The Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), through its Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI), is soliciting proposals from Tribes for technical assistance funding to hire consultants to perform feasibility studies of economic development opportunities located in designated Opportunity Zones. Eligibility for funding is limited to those applicants whose proposed projects, businesses, or technologies will be located in designated Opportunity Zones. These grants are also intended to fund applicants to obtain qualified guidance on how the development projects, businesses, or technologies they propose can attract investments from an Opportunity Fund.
Current Closing Date for Applications: September 15, 2020.
Read more here.

Every day, public safety officers risk their lives to protect America’s citizens and communities. To honor that commitment, Congress passed The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 2001, which created the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor, the highest national award for valor by a public safety officer. The medal is awarded annually by the President or Vice President to public safety officers who have exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life.

A “public safety officer” is a person (living or deceased) who is serving or has served in a public agency, with or without compensation, as a firefighter; law enforcement officer, including a corrections, court, or civil defense officer; or emergency services officer, as determined by the U.S. Attorney General.

An act of valor is defined as:

• Above and beyond the call of duty; and
• Exhibiting
  • exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind.
  • unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life.

BJA annually recognizes public safety officers in law enforcement, firefighting, and emergency services that demonstrate outstanding acts of service in their communities.

Learn about past honorees, and if you know a similarly deserving individual, submit a nomination today. Multiple officers can be nominated for the same event, and individual officers can be nominated for multiple acts of service.

Read the biographies and accomplishments of former award recipients.

Help OVC raise awareness about the hotline by using the National Elder Fraud Hotline artwork on your website and as part of your online, email, and social media marketing campaigns.In March, the U.S. Department of Justice launched the National Elder Fraud Hotline, operated by OVC, that provides services to adults ages 60 and older who may be victims of financial fraud.

The Hotline is staffed by experienced case managers who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers can assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and provide resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed.

On June 17, 2020, an Expert Q&A webinar will be hosted by the OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center, titled “The U.S. Department of Justice National Elder Fraud Hotline To Assist Victims of Financial Fraud”. The session has reached capacity, but it will be recorded and posted on the Expert Q&A Past Sessions section of the OVC Training and Technical Assistance.

Event Dates June 18, 2020, 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm ET

The transition to adulthood represents a critical moment in the lives of youth involved in foster care. Support from caring peers and adults can make all the difference between a transition with dire circumstances or one in which a young person can thrive, and the lifelong consequences in either case are significant. Child welfare and mentoring practitioners alike have therefore recognized the need for comprehensive individualized transition support for youth as they exit foster care.

This webinar will explore the roles that mentors can play in promoting a successful transition, conditions under which relationships can thrive, and considerations of mentoring as part of a healthy ecosystem of services and supports. Our esteemed guest, Sixto Cancel, himself experienced this transition and also has direct practice experience assisting youth in this rite of passage.

Click here for more information and to register!

Current Closing Date for Applications: September 01, 2020.
The Secretary of the Interior (“Secretary”), through the Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD), Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), is soliciting grant proposals from Federally recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Federally recognized Tribal entities to build Tribal capacity for energy resource regulation and management.

The Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) grant program seeks to develop the Tribal management, organizational and technical capacity needed to maximize the economic impact of energy resource development on American Indian and Native Alaskan land. TEDC grants equip Federally recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Federally recognized Tribal entities to regulate and manage their energy resources through development of organizational and business structures and legal and regulatory infrastructure.

Read more here.

As a training and technical assistance (TTA) provider, the National Center helps communities improve their response to crime by assessing their existing victims services capacity, identifying gaps and needs, and connecting them with specialized training and subject matter experts accordingly.

Their monthly Victim Services TTA Digest chronicles the latest victim services news, resources, and events. Click here to read this month’s issue.

Visit the TTA portal to learn more about our work.

Current Closing Date for Applications: August 24, 2020.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of approximately $5 million in funding provided by the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program (TTP)), as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5311(c)(1)(A), as amended by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST), Public Law 114-94 (December 4, 2015). This is a national solicitation for project proposals and includes the selection criteria and program eligibility information for Fiscal Year 2020 projects. The primary purpose of these competitively selected grants is to support planning, capital, and, in limited circumstances, operating assistance for tribal public transit services. Funds distributed to Indian tribes under the TTP should not replace or reduce funds that Indian tribes receive from states through FTA’s Section 5311 program.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of approximately $5 million in funding provided by the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program (TTP)), as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5311(c)(1)(A), as amended by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST), Public Law 114-94 (December 4, 2015). This is a national solicitation for project proposals and includes the selection criteria and program eligibility information for Fiscal Year 2020 projects. The primary purpose of these competitively selected grants is to support planning, capital, and, in limited circumstances, operating assistance for tribal public transit services. Funds distributed to Indian tribes under the TTP should not replace or reduce funds that Indian tribes receive from states through FTA’s Section 5311 program. Current Closing Date for Applications: August 24, 2020.

OJJDP’s AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program has launched a set of online investigative checklists to help tribal law enforcement respond to and investigate cases of missing, endangered, or abducted children. These checklists provide strategies for first responders, investigative officers, and supervisory officers involved in a missing or endangered child investigation. They are available in web, PDF, and mobile formats. These resources were developed in collaboration with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Office of Justice Services.

OJJDP-funded drug courts help youth and families overcome the effects of substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders. In 2019, OJJDP awarded more than $19 million to drug court programs nationwide. OJJDP recently released a new blog discussing OJJDP’s support of its drug court grantees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The blog highlights how OJJDP is providing juvenile drug treatment courts with resources and ongoing training and technical assistance during the crisis, including a three-part webinar series on social distancing.

OJJDP is also supporting family drug courts by continuing to disseminate COVID-19-related resources, host trainings and webinars, and guide practitioners through practice changes. View and download OJJDP’s drug courts fact sheet.

The National Center recently launched an online training and technical assistance (TTA) portal to serve as a repository for victim-centered TTA resources, news, and information. As a TTA provider, the National Center helps communities improve their response to crime by assessing their existing victims services capacity, identifying gaps and needs, and connecting them with specialized training accordingly and subject matter experts accordingly.

Visit the portal to learn more about our TTA programs and browse our TTA catalog. Learn about the latest victim services news, resources, and events in our monthly Victim Services TTA digest. Click here to access the May 2020 Victim Services TTA Digest.

The Tribal Youth Resource Center has recently had the opportunity to host several virtual talking circles to discuss the impact of COVID-19. During the circles, Tribal Youth Program and Tribal Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court Staff shared ideas on how to stay connected with youth during this unprecedented time. We wanted to share some of the innovative ways communities continue to connect and support youth. Download a Resource Sheet and Check out a video that includes some of the ideas that were shared.

The Office of Justice Programs has posted a new blog discussing Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Children’s Advocacy Centers coordinate the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases nationwide. The blog discusses OJJDP’s funding of training and technical assistance through four regional CACs that support state chapters and local centers. OJJDP also funds the National Children’s Alliance, which provides national leadership to support local centers. The blog details the mission of the National Children’s Advocacy Center—a model for more than 1,000 CACs nationwide—and the CACs response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

OJJDP is sponsoring a webinar on Tuesday, April 28, from 2 pm to 3 pm EST. The webinar will provide a general overview of the OJJDP FY 2020 Preventing Trafficking of Girls solicitation. It will highlight key eligibility and solicitation requirements. It will also identify tools and resources for applicants that will facilitate the application process. Lastly, it will provide an opportunity for applicants to ask questions. Preregistration is required for all participants. Due to the limited time, OJJDP encourages participants to review the solicitation and submit any questions they may have in advance and no later than 3 days prior. Submit your questions to grants@ncjrs.gov with the subject as “Questions for OJJDP FY 2020 Preventing Trafficking of Girls Webinar.” After the webinar, you will find the webinar recording uploaded here. For more information and to register, visit the link here.

NCAI Action Alert:
In a press release yesterday, 4/13/2020, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the launch of a web portal to allow eligible state, local, and tribal governments to receive Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) payments to help offset the costs of their response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. According to Treasury, tribal governments must provide payment information and supporting documentation no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 17, 2020 through the following portal.

OJJDP participated in Office of Justice Programs (OJP)-sponsored outreach sessions in nine states to educate rural and tribal organizations and agencies about funding opportunities from OJP and other Department of Justice grant-making offices.
Click here to read the article.

In hopes to ease the administrative burden as tribal child welfare services continue to meet challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will disperse funds to all tribes (over 300 tribes) that are Title IV-B, Subpart 1 grantees.

Read the Child Welfare Leader letter from ACF here. Contact your Administration for Children and Families Regional Office for more information. You can find a list of ACF Regional Offices here.

The Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), Office of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs is soliciting proposals from Indian Tribes, as defined at 25 U.S.C. § 5304(e), for grant funding to hire consultants to perform feasibility studies for deployment or expansion of high-speed internet (broadband) transmitted, variously, through digital subscriber line (DSL), cable modem, fiber, wireless, satellite and broadband over power lines (BPL).

TBG grants may be used to fund an assessment of the current broadband services, if any, that are available to an applicant’s community; an engineering assessment of new or expanded broadband services; an estimate of the cost of building or expanding a broadband network; a determination of the transmission medium(s) that will be employed; identification of potential funding and/or financing for the network; and consideration of financial and practical risks associated with developing a broadband network.

The purpose of the NTBG is to improve the quality of life, spur economic development and commercial activity, create opportunities for self-employment, enhance educational resources and remote learning opportunities, and meet emergency and law enforcement needs by bringing broadband services to Native American communities that lack them.

Feasibility studies funded through NTBG will assist Tribes to make informed decisions regarding deployment or expansion of broadband in their communities. Current Closing Date for Applications: June 15, 2020.

The purpose of this solicitation is to select a set of coordinated training and technical assistance providers to deliver a wide range of TTA services to local, state, and tribal jurisdictions, service providers receiving funding under the Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking Program, and others as identified by OJP. TTA providers funded under this solicitation are expected to work in collaboration with other OJP funded TTA programs that offer a range of services to support both crime victims and victim service providers. Current Closing Date for Applications: May 18, 2020.

Description: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2020 Emergency Grants to Address Mental and Substance Use Disorders During COVID-19 (Short Title: Emergency COVID-19). SAMHSA recognizes there are currently 57.8 million Americans living with mental and/or substance use disorders (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2018). The current national crisis of COVID-19 will certainly contribute to growth in these numbers. Americans across the country will struggle with increases in depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief. There is also anticipated increase in substance misuse as lives are impacted for individuals and families. The purpose of this program is to provide crisis intervention services, mental and substance use disorder treatment, and other related recovery supports for children and adults impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding will be provided for states, territories, and tribes to develop comprehensive systems to address these needs. The purpose of this program is specifically to address the needs of individuals with serious mental illness, individuals with substance use disorders, and/or individuals with co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorders.

Eligibility:
•Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes, tribal organizations, Urban Indian Organizations, and consortia of tribes or tribal organizations.
•State governments, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

Application Due Date: Friday, April 10, 2020

Visit SAMHSA’s Emergency COVID-19 to learn more.

The 2020 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) Resource Guide is now online. The Resource Guide provides a wealth of materials, in English and Spanish, to educate the public about victims’ rights, protections, and services during NCVRW and throughout the year. Use these tools to help your organization plan for NCVRW.
The online guide includes—
• guidance on developing your campaign,
• tips and tools to communicate your message,
• the 2020 NCVRW Theme Video,
• web artwork, theme artwork, posters, and more
Use the 2020 NCVRW Resource Guide to help your organization raise awareness about crime victims’ rights online and at future events.

On March 31, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced the following information through a Dear Tribal Leader letter:

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed by President Trump on March 27, 2020, provides additional funding to assist Tribes in preventing, preparing for, and responding to coronavirus. The CARES Act includes a Coronavirus Relief Fund (CVF) that includes an $8 billion set aside for Tribal governments, to be distributed no later than April 26, 2020.

The U.S. Department of the Interior and Department of Treasury seeks input from Tribal leaders on developing a methodology or formula to allocate this $8 billion to Tribal governments, as outlined in the CARES Act, and guidance on what qualifies as necessary, so that they distribute the funds as soon as possible to address your needs in these unprecedented and uncertain times. Please join the Indian Affairs and representatives of the U.S. Department of Treasury on two following scheduled consultation sessions:

Thursday, April 2, 2020
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Phone number: 888-950-5924
Participant Code: 1682452

Thursday, April 9, 2020
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Phone number: 888-950-5924
Participant Code: 1682452

In the event that you are In the event you are unable to make the consultation call, please provide written comments and submit to consultation@bia.gov and tribal.consult@treasury.gov no later than Monday, April 13, 2020.

The United States Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking applications for the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by providing support to law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies to partner with mental health agencies and reduce crime and recidivism associated with people with mental illnesses.

All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on May 18, 2020. Applicants must register here prior to submitting an application.

Free Virtual Training Opportunity

April 29, 2020 | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EDT

This webinar will provide a basic overview of autism and how it relates to wandering/elopement behaviors. Attendees will learn the reasons behind wandering, how to respond when a child with autism is missing, and the do’s and don’ts of searching for – and interacting with – this population.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is consistent with the principles of tribal sovereignty and self-determination, and with an all of-the-above energy strategy that recognizes the breadth of energy resources on Tribal Lands, and each Tribe’s right to use them as they see fit. Projects sought under this FOA are fuel and technology neutral.

The intended results of the 50% cost-shared projects selected under this FOA are to reduce or stabilize energy costs and increase energy security and resiliency for Indian Tribes and tribal members.

An informational webinar will be held April 07, 2020 to provide information on the FOA to potential applicants.

Congress passed and the President signed into law H.R. 748, a national stimulus package designed to address the far-reaching impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Over the past several weeks, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), tribal nations, partner organizations, and tribal advocates worked tirelessly to develop Indian Country’s top policy priorities for addressing COVID-19 and push Congress to include these priorities in its stimulus package. The final legislation features strong provisions in support of these priorities and will help tribal communities across Indian Country as they respond to the pandemic.

NCAI extends its deepest gratitude to the members of Congress who fought for the inclusion of Indian Country’s priorities in the final legislation. The passage of this bill represents the first of several necessary steps that the federal government must take to ensure tribal nations, communities, organizations, and citizens have the resources they need to combat and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This legislation is not only a monumental achievement for Indian Country, it is a landmark affirmation of tribal governmental parity and the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations,” said NCAI CEO Kevin J. Allis. “Indian Country achieved this victory through the around-the-clock efforts of tribal leaders and advocates across the nation working as one to ensure that the needs of tribal governments and communities are addressed in the weeks and months to come. Unity is our greatest asset.”

Click here for a summary of the key tribal provisions.

International Association of Chiefs of Police launched a new web page that includes general information for law enforcement agencies about COVID-19, FEMA and WHO updates, and an Organizational Readiness Guide to help law enforcement prepare for and respond to COVID-19.

This webpage is dedicated to aiding law enforcement in learning more about COVID-19 and how agencies can prepare. We will post new information as it becomes available.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It has now been identified in more than 90 countries. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses found in people and animals causing a range of illnesses from the common cold to severe respiratory infection. Due to the increased availability of testing, more COVID-19 infections are being identified every day. As it is a newly-identified virus, this is an emerging and rapidly-evolving situation and new information becomes available daily.

Today we launch National Child Abuse Prevention Month—the Children’s Bureau’s annual initiative to increase public awareness and provide resources to help protect children and prevent maltreatment.

Too often, we wait until maltreatment has already happened to react and repair the damage. However, by increasing the protective capacities of families and communities, we can reduce, mitigate, and prevent the negative outcomes associated with child abuse and neglect.

Like every family, every community is different, and prevention efforts must fit each community’s needs. Child abuse has consequences that last well into adulthood, and sometimes a complex set of stressors makes families more vulnerable.
You know your community best, and the National Child Abuse Prevention Month website is filled with resources to help you tailor information to the families in your area.

Take a look at the “Tribal Public Health and the Law: Selected Resources” for information from the CDC and resources available while navigating through this difficult time.

“This webinar will provide a detailed overview of the solicitation and allow an opportunity for interested applicants to ask questions. Preregistration is required for all participants. Due to the limited time, OJJDP encourages participants to review the solicitation and submit any questions they may have in advance and no later than 3 days prior. Submit your questions to grants@ncjrs.gov with the subject as “Questions for OJJDP FY 2020 Strategies to Support Children Exposed to Violence Webinar.”

OVC is seeking applicants for the FY 2020 Enhancing Services for Older Victims of Abuse and Financial Exploitation solicitation. The goal of this program is to improve outcomes, minimize additional trauma, and restore safety and security to older adult victims of abuse and financial exploitation.

Deadline: May 5, 2020

Posted: March 5, 2020

OVC will conduct one pre-application webinar on Thursday, March 26, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. eastern time to review requirements and answer questions. Participation in the webinar is optional, but strongly encouraged. Register for the webinar.

OVC anticipates making up to 12 awards up to $500,000 for a 36-month period of performance. Apply by May 5, 2020.

BJA’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative: Reducing Violent Crime by Improving Justice System Performance provides funding to develop and implement innovative and research-based responses that address a range of criminal justice system problems. It employs the Justice Reinvestment approach to criminal justice which recognizes that every justice agency has a role to play in preventing crime, apprehending and prosecuting perpetrators, ensuring efficient and effective court and pretrial decision making, facilitating appropriate sentencing and treatment, and protecting community security. Current Closing Date for Applications: May 01, 2020.

OVC is seeking applicants for FY 2020 Addressing Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM) solicitation. The goal of this program is to deliver programming to address and help stop the practice of FGM by—educating law enforcement, public health professionals, and educators on detecting at-risk girls in localities where FGM is a risk, responding to victims by providing appropriate services, and forming community networks of agencies and organizations that are positioned to identify persons at-risk. Applicants may apply under only one of the following purpose areas—

Purpose Area 1: a training and technical assistance provider will educate law enforcement, public health professionals, educators, and other professionals on detecting at-risk girls and provide support to the project sites.

Purpose Area 2: project sites will develop services to deliver to victims of FGM and work to increase education, detection, and local partner engagement to address and help stop victimization through FGM at the community level. OVC anticipates making one award under Purpose Area 1 of up to $1.2 million and up to eight awards under Purpose Area 2 of up to $300,000 each. OVC expects to make awards for a 36-month period of performance, to begin on October 1, 2020. Learn more and apply for the FY 2020 Addressing Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting solicitation. Apply by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 30, 2020.

Office for Victims of Crime is seeking applicants for the FY 2020 Crime Victims’ Rights Legal Clinics solicitation.This initiative is intended to support or expand federal, state, local, and tribal efforts to enforce crime victims’ rights. Applicants may apply under the following purpose areas—

Purpose Area 1: victims’ rights legal clinics that will provide the enforcement of crime victims’ rights in the criminal justice process, and

Purpose Area 2: one training and technical assistance provider to support the selected legal clinics. OVC anticipates making up to eight awards under purpose area 1 and one award under purpose 2 of up to $1 million each. OVC expects to make awards for a 36-month period of performance, to begin on October 1, 2020.

OVC will conduct one pre-application webinar on Thursday, March 12, 2020, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. eastern time to review requirements and answer questions. Participation in the webinar is optional, but strongly encouraged. Register for the webinar.
Learn more and apply for the FY 2020 Crime Victims’ Rights Legal Clinics solicitation at the link below.

The Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) was developed as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) legislation. COSSAP’s purpose is to provide financial and technical assistance to states, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments to develop, implement, or expand comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs of abuse.

COSSAP aims to reduce the impact of these substances on individuals and communities, including a reduction in the number of overdose fatalities, as well as mitigate the impacts on crime victims by supporting comprehensive, collaborative initiatives.

The CY Program supports comprehensive, community-based efforts to develop or expand prevention, intervention, treatment, and response strategies to address the needs of children and youth impacted by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Current Closing Date for Applications: March 30, 2020.

Description: One of the core missions of DHS/FEMA is to enhance the ability of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks and other disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s comprehensive suite of grant programs is an important part of the Administration’s larger, coordinated effort to strengthen homeland security preparedness. The THSGP is one tool among a comprehensive set of initiatives authorized by Congress and implemented by the Administration to help strengthen the Nation against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks. Funding under the FY 2020 THSGP is provided to strengthen tribes’ capacity to prepare for and respond to emergency situations.

Read more or apply here.

Do you know federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers who went above and beyond the call of duty in 2019?

The deadline for all Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery nominations are due Sunday, February 15, 2020.

• Multiple officers can be nominated, and an officer can be nominated for multiple incidents.

• Separate nominations must be submitted for each officer and incident.

• All nominations must be submitted through the online Congressional Badge of Bravery Nomination System.

Thank you for support and recognizing our nation’s law enforcement for their acts of bravery that keep our citizens and communities safe.

Sign Up to Receive the 2020 NCVRW Theme and Awareness Poster Kit

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) will be held April 19–25. This year’s theme is Seek Justice | Ensure Victims’ Rights | Inspire Hope.

To receive a complimentary printed copy of this year’s Theme and Awareness Poster Kit, sign up for the NCVRW subscription list by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on February 21, 2020.

Sign up here.

Threat Assessments and Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) Training for K-12 Schools

Take a caring and proactive approach to students who are expressing alarming and concerning behaviors. Learn the importance of developing a sound foundation for Behavioral Intervention Teams (BITs) including creating a multidisciplinary team made up of your organization’s key players. Apply best practices as they relate to addressing threats, identifying pre-attack indicators, and stopping the pathway to violence.

“This solicitation provides funding to address the needs of child victims and their families in tribal communities through a multidisciplinary team response to child abuse cases. Many tribal communities are without access or have limited access to CACs to respond to cases of serious physical and sexual child abuse. This initiative will expand coverage and enhancement of proven, critical services offered by CACs throughout Indian country.” Read more or apply here.

“The goal of this program is to facilitate program support to benefit the ICAC task force program. The primary objective will be the delivery of specific products to serve law enforcement and other key stakeholders affiliated with the ICAC task force program. The deliverables are directed toward the continuation, expansion, and enhancement of the ICAC task force program which includes: (1) develop and implement a strategic plan for support service delivery; (2) plan to support an ICAC task force national training event and commanders’ meetings, and assist in the implementation of the National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction (National Strategy); (3) develop and maintain a system for monitoring consumer feedback; (4) maintain, expand, and regularly update the training and technical assistance website; (5) plan for general project management and monthly reporting; and (6) conduct special projects or develop products to support ICAC task forces as directed by OJJDP.” Read more or apply here.

“Updated resources and outreach tools are now available to help you align your local Child Abuse Prevention Month activities with the Children’s Bureau’s national campaign!Visit the 2020 National Child Abuse Prevention website and use the free videos, sample social media posts, and new shareable graphics to help raise child abuse prevention awareness. Join the conversation and share what’s working in your community on Twitter and Facebook by using the #ChildAbusePreventionMonth hashtag.

The National Resource Center for Reaching Victims and Vera Institute of Justice collaborated to publish the article, “Opening the Door to Healing: Reaching and Serving Crime Victims Who Have a History of Incarceration.”

“Opening the Door to Healing: Reaching and Serving Crime Victims Who Have a History of Incarceration explores the realities of survivors who live with a history of both victimization and incarceration. The report, based on a needs assessment that encompassed informational interviews, listening sessions, and a review of academic and practice literature, reflects what the National Resource Center for Reaching Victims has come to understand about this community of survivors: the shame and stigma of being “offenders” eclipses the less visible but painful reality that they are also survivors of violence—harm that may have happened to them before, during, and/or after their time behind bars.”

Read the full article here.

“The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is seeking applications for funding for the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Alaska Native Youth Training and Technical Assistance Program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by providing comprehensive and culturally relevant training and technical assistance to support Alaska Native villages and communities in their efforts to create, expand, and/or sustain programs, services, and supports for youth.” Find out more.

This solicitation seeks to support the capacity of Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces to conduct effective and efficient forensic examination of evidence in cases of technology-facilitated child exploitation. This initiative will assist ICAC task forces by providing funding to help hire and equip wounded, ill, or injured veterans as digital forensic analysts or investigators. These positions will help address forensic examination backlogs, reduce evidence processing times, and increase prosecutions of those who commit Internet crimes against children.

Take a look at the National Criminal Justice Reference Service’s Special Feature on Human Trafficking. “There is no single profile of a trafficking victim, but regardless of their background, a common denominator among all victims is some form of vulnerability. In the United States specifically, some of the most highly vulnerable populations include undocumented workers, runaway and homeless youth, individuals with substance abuse or addiction issues, and low-income individuals.” Read more here.

February 3 – 7, 2020 is Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week. Take a look at OVC TTAC’s online resources to promote Tax Identity Theft Awareness and so that we can protect ourselves against this growing issue.

OJJDP has released the latest issue of The AMBER Advocate newsletter. This issue features articles on: 

.• The 2019 AMBER Alert in Indian Country Symposium and remarks by Pamela Foster, the mother of Ashlynne Mike, a Navajo girl who was abducted and murdered.

• The Good Samaritan and Minnesota AMBER Alert that lead to the safe return of two abducted girls.

• Tanea Parmenter, Idaho’s AMBER Alert co-coordinator.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2020 Planning and Developing Infrastructure to Promote the Mental Health of Children, Youth and Families in American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) Communities (Short Title: Circles of Care) grants. The purpose of this program is to provide tribal and urban Indian communities with tools and resources to plan and design a holistic, evidence and community-based, coordinated system of care to support mental health for children, youth, and families. These grants are intended to increase the capacity and effectiveness of mental health systems serving AI/AN communities. Circles of Care grant recipients will focus on the need to reduce the gap between the need for mental health services and the availability of such services for the target population. The program has a strong emphasis on cross-system collaboration, inclusion of family, youth and community resources, and cultural approaches.

The FY 2019 Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Grant Program is designed to improve school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and help prevent acts of violence. The program’s objective is to increase school safety by implementing training and school threat assessments and/or intervention teams to identify school violence risks among students; technological solutions such as anonymous reporting technology that can be implemented as a mobile phone-based app, a hotline, or a website in the applicant’s geographic area to enable students, teachers, faculty, and community members to anonymously identify threats of school violence; or other school safety strategies that assist in preventing violence. Learn more here.