, OVC TTAC helps organizations foster professional development of their staff, enhance services to their communities, and reach unserved and underserved victims of crime.

Evaluation and reporting. OVC TTAC measures and reports the effectiveness of capacity-building activities. Through online exchanges and onsite events, OVC TTAC supplies training and technical assistance resources and creates linkages for exchanging ideas and transferring knowledge.

To help victim service agencies develop and present their own programs, OVC TTAC manages OVC's conference support programs. These programs support public and private nonprofit organizations and other eligible organizations that host conferences on victims' issues by paying expenses related to speakers and trainers, meeting space, and conference materials. Learn more about OVC's conference support programs.

OVC TTAC also supports OVC's Professional Development and State Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarship Programs, which are available for agencies, individuals, and multidisciplinary teams of victim service professionals who are looking for continuing education opportunities. For additional information view our scholarship programs.

OVC TTAC coordinates OVC's spring and fall schedule of trainings, which are conducted throughout the Nation. They cover current and emerging victim service topics, professional development, and victim service skills building. View the Training Schedule on OVC TTAC's Web site.

OVC TTAC helps the victim services field stay abreast of current issues by maintaining an Online Training Center, where you can-

• Register for training workshops.

• Access online courses.

• Learn about the National Victim Assistance Academy, which offers foundation-level, specialized, and management training.

• Access the OVC National Calendar of Crime Victim Assistance-Related Events.

OVC TTAC draws on the expertise of consultants who have years of hands-on experience working in victim services to provide members of the field with customized responses to their training and technical assistance needs. OVC TTAC offers expert support, mentoring, and facilitation in areas such as organizational development, program implementation and management, evaluation, and collaboration.

Getting Help From OVC TTAC

OVC TTAC provides training and technical assistance that-

• Gives organizations and communities the tools required to address their needs and challenges.

• Raises public awareness about crime victim issues.

• Fosters partnerships among agencies serving a community's needs.

Special consideration is given to requests for training and technical assistance that will have statewide or regional impact or will help multiple agencies or a diverse network of professional service providers improve their services to crime victims. For organizations or communities needing complex or customized assistance, OVC TTAC's staff can help requesters complete the application process. Training and technical assistance application forms are available by mail or online.

When requesting assistance with your event, onsite training, or technical assistance program, please allow 60 days for OVC TTAC to process your application and OVC to approve your request.

Many of OVC TTAC's resources are no more than a phone call or mouse click away. You may call OVC TTAC's toll free number, 1-866-OVC-TTAC (1-866-682-8822) (TTY 1-866-682-8880), to talk with a technical assistance coordinator, or visit the OVC Web site at www.ovc.gov/training/index.html.

OVC TTAC
9300 Lee Highway
Fairfax, VA 22031–6050
1-866-OVC-TTAC (1-866-682-8822)
(TTY 1-866-682-8880)
Fax: 703–225–2338
E-mail: TTAC@ovcttac.gov
Web site: www.ovcttac.gov