Mission Statement
To ensure local, state, regional, and tribal jurisdictions across the country are better prepared to respond to the needs of victims following incidents of criminal mass violence and domestic terrorism (CMV/DT).
We do this by:
- Promoting protocols and strategies that address the immediate and long-term needs of victims, families, and first responders
- Providing individualized training and technical assistance
- Augmenting existing emergency response plans
History
In 2020, the Office for Victims of Crime, operating under the US Department of Justice, recognized a need to improve communities’ capabilities to deal with increasing amounts of criminal mass violence and domestic terrorism (CMV/DT).
The needs that arise from CMV/DT are seen in victims, responders, and their impacted communities.
Victims struggle with many of the following:
- Emotional reactions that may remain for extended periods of time
- Need for medical and rehabilitative care,
- Need for financial support for health care and adaptive equipment
- Loss of employment income
- Navigating regulations and forms for insurance claims, victim compensation, and unemployment.
Responders may also struggle with the following:
- Vicarious trauma
- Behavioral health concerns, including increased substance use/abuse, depression, and anxiety
- Increased responder suicides or domestic violence incidents
Communities grapple with the loss of community members and how to return to a sense of safety.
The Improving Community Preparedness to Assist Victims of Mass Violence and Domestic Terrorism: Training and Technical Assistance (ICP TTA) program was funded by the Office for Victims of Crime to address these concerns. Directed by ICF, in cooperation with four national partners and a cadre of subject matter experts, ICP TTA provides training and technical assistance using 16 best practices to close the gap between emergency management and victim services operations.