Resources

This site contains links to the documents that make up FEMA’s National Incident Management System, including a summary document, task books and skillsets, training courses, glossary, job aids, reference documents…

During the response phase, which occurs immediately after an incident, law enforcement officials, first responders, victim service providers, and others will manage, coordinate, and implement many of the protocols developed…

A list of free self-study courses in all disciplines of emergency management designed to expand the knowledge of all participants in a community’s emergency preparedness efforts.

The Role of Victim Assistance Professionals in Preparing for Mass Violence Incidents This tip sheet clearly defines the crucial role of VAPs in the readiness phase of a mass violence…

The Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC) realizes the nation’s rural and tribal emergency responders face unique challenges when compared to their urban counterparts. As such, RDPC is committed to providing small, rural, and…

This site contains a compilation of resources aimed specifically at the Victim Service community for planning prior to incidents. 

In-depth and comprehensive outline of the planning proc Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101 provides guidance for developing emergency operationsplans. It promotes a common understanding of the fundamentals of risk-informed planning…

Victim advocates and law enforcement officers play a critical role in establishing and maintaining victim engagement and cooperation throughout the criminal justice process. Law enforcement officers are usually the first…

This OVC template helps track key stakeholders and organize the resources they bring to the community.

The National Advocate Credentialing Program® (NACP), developed through the cooperative effort of multiple national and state victim assistance organizations, was launched in 2003 as the first voluntary credentialing program available…

ASPR TRACIE has developed a series of tip sheets for hospitals and other healthcare facilities planning for no-notice incident response. Our traditional concepts and approaches have not kept pace with…

This training video takes a community’s planners through the best practices to be prepared to deliver the hardest message most people will ever receive. 

This OVC document allows a community to quickly start to build a data base of all victims in an incident.

A model for planning a Joint Information Center including staffing positions, duties, and qualifications.  Many samples of public messaging are also included.

The Volunteer and Donations Management Support Annex describes the coordination processesused to support the state in ensuring the most efficient and effective use of unaffiliatedvolunteers, unaffiliated organizations, and unsolicited donated…

This ASPR TRACIE tip sheet highlights best practices and issues related to planning for, activating, and operating hospital or healthcare facility Family Information Centers (FIC)/ Family Support Centers (FSC), in…

This guide was developed by the FBI Office for Victim Assistance and the NTSB Transportation Disaster Assistance Division for local and state agencies involved in the response to mass fatality…

The National Compassion Fund provides a single, trusted way for the public to donate directly to victims of a mass crime, such as a shooting or terrorist attack. It was…

This link provides three examples of major incident donation funds and insight into how those can be managed. The One Fund (Boston, Massachusetts) The One Fund Boston raises money to…

Almost immediately after a mass violence incident there is a need for municipal, community and faith leaders to organize more formal events, such as a simple candlelight vigil, to invite…

The National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center offers a range of support services for clinicians interested in learning more about empirically-based, trauma-focused treatments.

Disaster behavioral health (DBH) includes the provision of mental health, substance abuse, and stress management services to disaster survivors and responders. Incorporating DBH into all phases of emergency management can…

SAMHSA DTAC assists states, territories, tribes, and local entities with all-hazards disaster behavioral health response planning that allows them to prepare for and respond to both natural and human-caused disasters.…

This OVC provided link introduces two sites for understanding Trauma Informed Care. Trauma-Informed Care National Center for Trauma-Informed Care and Alternatives to Seclusion and Restraint This technical assistance center promotes…

This initiative, funded by the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), provides dedicated resources, training and technical assistance to 12 communities seeking to build interdisciplinary,…

The National Sheriff's Association provides a comprehensive list of tools related to Law Enforcement Officers from various sources. Exposure to the traumatic experiences of other people—known as vicarious trauma—is an…

This issue of the Supplemental Research Bulletin focuses on mental health and substance use (behavioral health) concerns in first responders.  An in-depth look into risk factors for officers, protective factors…

The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit (VTT) was developed on the premise that exposure to the traumatic experiences of other people—known as vicarious trauma—is an inevitable occupational challenge for the fields of victim services, emergency…

The vast majority of crime survivors’ needs have nothing to do with what happens to the person who harmed them. These needs include medical assistance, physical therapy, trauma and grief…

The Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP) supports crisis, response, consequence management, criminal justice support, crime victim compensation, and training and technical assistance in the aftermath of an incident. This is one of…

OVC has compiled several tools to help communities promote resiliency following an incident of violence. This link provides general resilience information as well as examples of resiliency centers established after…

The National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center created a tip sheet clearly defines the crucial role of Victim Assistance Professionals in the resilience phase of a mass violence incident.

VictimLaw is a searchable database of victims' rights legal provisions including federal, state, and territorial statutes, tribal laws, state constitutional amendments, court rules, administrative code provisions, and summaries of related…

This link includes a list of current NACP Pre-Approved Training Programs by state as well as instructions for obtaining pre-approval for your victim assistance introductory advocacy training.  

Exercises are a key component of national preparedness — they provide the whole community with the opportunity to shape planning, assess and validate capabilities, and address areas for improvement. HSEEP provides…

By providing sample victim services drills, tabletop exercises, and functional exercises, this guide is intended to assist communities in incorporating victim services into their emergency management exercises. Baseline After-Action Review…

This template can be customized by jurisdictions completing an After Action Review for drills, exercises, and real events.

The Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) is committed to building the capacity of those who work with victims across the country. Our no-cost…

The OVC Helping Victims of Mass Violence & Terrorism: Planning, Response, Recovery, and Resources Toolkit was created for communities to prepare for and respond to victims of mass violence and terrorism in…

The Strategic Planning Toolkit is intended to function as a guide for you to use throughout the strategic planning process. The Toolkit offers guidelines you can follow and tools and…