2009 January - February - Unified-solutions.org

USTCDGI 

This publication is distributed 

free of charge to the TVA 

and C&FBS-CVIC grantee 

communities, state and federal 

victim assistance agencies 

working with tribal programs, 

and other allies promoting 

the health and sovereignty 

of tribal member victims 

of crime. Additional copies 

can be sent upon request. 

Articles, announcements, and 

other relevant contributions 

are welcomed. Contact the 

Research & Publications 

Department at 877-438-4400 

for submission guidelines. 

Please note: This project is 

supported by Grant No. 2006- 

MU-GX-0001 and Grant No. 

2008-VR-GX-0010, awarded by 

the Office for Victims of Crime, 

Office of Justice Programs, 

U.S. Department of Justice. 

Points of view in this document 

are those of the author and do 

not necessarily represent the 

official position or policies 

of the US Department of 

Justice. 

Unified Solutions Tribal Community Development Group, Inc. 

Training & Technical 

Assistance Newsletter 

Building capacity through education, 

training, and resource support. 

January - February 2009 

Collaboration is Key ! 

Articles: 

11th Annual Indian Nations Conference ...........................................................................................7 

Congratulations for Outstanding Progress Reports ........................................................................10 

Make the Leap for Best-Ever Training Workshops in ‘09 ........................................................ 11 

Learning to Work Together: Collaboration with the Tribal Community ........................................14 

How Law Enforcement can Meet the Needs of Crime Victims .......................................................16 

Grantees Win Bonnie Heavy Runner Achievement Award .............................................................17 

Know the Dangers of Stalking ..........................................................................................................18 

Three Tribes Collaborate for Greater Impact ..................................................................................19 

Stalking Fact Sheet ...........................................................................................................................20 

Strategy Package Order Form ..........................................................................................................22 

Regular Features: 

Message from TVA Manager Bob Brown ..........................................................................................2 

From Tanya Miller, Victim Justice Program Specialist .....................................................................2 

A Word from Renee Williams, OVC Program Specialist ...................................................................3 

Message from Gina .............................................................................................................................4 

TVA Program Spotlight: Cheyenne River Sioux ................................................................................5 

TVA Program Spotlight: Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians .......................................................6 

From Your Program Managers ........................................................................................................12 

Research Corner ................................................................................................................................21 

Funding Opportunities ......................................................................................................................24 

Training Opportunities ......................................................................................................................26

A message from your TVA Program Manager, Bob Brown 

The Road Ahead 

I want to thank those of you who attended November’s 

National Training Conference for Criminal Justice and 

Community Leaders (Green Bay, WI) and December’s 

Palm Springs TVA pre-conference meeting, and the 11th 

National Indian Nations Conference. I regret that I was 

unable to make Palm Springs because of personal medical 

constraints, but I was informed that the 2009 Palm Springs 

venues were spectacular in that they were well coordinated, 

both meaningful and insightful to attendees, and very well 

attended. 

Also, I was delighted to learn that OVC’s Deputy Director 

Barbara Walker was able to take time from her schedule 

and spend time with you. Issues highlighted included OVC’s 

proposed FY 09 budget; the importance of maintaining 

frequent contact with OVC and Unifi ed Solutions staff; 

submitting timely fi nancial and categorical progress 

reports; and that such reports comprehensively address 

project goals and objectives, identify challenges and 

accomplishments, and include photos, as applicable, to 

capture gatherings and momentous occasions. 

As we are now in the last phase of your Federal project 

period, it is important that you review, again, OJP Financial 

Guide policies and guidelines. Please focus on topics that 

relate to audits, fi scal and 

programmatic reporting, grant 

adjustments (no cost, budget 

modifi cations, allowable 

time frames, etc.), project 

management, and the grant 

closeout process. 

Needless to say, there is much to do in the days ahead 

and I look forward to seeing you, your staff, and tribal 

offi cials in April 2009 during our next TVA Skills Building 

Conference. Presently, Unifi ed Solutions staff is in the 

midst of both planning and determining the location of this 

TVA Program mandatory event. 

Again, thank you for all that you do on behalf of victims 

and I look forward to meeting with you soon. 

Robert H. (Bob) Brown, Jr. 

Social Science Program Specialist 

Offi ce for Victims of Crime 

Offi ce of Justice Programs 

U.S. Department of Justice 

810 7th Street, NW, Room 8242 

Washington, DC 20531 

Tel: 202-616-3297 

e-mail: robert.brown@usdoj.gov 

From Tanya Miller, Your Victim Justice Program Specialist 

Hello Everyone! 

I am Tanya Miller, Offi ce for Victims of Crime’s newest 

Victim Justice Program Specialist, and I am honored to 

be here. I am pleased to work for an agency such as 

this and excited to be a part of an innovative group. I’m 

looking forward to working with the Faith-Based Program. 

I think it is truly amazing how this agency provides grant 

awards to enhance collaboration between victim services, 

traditional healers, and other faith-based clergy. In 

addition, I realize I have big shoes to fi ll because Renee 

Williams is awesome. I‘m ready to roll back my sleeves 

and get to work. 

I look forward to seeing you at the 

Resource Forum. 

So until the next time….. 

Tanya Miller 

Victim Justice Program Specialist 


Offi ce of Justice Programs 

U.S. Department of Justice 

810 7th Street NW, Room 8207 


202-616-3453 

e-mail: Tanya.Miller4@usdoj.gov 

2 | Training & Technical Assistant Newsletter | January-February 2009

A Word From Renee Williams, OVC Program Specialist 

A Brand New and Busy Time! 

Happy New Year! I hope the holiday season was a joyous 

time for all. The second quarter of 2009 is underway and 

there are a few important topics I’d like to bring to your attention. 

Stalking Awareness Month 

Stalking is a crime that often starts out unassuming, but if 

left undetected can escalate quickly and result in tragedy. Understanding 

stalking and developing an appropriate response 

is key to ensuring the victim’s safety. A victim of stalking 

should not respond to the stalker. Stalking behavior is not 

rational and the stalker cannot be reasoned with. The victim 

should document each event/attempt the stalker makes to 

communicate with them. This information will support law 

enforcement’s efforts to investigate the matter. Report the 

incidents immediately. The victim should ensure they alert law 

enforcement, friends, family, and employer of the situation. 

Making people aware increases the support available to the 

victim. If possible, change daily routine. Varying your schedule 

and daily movements can also be a useful strategic measure. 

These helpful hints may be useful interventions to aid a stalking 

victim. 

Counseling & Faith-Based Services for Crime Victims in 

Indian Country Continuation Solicitation 

The continuation solicitation for FY 2009 is now available on 

GMS. The purpose of this supplemental award, authorized by 

42 U.S.C § 10603(c)(1)(B), is to continue to enhance the ability 

of organizations to: (1) Support faith-based organizations 

in providing counseling services to crime victims; and (2) 

Support the creation of collaborative models for local victim 

assistance programs to join with faith-based organizations, 

spiritual leaders, and traditional healers in American Indian/ 

Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and determine the best 

practices for facilitating counseling services by faith-based 

organizations. In addition, training and technical assistance 

will be provided to further advance the effectiveness of the 

collaborative models used to form the partnerships necessary 

to support victim services. 

The due date for this grant program is March 9, 2009. Please 

go to GMS and register. If you have any questions regarding 

the application, please contact Tanya Miller at 202-616-3453, 

or via e-mail at Tanya.Miller4@usdoj.gov. If you experience 

diffi culty registering in GMS, please contact OJP Support 

Services at 1-888-549-9901 and select option #3 for GMS. 

Progress Reports 

The semi-annual progress report for the CCVIC/FBO grant is 

due January 31, 2009. This report is required twice a year 

and is used to described and assess the performance of 

activities or the accomplishments of objectives as set forth in 

the approved award application. The performance measures 

outlined in the original application 

serve as an indicator of this progress. 

Please include in your submission 

a response to the Performance 

Measures and the Evaluation Strategies 

as outlined in the application. 

Performance Measures 

• The number of and the percent increase in the number of 

faith-based victim counseling services provided. 

• The number of and the percent increase in the number of 

training sessions provided. 

• The number of and percent increase in the number of 

collaborative relationships between local victim assistance 

programs and the faith-based community. 

Evaluation 

Grantees are required to assess their performance in meeting 

12-month goals and objectives identifi ed in the application. 

The evaluation should address the following basic questions: 

• 

What needs and resources were identifi ed through the 

community assessment? 

Is there an effective network of faith-based and secular 

victim assistance that can respond to crime victims by 

providing counseling services and referrals? 

What additional or enhanced services were provided? 

What specifi c types of crimes were committed against the 

victims served? 

Were there victims receiving services who had not previously 

been served? 

What successful approaches were undertaken to provide 

or enhance victim services and to overcome the problems 

and obstacles? 

How were these approaches developed and implemented? 

Will the established program be able to sustain its victim 

services programs after the OVC funding ends? 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Finally, here are a number of important dates to remember: 

January 31, 2009: Progress Reports due 

February 14, 2009: Financial Status Reports (SF 269) 

due 

March 9, 2009: FY09 CFBS/CVIC Applications due 

May 2009 (Dates TBD): CFBS/CVIC Resource Forum 

Thanks, 

Renee D. Williams, M.P.A. 

Victim Justice Program Specialist 

US DOJ’s Offi ce of Justice Programs 


810 7th Street, NW 


Phone: 202-616-3218 

Fax: 202-305-2440 

January-February 2009 | Training & Technical Assistant Newsletter | 3

Hello from Gina Gavaris 

Executive Director, Unified Solutions 

What a pleasure seeing you all in Palm Springs last month. I 

always appreciate the opportunity to catch up with you on how 

things are going back home. Our post awards meetings were 

also good opportunities to review program requirements and to 

get ready for the New Year ahead. Happy 2009!! 

Let’s mark our calendars!!! The 4th Annual Faith-Based Forum will 

be conducted the week of May 18, 2009, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

The 7th Annual TVA Skills Conference will be held the 

week of April 6, 2008, at the Mississippi Choctaw Conference 

Center. Please watch your e-mail for details forthcoming. 

Say you’ve got 15 members of 

a domestic violence task force. 

The group meets together every 

month. But, most people in this 

group don’t pull their weight. Nothing 

really gets done, and the one 

or two people who do make an 

effort get discouraged. Why do they get discouraged? Because 

they believe their efforts don’t matter. They feel alone and 

isolated, unappreciated, doing the work all by themselves. They 

don’t believe they are part of a team, so they give up. 

I know you’ve been reminded a dozen times, but here it is again: 

Progress Reports are due January 30. They are fi led on GMS. 

Financial Reports are due February 14, also to be fi led on GMS. 

We are here to help you, so don’t be shy about calling. Our tollfree 

number is 1-877-438-4400. 

In this issue of the newsletter, we provided articles and examples 

of successful Collaboration, especially between law enforcement 

and advocates. We’ve written about this topic before, but 

collaboration questions and issues continue to be your number 

one TA request, so we thought we’d start the New Year off delving 

right into the good stuff! 

Here is a story shared by James Moore in his book Some Folks 

Feel the Rain … Others Just Get Wet : 

A man was lost while driving through the country. As he tried 

to read a map, he accidentally drove off the road into a ditch. 

Though he wasn’t injured, his car was stuck deep in the mud. So 

the man walked to a nearby farm to ask for help. 

“Warwick can get you out of that ditch,” said the farmer, pointing 

to an old mule standing in a fi eld. The man looked at the haggardly 

old mule and looked at the farmer who just stood there 

repeating, “Yep, old Warwick can do the job.” The man fi gured 

he had nothing to lose. The two men and Warwick made their 

way back to the ditch. 

The farmer hitched the mule to the car. With a snap of the reins 

he shouted, “Pull, Fred! Pull, Jack! Pull, Ted! Pull Warwick!” and 

the mule pulled the car from the ditch with very little effort. 

The man was amazed. He thanked the farmer, patted the mule 

and asked, “Why did you call out all of those other names before 

you called Warwick?” 

The farmer grinned and said, “Old Warwick is just about blind. As 

long as he believes he’s part of a team, he doesn’t mind pulling.” 

I love the moral of this story: “As long as he believes he’s part 

of a team, he doesn’t mind pulling.” Our belief is what makes or 

breaks any situation. Here’s what I mean: 

Now let’s say you’ve got a single advocate starting a new victim 

services program on the reservation. There’s no offi cial task 

force; in fact, no one’s even aware of the problems going on. 

But the advocate feels connected to every voiceless, nameless 

victim. She remembers that there are national agencies available 

to help her and she calls them and uses them. She goes to 

workshops to keep herself informed and uplifted. Even though 

she is by herself, she believes she is part of a greater effort. 

She believes everything she does matters. She believes she’s 

part of a team and, because of that belief, she is easily able to 

make change in her community and infl uence others to do the 

same. 

What you believe in your mind is more important than what the 

outer circumstances are. Fifty people sitting in a room calling 

themselves a collaborative does not necessarily mean they are 

one. You can have three people in a room and, because of what 

they believe, they can accomplish more than those 50 people. 

It’s what’s in your mind that makes the difference. 

My experience has taught me there are a few things that help 

build and keep cohesive, motivated teams – whether they are 

teams of two, ten, or one hundred: 

1. Agree to and believe in a shared Vision. This is the change 

you are striving to achieve. 

2. Agree to and believe in a shared Mission. This is the 

method of how you will achieve your Vision. 

3. Set up reasonable measures of success in order to know 

you’re making progress. 

4. Defi ne roles/responsibilities for everyone. 

5. Keep a written record of all group meetings to keep everyone 

accountable for their activities. 

6. Encourage each other and celebrate when you achieve 

your goals! 

Unifi ed Solutions is available to conduct team-building training at 

your site. This training has been popular with many programs, 

so let us know if we can help you. 

Until next time, 

— Gina 


the TVA program spotlight shines on the 

Cheyenne River Sioux 

Eagle Butte, South Dakota 

By Becky Owl Morgan 

Unified Solutions Research & Publications Specialist 

work. These are in addition to the large number of services 

that TVA programs typically provide. 

Once a man and his son were walking along the beach. As 

they walked, they noted the many starfi sh that the incoming 

tide had left stranded on the shore. The child repeatedly 

knelt, picked up a starfi sh, and tossed it back into the 

sea. Finally the father said to the boy, “Son, don’t bother 

throwing each starfi sh back. There are so many, and you 

can’t save them all. You’re just wasting your time. What 

you’re doing doesn’t really matter.” The boy knelt, selected 

another starfi sh and replied, “But it matters to this one.” 

— adapted from The Star Thrower 

by Loren Eiseley (1907 - 1977) 

Renee Iron Hawk brings dedication to her role as Director of 

the Tribal Victim Assistance Program for the Cheyenne River 

Sioux Tribe. Her answers to questions regarding her work 

show someone assuming a leadership role in ending violence 

on her reservation. Renee is an accomplished presenter and 

does a powerful presentation on historical trauma, which has 

had a tremendous impact on her audiences. She spoke on this 

topic at the VOCA TVA Conference last January in Tucson, and 

again for the Indian Nations Conference this past December in 

Palm Springs. 

The Cheyenne River Sioux program boasts a volunteer crew of 

27 folks who assist in many ways and the TVA program takes 

the time to train them on a variety of topics. What a great 

collaborative effort, 

which involves both 

the community and 

tribal members! 

Program Director Renee Fasthorse 

Iron Hawk 

Their program 

averages at least 

30 court advocacy 

services each 

month, along with a 

large variety of other 

services that include 

crisis intervention, 

emergency shelter 

and clothing, and 

working to obtain 

victims compensation 

for the victims 

with whom they 

Renee also highlighted the improvements seen in a tribal sex 

offender registry. Her work has led other tribal personnel to 

ensure that these offenders are made accountable by registering 

with tribal law enforcement. 

When asked about why she does this work, she spoke about 

the tolerance of violence and witnessing people becoming 

victims as a result. Her organization faces many challenges in 

changing attitudes and behavior. Apathy and lack of empowerment 

are key issues and some feel hopeless and discouraged. 

Others search for a competitive edge that gives them the false 

belief that it is okay to use any means to get what they want. 

Most suffer from multi-generational trauma and grief from their 

ancestors, which continues to be unresolved. This trauma 

expresses itself through anger and violence. In a rural area, it 

often happens that people know each other and it can be hard 

for observers not to take sides in a confl ict. 

Despite these challenges, Renee and her team feel gratifi ed 

when someone they helped comes back and says, “Thank 

you; you were there when I needed someone.” When someone 

needs help, Renee and her staff put their feelings aside to 

care for the victim. Then, in their own safe, supportive atmosphere, 

team members can express their feelings about what 

they have seen. They validate each other’s perceptions and 

acknowledge the impact the events have on them as individuals. 

Smudging ceremonies with sage help to take the negative 

feelings away. Coping with child and elder abuse is the hardest 

to accept, followed by homicides. Grief can be a trigger in this 

fi eld because unresolved trauma plays a role. 

When a crime is committed, both victim and offender experience 

pain and diffi culty. Rather than judge the offender, they 

leave that task for the judicial process. Renee works to keep 

this fact in perspective while fulfi lling her duty to believe in and 

support the victim. 

A strength she observes in Native communities is the ability 

to admit when there is a problem. She feels a healthy future 

involves dealing with multi-generational trauma and grief. She 

sees her relatives addressing these issues for themselves and 

she is hopeful for the future. Hecetu ksto (That is the way it is). 

Just like the boy throwing the starfi sh into the sea one by one, 

she and her team assist victims one at a time. This ripple of 

positive energy has spread across her reservation. 


the TVA program spotlight shines on the 

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians 

Choctaw, Mississippi 

By Natalia Calhoun 

TVA Program Manager 

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians became federally 

recognized in 1945. The reservation consists of eight communities 

in nine counties, with 35,000 acres and 9,500 enrolled 

members. I recently had the privilege of returning to their 

beautiful land and the honor of providing a monitor site visit 

and training within their community on Historical Trauma and 

Compassion Fatigue, and Self Care. Offi cer Terri Graham, a 

consultant for Unifi ed Solutions, provided training on Critical 

Response and Crime Scene Guidelines. The training was held 

at the Golden Moon Casino (one of two casinos operated by 

the tribe). I worked with Lanisha Bell, Program Manager for 

Family Violence and Victim Services, to bring the training to 

their community. Lanisha had every detail of the training set 

up as planned and on schedule. The room was all set and 

waiting for us when we arrived both mornings. She had volunteers 

to assist with the sign-in sheets, and the distribution of 

promotional items and evaluation sheets. Arrangements were 

already made for a quick response from a technician if we 

needed help. There is a lot to be said for southern hospitality 

and good management. 

Lanisha handles the administrative duties for the program. 

Robert Ben was hired a year ago as their Victim Advocate, focusing 

on legal advocacy. Robert’s duties include court preparation; 

transporting victims to court, investigator, and medical 

appointments; notifi cation to victim and parent of court dates; 

and keeping the victims engaged throughout the case— 

through investigation and prosecutions of the case in tribal, 

state, and federal court, and working with other programs to 

provide assistance to victims. Robert has established weekly 

meetings with the prosecutors to keep current with cases. 

The program averages 15 volunteers for outreach. During the 

past year, Robert has responded to a hospital safety issue, offi 

cer shooting for debriefi ng, two homicides, and worked with 

a victim witness. He worked with a young victim and family 

whose case resulted in the offender being found guilty on four 

counts and sentenced to four life terms. Robert felt keeping 

the victim focused on her testimony, being comfortable with 

the court system, and keeping the family updated had a lot 

to do with the powerful testimony given by the young victim. 

Their program was praised by the Attorney General’s offi ce 

for their work. 

The primary focus of the program is to provide services to 

victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, 

victims of violent crime, and survivors of homicide victims. 

The program is currently working on a Victim Rights Code. 

They sponsored several events last year, including: “Take Back 

the Night,” in April 2008; “Choctaw Leadership Symposium,” in 

August ’08; “National Day of Remembrance of Murder Victims 

Luncheon,” in September ’08; and a “Candlelight Vigil,” in October 

‘08. “Take Back the Night” for the National Crime Victims’ 

Rights Week included a victim survivor who told her story to 

over 200 people. The facilitation for this event consisted of a 

team that included the Victim Program, Attorney General’s offi 

ce, Teen Court, Behavior Health, Assistance Services, Chata 

Alla Youth, Diabetes Prevention Program, Choctaw Community 

Planning Coalition, and the Boys & Girls Club. The program 

provides training and outreach to law enforcement, tribal agencies, 

community groups, and their tribal school system. They 

have also successfully established collaboration with the U.S. 

Attorney’s Offi ce, BIA Law Enforcement, State VOCA, FBI Field 

Offi ce Victim Assistance, Indian Health Service, and Behavior 

Health-IHS. 

Great Job Lanisha Bell and Robert Ben! My hands are up to 

both of you for the wonderful work you are doing to make your 

community a safe place. 

Hyshe’que 

Natalia Calhoun and Robert Ben 


11th Annual Indian Nations Conference 

Justice for 

Victims of Crime 

December 11-13 

Palm Springs, California 

“Strengthening the Heartbeat 

of All Our Relations” 

A highlight for victim services providers, law enforcement, 

and other collaborative partners is the bi-annual Indian Nations 

Conference. This is the largest conference that the Offi ce for 

Victims of Crime sponsors. Hundreds attend the conference, 

which, for the past few years, has been held in Palm Springs, 

California, in December. 

For those of us whose winter begins in November and December, 

Palm Springs is a nice break, although this year many 

folks went home to weather extremes from snow, to ice, and 

even blizzards! 

In early February of 2008, Tribal Law and Policy Institute 

(TLPI), who coordinates the conference through a cooperative 

agreement with OVC for the past few years, hosted a planning 

committee meeting in Palm Springs. Unifi ed Solutions was 

pleased to be included in that committee. During the meeting, 

prior conferences and training topics were reviewed, along 

with themes and potential workshop presentations and pre- 

Grantees learn about new requirements and share 

insights at the TVA Post Awards Meeting. 

Dianne and Dave share a moment while presenting on 

Team Building for Law Enforcement. 

senters, and the 11th Annual Nations Conference was brought 

to life. 

Unifi ed Solutions hosted the TVA and Faith-Based grantees 

for post award conferences, and so did the S.M.A.R.T. Offi 

ce, who hosted their own grantee training for Adam Walsh 

Act Grantees. Six pre-conference Institutes were offered, two 

of which were sponsored by Unifi ed Solutions. The Offi ce on 

Violence Against Women (OVW) hosted the second tribal task 

force meeting and we were honored that OVW invited our own 

Dianne Barker Harrold to facilitate that two-day meeting prior 

to the conference. The OVW tribal task force is a statutory 

creation of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization 

of 2005 (VAWA 2005). Because Unifi ed Solutions provides 

training and technical assistance to Tribal Victim Programs, 

this was a great opportunity to also gain knowledge about the 

work of this historic federal task force. OVW also had their 


Samaria Ross, Executive Director, and Harriet Simpson, 

TVA Coordinator and Advocate, Bering Sea Women; Mary 

Sands, Social Services Director, and Rebekah Jones, TVA 

Director, Prairie Band Potowatomie 

Annual Tribal Consultation during that time—another result of 

VAWA 2005. 

After the pre-conference activities, everyone converged on the 

“main event”—the 11th Annual Indian Nations Conference. We 

enjoyed shopping with the vendors, great food, much networking, 

and attending outstanding workshops, sharpening our 

skills to take back home to enhance the services we provide to 

victims of crime. 

Jerry Gardner, the Executive Director of TLPI, was very 

pleased with the attendance of over 800 at this year’s conference. 

TLPI has been the conference coordinator for the past 

several years. Conference evaluations also point to a high 

degree of satisfaction. Our hats off to TLPI and their staff for 

a great conference, for their assistance in accommodating so 

many collaborative partners in making sure their needs were 

met, taking care of last minute issues, and making us all feel 

so welcome. Jerry is already looking forward to 2010! 

Unifi ed Solutions’ Faith-Based Project premiered their maiden 

video endeavor, Healing Journey. (See more about this on opposite 

page.) It was a huge success and we extend our hearty 

congratulations to FB Program Manager Melissa Riley, Executive 

Director Gina Gavaris, and OVC Program Specialist Renee 

Williams, along with the FB grantees who contributed so much 

to the project and the fi lm crew, Nathan Young and Dustinn 

Craig. You cannot view the video without being moved. Well 

done, colleagues! 

Videos were the new trend, as, along with Unifi ed Solutions, 

Tribal Law and Policy Institute also showed their child sexual 

abuse in Alaska video, Pathways to Hope, which had premiered 

in Alaska in early 2008, and Listening to the Grandmothers: 

Utilizing Cultural Traditions in Our Response to Violence 

Against Women. Our congratulations to TLPI for the great 

learning tools they produced! 

Many of our own TVA and FB grantees gave workshops during 

the 2½ day conference and we are proud of all of you for stepping 

up to share your abilities and knowledge with your peers. 

As usual, Lisa Thompson’s “The Purple Shawl,” was fi lled to 

8 | Training & Technical Assistant Newsletter | January-February 2009 

capacity, standing room only, and many were turned away. 

Two of our TVA Program Directors, Kathy Sanchez and Nikki 

Finkbonner, were honored for their work (see story on page 

17). Unifi ed Solutions’ staff Dianne Barker Harrold and Natalia 

Calhoun, along with consultants Pam Moore, Gayle Thom, and 

Frank Goes Behind, also had many workshops on the agenda, 

which were all very well attended with high satisfaction scored 

on our own evaluations. Some of the workshops provided 

handouts, while others had their materials included on the 

conference disc. The majority of the conference workshop 

materials are now available online at www.ovcinc.org. 

At one of the luncheon sessions, James and Ernie, a Native 

American comedy duo, provided us with much-needed stress 

relief with their presentation entitled, “Honor Victims and their 

Helpers through Laughter.” That luncheon was well attended 

and enjoyed by all who could relate to the comedy they offered, 

much 

of which was 

about real life in 

our Native Communities. 

We parted, 

ready to brave 

the winter 

weather back 

home, having 

enjoyed 

the beautiful 

Palm Springs 

weather and 

having made 

new friends, 

with promises 

to e-mail each 

other soon 

and with an eye 

on December 

2010! 

Thank you, 

OVC, for providing 

all of us with 

this learning 

and networking 

opportunity. 

Thank you 

,TLPI, for doing 

a great job of 

coordinating 

this event, and 

thank all of you 

grantees for 

coming to be 

a part of the 

success of the 

conference! 

A Participant at the Faith-Based Program 

Workshop shares his perspective. 

Mary Dodd, Pyramid Lake

Ruby Hatfield, Bay Mills (left), and Elena Aluskak, Tundra, 

with Kevin Brennenstuhl, Menominee, background. 

Gina Gavaris introduces the video Healing Journey to attendees 

at the Faith-Based workshop. 

Two Faith-Based Workshops Featured at 2008 Indian Nations Conference 

By Melissa Riley, FB Program Manager 

At the December 2008 Indian Nations Conference, Unifi ed 

Solutions’ Faith-Based Program facilitated two workshops in 

coordination with OVC Program Specialist Renee Williams. 

Ms. Williams and the Unifi ed Solutions program staff have 

been involved in an ongoing initiative that involves increasing 

VOCA and compensation to Native American/Alaska Native 

victims of crime. One of the workshops was developed and 

facilitated to inform and explore some of the primary issues 

that prevent tribal victim-serving programs from accessing 

VOCA. Ms. Williams and I had facilitated two national workshops 

(NAVAA and NACVCB) during the month of September, 

with tremendous feedback from state compensation boards 

and victim assistance administrators. The feedback included 

what state agencies perceived to be the challenges and barriers 

faced by each state regarding outreach and services to 

Indian Country. 

We presented the feedback we had received from the national 

workshops to the participants of our VOCA workshop at 

Indian Nations, allowing them to listen and provide their own 

ideas and experiences. Although the tribes and states were 

speaking from different government levels, we were able to 

identify an increased need to include more key victim response 

services. Other victim response services included law 

enforcement (tribal/BIA/county/FBI), Indian Health Services, 

and other agencies with jurisdiction in Indian Country. 

A consistent message that arose about the challenges in 

VOCA/compensation and tribal relationships is that the 

agencies in between have different protocols and policies 

that are unclear to tribes and state VOCA /compensation 

offi ces. Police reports, court orders, medical reports, etc., 

are key elements for assisting victims of crime in receiving 

compensation for their trauma, as well as tribes receiving 

administrative assistance for supporting victim services in 

their communities. 

As a result of our workshop at Indian Nations, Renee Williams 

and Unifi ed Solutions Executive Director Gina Gavaris 

will continue to move forward on this important component 

of victim services. We anticipate the planning and development 

of an educational workgroup to allow key players and 

respondents from state and federal agencies to participate 

in discussions involving their impact and role in providing assistance 

to victims and their families who fi nd themselves in 

need of services to help them recover from trauma. 

The second workshop hosted by Unifi ed Solutions, in coordination 

with OVC, was the premier of the Counseling & Faith- 

Based Services for Crime Victims in Indian Country Video, 

entitled, “Healing Journey.” The 42-minute video, produced 

by Unifi ed Solutions, highlights the culmination of a threeyear 

Training & Technical Assistance Project supported by 

OVC. The video demonstrates the initiative of the Faith-Based 

Project in Indian Country, which is to support victims in their 

spiritual healing after the impact of crime. This documentary 

highlights the collaborations created between community 

victim service programs and the faith community (traditional/ 

non-traditional) in order to better serve victims. 

Each Faith-Based Grant recipient has been able to implement 

faith-based services that honor and respect our Native traditions 

and culture. The video project was a long and enduring 

process for everyone involved. Each program shared their 

challenges and the resulting success of their hard work and 

dedication to their communities. The workshop attendance 

for this video premier was overwhelming and Unifi ed Solutions 

was pleased to share and celebrate the success of 

the Faith-Based Grantees as they implemented faith-based 

counseling into their programs. 

As we refl ect back on the beautiful scenery of Palm Springs 

and the fellowship we shared there, we will always remember 

how we participated in giving rise to justice issues in Indian 

Country. We look forward to our next gathering in 2010! 


Congratulations for Outstanding Progress Reports! 

Bob Brown of OVC recognized these program managers and their programs at the TVA Post 

Awards meeting at the 11th Annual Indian Nations Conference in Palm Springs, California. 

From left to right: 

Mark Matthews, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Warm Springs, Oregon 

Renee Fasthorse Iron Hawk, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Eagle Butte, South Dakota 

Vicki Perez, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Hugo, Oklahoma 

Barbara Murray, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, Perkins, Oklahoma 

Rebekah Jones, Prairie Band Potowatomie, Mayetta, Kansas 

Mary Dodd, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Wadsworth, Nevada 

Corrine Sanchez, TEWA Women United, Espanola, New Mexico 

Elena Aluskak, Tundra Women’s Coalition, Bethel, Alaska 

Not Pictured: Kathirine Horne (Shoalwater Bay) who was providing support for a death 

that occurred in their department. 

Victim advocates become victim advocates because they want to help people. In the course of doing this work, they become 

leaders, and before long they are in charge and have to fi le paperwork in order to do the work they love. 

It may be painful, but remember that others have come before and it can be instructive to see examples of their work. 

These program directors have written outstanding progress reports and you can check out what they have written on our 

website. If you have any diffi culties in locating these reports, please call our Tempe offi ce and we will assist you. Go to the 

Unifi ed Solutions website at: http://www.unifi ed-solutions.org/index.php. From there, click on the orange TVA community 

link on the right side of the page. From there, click Resource Library on the lower left hand side. Next, click OVC Regulations. 

The items at the top are some of the progress reports that received special acknowledgement. These reports are 

for the period from January – June 2008. Seeing examples from other programs can help inspire all of us. 

If you have any problems accessing this information, please call us at: (877) 438-4400, extension 8. 


Make the LEAP for the Best-Ever 

Training Workshops in ‘09! 

By Jesucita Hernandez, Unified Solutions Program Manager 

In order to provide successful 

training sessions, we 

must strive to provide our communities 

with Locations, Equipment, 

Audiences, and a Positive 

Environment (LEAP) that are best 

suited to meet their needs. This will help to ensure that we 

have an effective and effi cient training session. 

Location 

Secure an appropriate location for the training workshop. 

Some examples of possible training sites are conference 

rooms, community centers, etc. The optimal location 

should have adequate lighting, heating/cooling, and plenty of 

tables and chairs. It is important to ensure that electric power 

is available for technical equipment, such as a PowerPoint 

projector. The site should be clean and have bathrooms that 

are readily accessible. The room should be free of distractions 

such as telephones or intrusions from passers-by during the 

workshop. Unifi ed Solutions staff will provide continued communication 

and support to TVA programs to ensure the training 

needs for the workshops are met. 

Equipment 

Help secure the appropriate equipment and materials 

for the training. Unifi ed Solutions can assist in providing 

some equipment (e.g., PowerPoint projectors). They may 

need assistance in obtaining other items, like a screen or 

a blank wall where the PowerPoint images can be shown. 

Some trainers may require a fl ip chart, permanent markers, 

a whiteboard, or chalkboard. We understand that some 

programs may not be able to provide all needed items; 

however, we do ask that the program employees help us to 

locate the items. 

Audience 

Promote attendance to the training. It is vital that individuals 

or organizations realize the importance of attending 

trainings. We encourage fi nding different ways to promote 

training opportunities. Some ideas may include designing and 

distributing fl yers, sending invitations or letters, or making 

phone calls to personally invite other programs. Feel free to 

contact Unifi ed Solutions if your program would like assistance 

in developing training promotional materials. 

Positive Environment 

Set the tone for your training session: 

• Arrange an opening blessing and introduction of Unifi ed 

Solutions staff and consultants or additional speakers. 

• Highlight your program and services. 

• Oversee the overall “fl ow” of the workshop day. 

• Help create a safe and positive learning environment. 

A positive, welcoming attitude makes everyone feel good. Remember 

to include as many people and agencies as possible 

who may benefi t from the training. 

Professional Development Scholarships 

to those who work with Victims of Crime 

Eligibility: Victim service providers and other professionals working with victims of crime. 

Summary: The program provides up to $1,000 for individuals and up to $5,000 for multidisciplinary teams 

of victim service professionals seeking continuing education opportunities. The scholarship program is administered 

by the Offi ce for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC). OVC TTAC 

provides comprehensive quality training and technical assistance resources to victim service providers and 

other professionals. 

Scholarship awards are based on eligibility, are limited to available funds, and are processed in the order in 

which applications are received. Scholarships are nontransferable and can be used only for professional development 

related to an applicant’s responsibilities for serving victims of crime. 

Please visit the following website for more information: https://www.ovcttac.gov/taResources/scholarship.cfm. 


FROM YOUR PROGRAM MANAGERS . . . 

Greetings From Dianne 

Barker-Harrold 

Amazing as it may seem, here we are 

beginning another year. New beginnings are 

exciting, and the dawn of a New Year is no 

different. There is anticipation, excitement, 

and great expectations as the New Year 

brings new challenges. It is also a time when 

many of us make New Year’s Resolutions. 

In the past, I have promised to lose weight, 

be more faithful to my church, eat healthier… 

you know the drill. I did well one year 

and lost 50 pounds! However, I still live to 

eat instead of eat to live, so . . . I have some 

work to do on that! I am much better with 

my church, tithing and being more active, 

so I managed to make that resolution work. 

However, this year, I plan to adopt Oprah 

Winfrey’s quote about the new year as my 

resolution for 2009: 

“Cheers to a New Year and another 

chance for us to get it right.” 

— Oprah Winfrey 

For you as TVA grantees and all of us here 

at Unified Solutions, 2009 promises to be 

chock full of new experiences, new projects, 

and additional opportunities for learning. 

At the Indian Nations Conference in Palm 

Springs, we provided a preview of what the 

year will bring. Of course, our big project is 

the TVA video project, which will explore 

homicide, death and dying, and the grieving 

process in tribal communities. This is a topic 

that needs to be addressed and there is no 

real body of work “out there” as a resource. 

We hope this video will provide insight, 

information, understanding, compassion, and 

expanded knowledge to tribal communities, 

service providers, and state VOCA administrators 

so that optimum services can be 

provided to those suffering from the crime 

of homicide and its aftermath for survivors. 

We plan to film some of you at the TVA conference 

this Spring, as well as doing some 

filming on site. Ultimately, we hope that this 

project will provide in-depth information 

and a training opportunity that will address 

these topics not only with compassion and 

increased understanding, but honor and 

respect as well. 

Your TVA projects for FY 2008 that are currently 

underway will complete at the end of 

August 2009. So, our on-site trainings and 

site visits must be completed by then. We 

are already working on our training calendar. 

Many of those grantees assigned to me have 

already made training requests, so get ready 

to talk about a firm date and specific topics, 

because a Unified Solutions Program Manager 

will be coming to see you soon! 

It was really great to see all of you in Palm 

Springs. We love to have the opportunity to 

see you face-toface 

as often as 

we can, although 

all of us at Unified 

had a pretty hectic 

schedule that week 

and we didn’t get 

to visit as much as 

we wanted! For 

those of you who 

have bitterly cold 

winters, Palm Springs was a brief respite 

from the cold, wintry weather! In fact, that 

weather greeted many of you as you returned 

home from Palm Springs. I am thankful that 

all of you made it safely home. 

I hope each of you had a wonderful holiday 

season and found time for some rest, relaxation, 

and renewal of your spirit. I leave you 

with this quote as we have a new beginning 

for 2009. 

“Be always at war with your 

vices, at peace with your neighbors, 

and let each new year find 

you a better [person] man. “ 

— Benjamin Franklin 

Until next time, hugs and peace to all of 

you! 

— Dianne 

From Jesucita Hernandez 

Hello Everyone! 

It was a pleasure to have attended the Indian 

Nations Conference in Palm Springs this 

past December. We are entering the third 

year of the Tribal Victims Assistance (TVA) 

grant cycle. I am excited and welcome the 

opportunity to work with all the grantees 

this coming year. 

As Program Manager for Unified Solutions, 

one of my duties includes the scheduling 

of on site-trainings. As discussed in Palm 

Springs, training is a partnership between 

TVA grantees and Unified Solution personnel. 

We strive to help everyone build 

partnerships, network, and apply leadership 

skills. 

For a successful on-site training, we must 

remember that, in order to go forward, we 

must L.E.A.P. to ensure that we have secured 

the appropriate Location, Equipment, 

Audience, and a Positive Environment (more 

about this on page 11). 

Unified Solutions strives to help every program 

meet the needs of their communities 

through partnership, communication, and 

collaboration. We are dedicated to providing 

the utmost support to each of our grantees. 

Together, we can make a positive impact 

through capacity building, which includes 

education, training, and resource support. 

As a co-sponsor, we rely on you to team up 

with us by hosting an on-site training and 

utilizing your leadership skills. We promise 

to provide professionals with expertise and 

knowledge that is 

valuable and applicable 

to your tribal 

communities. We will 

provide continued 

communication and 

support to guide you 

through the process. 

I look forward to 

working with each 

and every one of you 

and will be in contact soon to set up future 

training sessions. 

I look forward to our collaboration in the 

coming year! 

— Jesucita 


Faith-Based 

Project Corner 

By Melissa 

Riley 

Greetings and 

Happy New Year 

to all of our readers! 

Along with a 

new year comes 

a renewal of one’s self to prepare for the 

work that is so desperately needed within 

our communities. I want to thank all of 

our readers and especially our Faith- 

Based Grantees for their dedication and 

hard work helping others in need during 

the Holiday Season. 

In this edition of the newsletter, you will 

find highlights of the Indian Nations 

Conference in Palm Springs and program 

activities. The Faith-Based Post-Award 

Meeting held at Indian Nations was a 

brief but wonderful opportunity for Unified 

Solutions to visit, review training and 

technical assistance services, and discuss 

some of your individual project needs for 

2009. The Needs Assessments distributed 

at the Post-Awards Meeting were 

completed and returned, and a Technical 

Assistance (TA) Action Plan was developed 

for individual programs. I cannot 

emphasize enough the importance of the 

needs assessments because our goal for TA 

is driven by your feedback and our dedication 

to provide you with quality services. 

Each grantee will receive a phone call 

from me within the month of January to 

discuss the TA Action Plan. 

The Post-Award Meeting also prompted 

the discussion for planning the next Faith- 

Based Resource Forum. Rest assured that 

the Forum planning is underway and we 

look forward to seeing all of our Faith- 

Based Grantees during our next gathering. 

The Indian Nations Conference succeeded 

in delivering its message of “Strengthening 

the Heartbeat of all our Relations” 

through its overwhelmingly high attendance 

by our brothers and sisters from 

around the country. Unified Solutions also 

showcased the Faith-Based Video entitled, 

“Healing Journey.” This was the first opportunity 

for our grantees and colleagues 

to view the film. We appreciate everyone’s 

feedback during the presentation and we 

look forward to sharing this video with 

more people. See more about the presentation 

of the video and other Faith-Based 

Project workshops in this edition of the 

newsletter. 

Last but not least, I want to take this opportunity 

to give our new staff at Unified 

Solutions another warm welcome. They 

persevered through the hustle and bustle of 

the conference and the day-to-day preparations 

leading up the event. Thanks! 

Please give me a call at 877-438-4400, 

ext. 3, if you would like to discuss an 

on-site training opportunity for your community, 

have a technical assistance question, 

or would like more information on 

project-related items. Remember Unified 

Solutions is here to assist you in making 

your Faith-Based Project a success. 

From the Desk of 

Natalia Calhoun 

I am embracing 2009 in a positive way 

and looking forward to a very productive 

year for all of us. If you are like me, you 

are off to a running start and jumping over 

high hurdles in your path. 

One hurdle might be forming productive 

relationships with your tribal council, 

tribal programs, and other programs that 

you work with to provide the best services 

to crime victims. Now is the time to plan 

your strategy for collaboration and to 

begin making those positive connections. 

Yes, it is up to you to make the contacts. 

Sitting back and waiting for others to 

contact your program is not going to get 

the positive results that you need. You 

must reach out and keep the process alive 

once you have established the working 

relationships. The tribal council will 

want to know how your program benefits 

the community. All programs will want 

to know what the benefit is to them for 

working with your program and how 

working together will benefit the victim. 

It’s give and take. 

Set goals before you begin making 

contact. Be mindful of your program’s 

mission, goals, and what goals can best be 

accomplished as a cohesive team. These 

are developing a strong sense of community, 

a betterment of community health, 

and working together to provide mutual 

support to victims. It takes a community 

working together to end violence and to 

provide the best services to victims. 

Knowing what the other programs can 

offer to your program is the first step in 

deciding who to contact—finding out the 

best contact person within the program 

is key. Does the person have an interest? 

Does the person have authority? Bring the 

groups together to strategize on common 

interests revolving around crime victims. 

Even if you have your ducks in a row and 

know what you would like to see happen, 

remember to give all parties the opportunity 

to have their say, to give their opinions, 

and what they envision. By doing this, you 

get their support, their “buy-in,” their cooperation, 

and you get to see the benefits 

of working together. Forming a bond for 

developing a Multidisciplinary Team to 

work toward a common goal takes effort. 

Once the decision is 

made to form a team, 

having all members 

sign a MOU 

will help develop 

the sense of a team 

by indicating why 

you are all working 

together. Next you 

will want to look at 

meeting locations and dates, processes 

for bringing issues to the table, decision 

making (majority or consensus), who will 

send out meeting notices, who will take 

minutes, etc. 

Although this may sound daunting, my 

feelings are that you are all courageous. 

Stepping up to the plate to work in a crime 

victim program as a way to bring about 

community change shows a tremendous 

amount of courage. My uncle used to always 

tell me, “You don’t have to be afraid 

of anyone; they all put on their socks the 

same way you do – one at a time.” The 

more contacts you make, the easier it 

becomes. Just like riding a bike, practice 

makes perfect. Need to brainstorm? Contact 

Unified Solutions. 


Learning to Work Together 

Levels Purpose Structure Process 

Networking 

Collaboration with the Tribal Community 

By Devennie Wauneka, Unified Solutions Research & Publications Specialist 

A new year begins and it is always important 

to remember that collaboration 

between the tribal community and victim 

service advocates is an essential tool 

to growing and working together. Collaboration 

is a process of participation 

with people, groups, and organizations 

working together to achieve desired 

results. The ability to communicate and 

be open to new people will bring new 

experiences and new relationships to 

your daily routines. Working together 

delivers positive feedback and suggestions 

to make victim advocate programs 

more suffi cient and reliable to the whole 

community. Collaborating is an essential 

tool to bring in outside resources and for 

brainstorming/discussing topics impor- 

• Dialog and common understanding 

• Clearinghouse for information 

• Create base of support 

tant to the community. It brings together 

victim advocates and tribal leaders for 

the greater good of the entire victim 

service programs. 

Establishing a trustful, friendly, collaborative 

relationship with the community 

may be diffi cult in the beginning. Native 

people in general have a long history of 

suffering from historical trauma infl icted 

by federal fi gures, agencies, programs, 

and groups. It is not easy for some people 

to trust authoritative fi gures outside 

their own communities. This makes it 

diffi cult for victims to reach out for assistance 

and help. It may be a challenge to 

see a collaborative relationship emerge 

between the community members and 

Figure 1 — Community Linkages - Choices and Decisions 

• Loose/fl exible link 

• Roles loosely defi ned 

• Community action is primary link 

among members 

local law enforcement/tribal leaders. “In 

some reservation communities, tribal law 

enforcement offi cials can be viewed as 

an appropriate or inappropriate avenue 

for intervention, depending on who the 

identifi ed offender is and their relationship 

to the investigating law enforcement 

offi cer and/or tribal leadership” (Bubar). 

This should not discourage you, but 

instead, serve to encourage you to work 

harder to establish a working relationship 

towards collaboration. 

Here are a few things that might help: 

• It is important to stay open minded. 

Remember the stress you might feel 

for any reason; imagine what others 

• Low key leadership 

• Minimal decision making 

• Little confl ict 

• Informal communication 

Cooperation or 

Alliance 

• Match needs and provide 

coordination 

• Limit duplication of services 

• Ensure tasks are done 

• Central body of people as 

communication hub 

• Semi-formal links 

• Roles somewhat defi ned 

• Links are advisory 

• Group leverages/raises money 

• Facilitative leaders 

• Complex decision making 

• Some confl ict 

• Formal communications within the 

central group 

Coordination 

or 

Partnership 

• Share resources to address 

common issues 

• Merge resource base to 

create something new 

• Central body of people consists of 

decision makers 

• Roles defi ned 

• Links formalized 

• Group develops new resources and 

joint budget 

• Autonomous leadership but focus in 

on issue 

• Group decision making in central and 

subgroups 

• Communication is frequent and clear 

Coalition 

• Share ideas and be willing to 

pull resources from existing 

systems 

• Develop a commitment for a 

minimum of three years 

• All members involved in decision 

making 

• Roles and time defi ned 

• Links formal with written agreement 

• Group develops new resources and 

joint budget 

• Shared leadership 

• Decision making formal with all members 

• Communication is common and 

prioritized 

Collaboration 

• Accomplish shared vision and 

impact benchmarks 

• Build interdependent system 

to address issues and 

opportunities 

• Consensus used in shared decision 

making 

• Roles, time, and evaluation 

formalized 

• Links are formal and written in work 

assignments 

• Leadership high, trust level high, 

productivity high 

• Ideas and decisions equally shared 

• Highly developed communication 

Source: Community Based Collaborations - Wellness Multiplied 1994, Teresa Hogue, Oregon Center for Community Leadership 


may feel within the community. Be 

sympathetic to feelings, needs, 

opinions, and views. Be aware and 

sensitive to each other’s demands 

and expectations. 

• Invest time getting to know how the 

other party works. Become familiar 

with the area, talk to people/community 

members, and remember to 

smile. People tend to gravitate to a 

great smile and it will help you meet 

a lot more community/family/tribal 

members. Generating this type of 

healthy working relationship will build 

trust between you and the rest of 

the community. 

• Engaging the community will help 

build trust and friendship for everyone. 

Community education and 

its resistance to victim abuse can 

help prevent violence. Becoming 

involved in victim advocacy through 

positive community events not only 

builds collaboration between victim 

advocates, but it builds strength and 

trust within the community itself. 

Community support, power, and 

actively engaging are healthy steps 

for creating a stronger community. 

• Obtaining knowledge about the 

community and its members can 

only bring good things to building a 

growing relationship. If you are working 

with tribal /council leaders, try to 

become familiar with their particular 

laws, regulations, and guidelines. It 

may help to obtain a formal resolution 

or read their tribal codes. These 

carry the legal authority of the tribe 

and will help you become familiar 

with how the laws for the community 

operate. 

• Becoming involved will eventually 

lead to greater services provided 

to our victim advocate programs 

as it allows us to obtain greater 

knowledge about the personality of 

the community and its members. 

Knowledge becomes helpful, and 

creating endless relationships will 

bring cooperation to a working 

relationship. 

• Cooperation is the ultimate key to 

collaboration. 

Groups of people who come together 

through a collaborative effort will bring 

good positive services back to the community. 

The tribal community will be able 

to form strong problem-solving skills to 

enhance the well-being of present and 

future generations. Collaboration is the 

key to any successful relationship. Collaborating 

with the tribal community will 

have a positive effect on your program. 

Remember, we are here to serve victims 

and their needs 

Resources: 

Ball, Thomas J. and Fisher, Philip A. 

(2003). Tribal Participatory Research: 

Mechanisms of a Collaborative Model. 

American Journal of Community Psychology. 

32(3), http://www.accessmyli- 

brary.com/coms2/summary_0286- 

19968935_ITM. 

Bubar, Roe and Thurman, Pamela 

Jumper (2004). Violence Against Native 

Women. Social Justice. 31(4), 70-86. 

National Network for Collaboration 

(1995). Collaboration Framework-Addressing 

Community Capacity. Retrieved 

January 10, 2009. http://crs.uvm. 

edu/nnco/collab/framework.html. 

Grants Management System (GMS) 

Online Training Available 

Understanding and making use of the GMS system just got easier. With GMS you can 

search for funding, accept awards, manage awards and provide post award documentation. 

The new system is very user friendly and is like watching a movie. A narrator 

explains each task as the computer demonstrates what to do. To try the training out, 

go to: http://www.ojp.gov/gmscbt. 

Your computer must have an internet browser (ideally Internet Explorer), a connection 

to the internet, and Flash Player version 8 installed with the following URL: http:// 

www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/downloads.html. If you do not have this version 

of Flash Player already installed, please check with your organization’s Information 

Technology department to find out the policies on the installation of software. 

If you have trouble viewing the training materials using your internet connection, 

please contact your program manager to have a CD version mailed to you. 


© iStockphoto.com/emengler 

Law Enforcement offi cers are among 

the fi rst responders to the scene of a 

crime. They have tremendous infl uence 

over the experience of a victim during 

that initial traumatic period. Victims may 

suffer from shock and are most vulnerable 

during this time. How those assisting 

a victim interact with them can help 

determine how readily the victim is able 

to recover a sense of control over his or 

her life. In recent times, there has been 

a tremendous effort by law enforcement 

offi cers to reach out more effectively 

to victims. Some of the principles 

developed as a result of these efforts 

are described here and can help victim 

advocates better understand the perspective 

of law enforcement offi cers and 

how they can work together to create a 

continuum of care for the victim. 

Seven Needs of Victims 

Seven critical needs of victims were 

outlined at the 1999 IACP (International 

Association of Chiefs of Police) Summit 

on Victims of Crime: 

1. Safety - knowing they will not be 

hurt again 

2. Support – meeting whatever needs 

they may have 

3. Information – understanding the 

steps in the justice system 

4. Access – the ability to take part in 

the justice system 

5. Continuity – confi dence that they 

will experience a consistent, caring 

approach 

6. Voice – a chance to express views 

that would not otherwise be heard 

7. Justice – seeing justice delivered to 

perpetrators 

Safety 

Speak in a calm tone of voice. Express 

empathy and concern to enhance a 

sense of safety. Introduce yourself and 

the purpose of your visit. Respect the 

victim and his or her need for privacy 

before asking questions that might be 

perceived as invasive. Create an environ- 

How Law Enforcement can 

Meet the Needs of Crime Victims 

By Becky Owl Morgan, Unified Solutions Research & Publications Specialist 

ment that is safe and comfortable to 

minimize stress for adults and children. 

This may mean transporting the victim 

to another location. Any transportation 

must be coordinated with the on-scene 

supervisor. If advocates provide onscene 

assistance, specifi c protocols will 

ensure clarity of roles. For example, the 

law enforcement offi cer may establish 

a perimeter to protect the scene and 

for safety. Understanding how a crime 

scene is processed allows both law enforcement 

and victim advocates to work 

together effectively. 

Support 

Make sure the victim has any special 

needs or medical requirements taken 

care of (the need for a wheelchair, interpreter, 

etc.). Offer to contact someone 

on behalf of the victim so the support 

can continue once you leave. This is the 

point when the advocate takes the lead. 

Information 

Explain the steps involved in a criminal 

case and what to expect next: fi ling of a 

report, investigation, arrest, arraignment 

of a suspect. If a forensic exam may be 

required, explain how that will be completed. 

Alert the victim to the possibility 

of media coverage—an advocate could 

provide choices for the victim. Provide 

the victim with written contact information. 

Familiarity with the justice system 

allows an advocate to give clear reports 

on the status of the case. 

Access 

The victim needs to be informed and 

involved as the case moves through the 

system. Advocates can partner with law 

enforcement offi cials to ensure victims 

make wise decisions based on the best 

information available. No one wants to 

later regret that a course of action cannot 

be pursued based on faulty intelligence. 

Continuity 

Having both a contact person from the 

police department and an advocate 

available to answer questions can make 

a big difference. If the victim needs to be 

interviewed, the advocate can help the 

victim cope with any adverse reactions 

that they may experience. 

Voice 

While speaking with a victim, allow him 

or her to express any emotions without 

interruptions. Listen actively in a nonjudgmental 

way. Later in the process, 

there may be a chance for the victim to 

speak in court or read a statement. 

Justice 

This last component may come slowly 

but plays a part in completing the 

process begun when the crime was fi rst 

committed. The victim has a chance to 

resolve the injury for him or herself and 

fi nd satisfaction in the result. 

Resources 

International Association of Chiefs of Police. 

Backing the Badge: Working Effectively 

with Law Enforcement. Retrieved 

January 5, 2009, from http://www. 

theiacp.org/LinkClick.aspx?fi leticket=0v4 

Wao0AbVI%3d&tabid=369. 

International Association of Chiefs of 

Police. What Do Victims Want? Effective 

Strategies to Achieve Justice for Victims 

of Crime. From the 1999 IACP Summit 

on Victims of Crime. Retrieved January 

5, 2009, from http://www.theiacp. 

org/LinkClick.aspx?fi leticket=9eQ30BjqF 

Cg%3d&tabid=87. 

Offi ce for Victims of Crime. (April, 2008). 

First Response to Victims of Crime: A 

Guidebook for Law Enforcement Offi - 

cers. Washington, DC: US Department of 

Justice, Offi ce of Justice Programs. Offi 

ce for Victims of Crime, NCJ 217272. 

Retrieved January 5, 2009, from http:// 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/pdftxt/FirstResponseGuidebook. 

pdf. 


Grantees Win Bonnie Heavy Runner Achievement Award 

for Outstanding Service to Native Victims 

Kathy Sanchez, Co-Founder 

TEWA Women United 

Nikki Finkbonner and Kathy Sanchez, two of Unifi ed Solutions’ 

TVA Grantee Program Managers, won the Bonnie 

Heavy Runner Achievement Award. Kathy and Nikki join a 

number of others who have received this prestigious award 

for outstanding services to Native victims. The award reads: 

“For Dedicated Victim Services, Advocacy, and Commitment 

to the American Indian/Alaska Native Community by the 

Tribal Law and Policy Institute at the 11th National Indian Nations 

Conference: Justice for Victims of Crime, Strengthening 

the Heartbeat of All Our Relations, December 11, 2008 ~ 

Palm Springs, CA.” 

An article in the Montana newspaper, The Missoulian, notes 

that Ms. Heavy Runner Craig was nationally known as a 

“champion of civil rights, particularly for women and Indians. 

She was a member of the Blackfeet tribe and earned degrees 

in social work and law from the University of Montana. 

She is also noted for establishing the fi rst Native American 

Studies Program in Montana. Her life was cut short by ovarian 

cancer at 46 and she is remembered for her ‘unique dignity’ 

and encouragement of others to ‘develop their passion 

and their dreams.’” 

Nikki Finkbonner has been working with Native American 

crime victims for over 12 years. Nikki is an enrolled member 

of the Lummi Nation and a Klamath Nation descendant. 

Nikki’s program, Lummi Victims of Crime, was studied to 

examine the challenges and successes of the TVA Grant 

Program. She was extremely involved in the study and outcomes 

of this project and gave a presentation at the Indian 

Nations Conference with positive results. The project was a 

Nikki Finkbonner, Program Director 

Lummi Victims of Crime 

success in large part due to Nikki’s dedication to her work 

and her commitment to victims of crime. 

She is a proud mother of three (Miranda, Adrian, and 

Anthony), and very proud grandmother of a 21-month-old 

granddaughter, Gabriella. Her family includes signifi cant 

other Terry Fast Horse and stepson Paul. She is active on 

several committees, including the Domestic Violence Hope 

Card Study Committee, two committees for the Bellingham 

Whacom County Commission Against Domestic Violence, 

Community Voices, the Women Spirit Coalition, and is 

involved with trainings for the Washington State Coalition 

Against Domestic Violence. 

Kathy Wan Povi Sanchez is an educator, potter, mother, and 

proud grandmother. Kathy co-founded Tewa Women United 

with her sister 20 years ago and now, her daughter Corrine 

works alongside her for a true family legacy to service 

victims for the eight pueblos in the area around Espanola, 

New Mexico. 

Kathy is known for her two-world harmony presentation, 

which incorporates culture into the management of their 

program. The focus is on a circle method of management 

and the innovative butterfl y model. This model invokes the 

body of the butterfl y as the center, with one wing being the 

traditional and cultural side, and the other wing is the modern 

side. The body of the butterfl y merges with the two to provide 

better services—a truly original but cultural concept. 

Congratulations to Nikki and Kathy for well-deserved recognition 

of their efforts! 


Know the Dangers of Stalking 

By Mark Matthews 

Director, Victims of Crime Services, 

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs 

January is National Stalking Awareness 

Month, and victim advocates at the tribal 

Victims of Crime Services (VOCS) department, 

plus victim advocates across the 

country, are using the month of January 

as an opportunity to educate the public 

about the pervasive crime that affects 

nearly 1.4 million Americans a year. 

Most people associate stalking with 

celebrities—Madonna, Sheryl Crow, or 

Britney Spears. Yet celebrity stalking 

cases, though dangerous and serious, 

are relatively rare. More commonly, 

victims are ordinary people pursued by 

someone they know. Victims may not 

understand that stalking is criminal. And 

what they don’t know about stalking may 

jeopardize their lives. 

According to VOCS, some of the stalking 

cases on the reservation have involved 

multiple unwanted text messages and 

telephone calls to the stalking victims. 

Other stalking cases on the reservation 

include repeated, unwanted contact by a 

former intimate partner. 

Stalking is a crime. All 50 states have 

passed laws that make it illegal to 

engage in stalking—usually defi ned as a 

course of conduct directed at a specifi c 

person that would cause “a reasonable 

person” (in legal terms) to feel fear. 

crime of Stalking is WSTC 305.180, 

which states: 

“Stalking Any Indian who shall knowingly 

alarm or coerce another person or 

a member of that person’s immediate 

family or household by engaging in repeated, 

unwanted contact with the other 

person where the repeated and unwanted 

contact causes the victim reasonable 

apprehension regarding the personal 

safety of the victim or a member of the 

victim’s immediate family or household, 

shall be deemed guilty of stalking.” 

The maximum fi ne for a conviction of the 

tribal crime of stalking is either a $5,000 

fi ne, one year in jail, or both. The tribal 

court has the power to exclude nonmembers 

if a person is convicted of 

stalking or any other tribal crime. 

Stalking behavior can range from annoying 

and intrusive to terrifying and dangerous. 

Stalking can escalate to violence 

and—in the worst-case situations—murder. 

On a national basis, three out of four 

women killed by their intimate partners 

were stalked by that partner before they 

were killed. 

Stalking is shockingly common. More 

than one million women and 370,000 

men are stalked every year in the United 

States. About one in 12 women and one 

in 45 men are stalked sometime in their 

lifetimes. 

Stalking can dominate and devastate victims’ 

lives. Victims may feel unsafe and 

The Warm Springs tribal code for the 


vulnerable, in constant fear of what their 

stalker might do. They may have trouble 

working, eating, or sleeping. Some 

victims suffer disturbing fl ashbacks and 

nightmares. Victims may also feel isolated 

and frustrated because people do not 

understand why they are so afraid. Some 

stalking victims can be caught—for two 

years, on average—in a threatening trap 

of fear set by their stalkers. 

Stalkers who are not former intimate 

partners are not always easy to recognize. 

These stalkers have no single 

psychological profi le, and the differences 

among stalkers make it hard to predict 

their behavior and fi nd effective strategies 

to deter them. The vast majority are 

obsessed with their victims, intent on 

controlling them, and determined to use 

any available means to keep their victims 

under their power. 

Stalkers are increasingly using hightech 

devices, which are particularly 

threatening to victims. In recent years, 

many stalkers have used computer and 

communication technology to increase 

their power over their victims. They 

use global positioning systems (GPS), 

miniature video cameras, listening devices, 

and “spyware” (secretly installed 

software that records every keystroke) 

to track their victims and secretly invade 

their lives. Such devices allow stalkers 

to control their victims and successfully 

evade law enforcement. 

To defeat stalkers, victims, police, and 

communities must take stalking serious-

© iStockphoto.com/theprint 

ly. Victims should trust their instincts and 

understand that stalkers are unpredictable 

and dangerous. Victims in imminent 

danger should call 911. They may also 

receive support from their tribal police 

department and/or their tribe’s victim 

assistance program. 

Victims should report the stalking to 

tribal police and carefully document evidence 

by writing down the times, dates, 

and places they are stalked. They should 

keep e-mails, phone messages, letters, 

notes, and anything sent by the stalker. 

Victims should also alert friends, family 

members, roommates, and co-workers 

about the stalking and enlist their support 

and help. 

The tribal victim assistance program 

can help victims devise a safety plan, 

learn about the tribal laws, access other 

services, and take additional steps, such 

as seeking a tribal restraining order. 

Family members, friends and the tribal 

community can support stalking victims by 

listening, showing support, and never blaming 

the victim for the crime. They can also 

discourage stalkers and stalking behavior. 

Victims can also call 1-800-FYI-CALL, 

the National Center for Victims of Crime 

Helpline, or visit www.ncvc.org for help 

with stalking or any other crime. If you 

are being stalked or if you know of a 

stalking victim, call the Warm Springs 

Police Dispatch on the 911 emergency 

telephone for immediate response and 

assistance. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

The preceding information on stalking is 

presented by the Warm Springs Victims of 

Crime Services Department (VOCS), with 

factual information provided by the Stalking 

Resource Center, National Center for 

Victims of Crime, www.ncvc.org/src. 

Points of view presented here are those of 

VOCS and not the US Dept. of Justice or 

US Dept. Health & Human Services. 

Mark Matthews is Director for Victims of 

Crime Services (VOCS) for the Confederated 

Tribes of Warm Springs, Warm 

Springs, Oregon. 

Three Tribes Collaborate for Greater Impact 

By Becky Owl Morgan 

Unified Solutions 

Safety for Native people is improved 

when law enforcement can be made 

more consistent through collaboration. 

One way to achieve this goal is by 

improving information sharing systems. 

A model in this regard is the Inter- 

Tribal Integrated Justice Pilot Project. 

The Navajo Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, 

and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona worked 

with the National Center for Rural Law 

Enforcement to design and implement a 

massive technological project to bring 

consistency through collaboration. 

Like any big undertaking, it required 

lots of people to agree about what 

was needed and how to solve their 

shared problems. Through consultation 

with hundreds of tribal leaders, many 

surveys were completed and forums 

held so that each participant was 

actively engaged in the success of the 

outcome. One issue that surfaced was 

how technology could be made to suit 

the customs and beliefs of the tribes 

involved. These discussions helped 

everyone gain insight into other points of 

view and made the end product better. 

Phase 1 was the installation of lots and 

lots of network cable, enough for the 

three tribes, along with 200 workstations 

and 40 servers. Tribal employees received 

extensive training to prepare them 

to maintain the systems. Phase 2 saw the 

installation of a computer platform that 

could integrate all three tribes’ information 

systems. They also thought ahead 

and chose technology that was compatible 

with the tribes’ residing states. 

Ideally, phase 3 will see the integration 

of the system with state and federal systems. 

This means that tribes can share 

protection orders on domestic violence, 

missing children information, DUI convictions, 

and other knowledge that will 

increase the safety of families in Indian 

Country. The project was funded by the 

U.S. Department of Justice, Offi ce of 

Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice 

Assistance. 

Resources 

International Association of Chiefs of 

Police. (October 2001). Improving Safety 

in Indian Country: Recommendations 

from the IACP 2001 Summit. Retrieved 

January 5, 2009, from http://www. 

theiacp.org/LinkClick.aspx?fi leticket=ox 

Uoc9IWADM%3D&tabid=304. 

Propes, Philip. (January 2007). Innovations 

in Indian Country: Inter-Tribal 

Integrated Justice Pilot Project” The 

Police Chief. Vol. 74, no. 1. Retrieved 

January 14, 2009 from http://policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index. 

cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_ 

id=1089&issue_id=12007. 


Stalking 

resource center 

www.ncvc.org/src 

Tel. (202) 467-8700 

E-mail: src@ncvc.org 

stalking 

fact sheet 

Crime victims can call: 

1-800-FYI-CALL 

_ 

M-F 8:30 AM 8:30 PM 

WHAT IS STALKING? 

While legal definitions of stalking vary from one jurisdiction to another, a good working definition of stalking is 

a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. 

STALKING IN AMERICA 

• 1,006,970 women and 370,990 men are stalked annually in the U.S. 

• 1 in 12 women and 1 in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime. 

• 77% of female victims and 64% of male victims know their stalker. 

• 87% of stalkers are men. 

• 59% of female victims and 30% of male victims are stalked by an 

intimate partner. 

• 81% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also 

physically assaulted by that partner. 

• 31% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also 

sexually assaulted by that partner. 

• 73% of intimate partner stalkers verbally threatened victims with 

physical violence, and almost 46% of victims experienced one or more 

violent incidents by the stalker. 

• The average duration of stalking is 1.8 years. 

• If stalking involves intimate partners, the average duration of stalking 

increases to 2.2 years. 

• 28% of female victims and 10% of male victims obtained a protective 

order. 69% of female victims and 81% of male victims had the 

protection order violated. 

[Tjaden & Thoennes. (1998). “Stalking in America,” NIJ.] 

IMPACT OF STALKING ON VICTIMS 

• 56% of women stalked took some type of self-protective measure, 

often as drastic as relocating (11%). [Tjaden & Thoennes. (1998). 

“Stalking in America,” NIJ] 

• 26% of stalking victims lost time from work as a result of their 

victimization, and 7% never returned to work. [Tjaden & Thoennes.] 

• 30% of female victims and 20% of male victims sought psychological 

counseling. [Tjaden & Thoennes.] 

• The prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe 

depression is much higher among stalking victims than the general 

population, especially if the stalking involves being followed or having 

one’s property destroyed. [Blauuw et. al. (2002). “The Toll of 

Stalking,” Journal of Interpersonal Violence] 

STATE LAWS* THE STALKING RESOURCE CENTER 

THE STALKING RESOURCE CENTER 

The Stalking Resource Center is a program of the National Center for Victims 

of Crime. Our dual mission is to raise national awareness of stalking and to 

encourage the development and implementation of multidisciplinary responses 

to stalking in local communities across the country. 

We can provide you with: 

• Training and Technical Assistance 

• Protocol Development 

• Resources 

• Help in collaborating with other agencies and systems in your community 

Contact us at: 202-467-8700 or src@ncvc.org. 

RECON STUDY OF STALKERS 

• 2/3 of stalkers pursue their victims at least once per week, many daily, 

using more than one method. 

• 78% of stalkers use more than one means of approach. 

• Weapons are used to harm or threaten victims in 1 out of 5 cases. 

• Almost 1/3 of stalkers have stalked before. 

• Intimate partner stalkers frequently approach their targets, and their 

behaviors escalate quickly. 

[Mohandie et al. “The RECON Typology of Stalking: Reliability and 

Validity Based upon a Large Sample of North American Stalkers.” (In 

Press, Journal of Forensic Sciences 2006).] 

STALKING AND INTIMATE PARTNER FEMICIDE* 

RECON 

STALKING 

STUDY 

AND 

OF 

INTIMATE 

STALKERS 

PARTNER FEMICIDE* 

• 76% of intimate partner femicide (murder) victims had been stalked by 

their intimate partner. 

• 67% had been physically abused by their intimate partner. 

• 89% of femicide victims who had been physically abused had also 

been stalked in the 12 months before the murder. 

• 79% of abused femicide victims reported stalking during the same 

period that they reported abuse. 

• 54% of femicide victims reported stalking to police before they were 

killed by their stalkers. 

*The murder of a woman. 

[McFarlane et al. (1999). “Stalking and Intimate Partner Femicide,” 

Homicide Studies]. 

STALKING 

STALKING 

ON 

ON 

CAMPUS 

CAMPUS 

• 13% of college women were stalked during one six- to ninemonth 

period. 

• 80% of campus stalking victims knew their stalkers. 

• 3 in 10 college women reported being injured emotionally or 

psychologically from being stalked. 

[Fisher, Cullen, and Turner. (2000). “The Sexual Victimization of 

College Women,” NIJ/BJS.] 

STATE LAWS 1 

• Stalking is a crime under the laws of all 50 states, the District of 

Columbia, and the Federal Government. 

• 15 states classify stalking as a felony upon the first offense. 

• 34 states classify stalking as a felony upon the second offense and/or 

when the crime involves aggravating factors. 2 

• Aggravating factors may include: possession of a deadly weapon; 

violation of a court order or condition of probation/parole; victim 

under 16; same victim as prior occasions. 

1 

Last updated October 2005. 

2 

In Maryland, stalking is always a misdemeanor. 

For a compilation of state, tribal and Federal laws visit: www.ncvc.org/src 

This document was developed under grant number 2004-WT-AX-K050 from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) of the U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions and 

views expressed in this document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Office on Violence Against Women of the U.S. 

Department of Justice. This document may be reproduced only in its entirety. Any alterations must be approved by the Stalking Resource Center. 

Contact us at (202) 467-8700 or src@ncvc.org. 


Research Corner 

Exciting things are happening 

in Research and Publications! 

I’d like to take this opportunity to 

say hello and let you know what is 

happening with our website and our 

new “e-Bulletin” (formerly “e-Opportunities”). 

The new “e-Bulletin,” which 

will showcase a new format in the 

coming weeks, will be distributed via 

e-mail once a week in versions tailored to TVA and FB communities. 

It will continue to contain both Funding and Training 

opportunities and also periodic updates on what is occurring 

around the advocate community and at Unifi ed Solutions. It 

is our goal to provide the most up-to-date information on a 

weekly basis so that it provides the information needed for a 

successful advocate program. 

In conjunction with the training aspect of the new weekly 

“e-Bulletin,” the website Calendar section will also be updated 

on a regular basis with new trainings and conferences so 

that there is a resource from which to gather more pertinent 

information for the advocate community. 

In addition, our website will be going through a redesign as 

well. We have taken suggestions from grantees and will be 

implementing these ideas in the weeks and months ahead. 

The website will have the same functions as now, but with a 

new look and format that we hope will be easy to navigate 

and utilize. You may view our current website at: www.unifi edsolutions.org. 

If you have suggestions or would like to have your trainings or 

announcements added to our e-Bulletin, please e-mail me at 

Tim@unifi ed-solutions.org. 

Thank you and I look forward to working with you in the new 

year! 

— Tim Pershing 

Research and Publications Specialist 

“Teamwork is the ability to work 

together toward a common vision; 

the ability to direct individual 

accomplishment toward organizational 

objectives. It is the fuel that 

allows common people to attain 

uncommon results.” 

— Andrew Carnegie 

Victim Law Website Improves Access 

to Crime Victims Rights 

National Center for Victims of Crime has a great resource 

for victim advocates looking for legal information called 

Victim Law. The home page has easy to follow steps to 

help you locate the pertinent laws related to the victim 

right you are researching. The easiest search method is 

the topical approach. You choose a right, a jurisdiction, 

type of law (statutes or cases) and group of victims, and 

are provided with a list of all the relevant law on that topic. 

The tutorial can be slow to download. 

Even if you don’t need to do research, check out the very 

helpful graphic under the heading: the justice system explained. 

It is a very clear fl owchart of how events proceed 

through the justice system. The Bureau of Justice Statistics 

developed the fl owchart. The website can be found at: 

http://www.victimlaw.info/victimlaw/start.do 

21st Century Strategy for Enhancing 

Law Enforcement Response to Victims 

This online document is a comprehensive guide to improving 

law enforcement responsiveness at every level and for 

every employee from the dispatcher to fi rst responders. 

Volume 1 provides an overview and summarizes the four 

elements needed to make substantive change. It also 

includes remarks from three agencies who believe in the 

effectiveness of the strategy. Volume 2 is the step-by-step 

guide to implementing the new approach. Volume 3 contains 

examples that can be adapted for your own needs. 

All together, these documents bring clarity to the issue 

and provide the necessary tools to make it happen. The 

documents are large and may be slow to load. It can be 

downloaded from the International Association of Chiefs of 

Police website at: 

http://www.theiacp.org/PublicationsGuides/ResearchCenter/Publications/tabid/299/Default.aspx?id=1012&v=1. 

The IACP and OVC would be happy to send hard copies 

of the strategy package to anyone who requests it. The 

contact person is: Keely McCarthy. Phone: (703) 836-6767 

extension 810. E-mail: mccarthy@iacp.org. 


International Association of Chiefs of Police 

515 N. Washington Street 

Alexandria, Virginia 22314 

Phone: 703-836-6767 

Fax: 703-684-5728 

www.theiacp.org 

AVAILABLE IN PRINT OR 

USB FLASH DRIVE! 

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in collaboration with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) at the Office of Justice 

Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, has developed a new industry standard: Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims. Referred to as 

the Strategy Package, this three volume resource will help your agency implement a comprehensive response to victims of crime. 

Volume 1 – A 21 st Century Strategy introduces state, local, and tribal law enforcement leaders to the benefits, 

challenges, methods, and responsibilities for enhancing their response to victims of crime. It discusses the 

evolution of enhanced victim response, summarizes its four core elements (leadership, partnering, training, and 

performance monitoring), identifies the seven critical needs of victims, and illustrates the importance of 

community partnerships. It contains an inspiring message from the chiefs of the three agencies that piloted the 

strategy and a summary of the project history and cycle. 

Volume 2 – The Implementation Guide consists of four sections that outline the steps to implement the 

strategy. It instructs law enforcement agencies how to identify their goals and measurements of success, gather 

pertinent information, develop action plans and sustain the effort in the long term. The Guide operationally 

bridges the gap between the concepts outlined in the Strategy and the existing templates in the Resource Toolkit. 

Volume 3 – The Resource Toolkit contains templates to aid in the implementation of the steps in the Volume 2. 

In the Toolkit you will find sample documents and materials developed by the pilot and validation sites that can be 

adapted for your own use. It includes such resources as revised mission statements, schedules and process 

descriptions, key stakeholder interview questions, sample action plans, Memoranda of Understanding (MOU’s) 

and partnership agreements, policies and procedures relating to victim response, steps toward personnel buy-in 

and performance appraisals, informational brochures provided to crime victims, press releases, Web site samples, 

and links to numerous victim-related resources. 

For more information about the project and the Strategy Package please contact Jeff Harrington, Project Coordinator, at 

Harrington@theiacp.org, 703-836-6767 ext. 837. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Please send me (Limit 3 each): 

ORDER FORM 

Hard copy 

USB flash drive 

___________ (# of copies) 

___________ (# of copies) 

Name: 

______________________________________________ 

Agency: ______________________________________________ 

Address: (NOT a P.O. Box) __________________________________ 

City: __________________State _____ Zip _______________ 

Please fax/e-mail your request to: 

Attn: Keely McCarthy 

Fax: 703-684-5728 

E-mail: 

McCarthy@theiacp.org 

Phone: ______________________ E-mail: _________________ 

I le st hr 

arned about the rategy package t ough: 

IACP Web site Other Web site Project stakeholder presentations Peers 

Other (please specify) ____________________________________________________________________ 


Reports are Due! 

Progress Reports for TVA and Faith-Based Grantees are due by January 30. The reports 

are submitted to the Grants Management System (GMS). Please upload your report on 

GMS at: 

https://grants.ojp.usdoj.gov. 

If you are having trouble submitting the report or have a technical question, please call 

the GMS help desk at 1-888-549-9901, or e-mail GMS at GMSHelpdesk@ojp.usdoj.gov. 

If you have any questions, please contact your Program Manager or another member of 

the Unified Solutions staff at 1-877-438-4400. Unified Solutions is here to assist you in 

making your project a success! 

Financial Reports (SF 269) are due no later than February 14. The Help Desk number is: 

1-800-458-0786. 

Leadership Classes are Starting! 

We heard you! You asked for Leadership Classes and here they are! These two classes will 

run weekly for the next several months. The first two topics go right into some of the most 

complicated problems we face as supervisors. Join us, and bring your questions! 

Leadership teleclasses – Hosted by Natalia Calhoun & Jesucita Hernandez: 

• Hiring & Firing - January 21st at 11am PST 

This teleclass will focus on professional and appropriate techniques for acquiring the best 

employees through the hiring process and also discuss information on how to terminate an 

employee effectively. 

• Effective Problem Solving - January 21st at 11am PST 

This workshop will discuss the use of effective problem-solving skills and techniques when 

working in an advocate-based environment. 

To join any of our teleclasses, please call our toll free teleclass number at the designated 

date and time: 

• Dial: 1-866-262-1846 

• Room Number: *9580953* 

(The star key must be entered before and after your room number.) 

• Just say “Hello” to announce your arrival to the teleclass. 

• Please test your access number prior to the date of our first teleclass. If you are unable 

to connect to the number, please contact your PBX manager or long distance carrier to 

ensure the toll-free exchange prefix “866” is programmed in to your telephone system. 


Helping Outreach Programs to 

Expand (HOPE) Program 

Due Date: Open (contingent upon fund availability) 

Summary: The U.S. Department of Justice, Offi ce of Justice 

Programs, Offi ce for Victims of Crime will provide up to 

$10,000 each to grassroots community- and faith-based victim 

service organizations and coalitions to help them improve 

their outreach and services to crime victims, through support 

of program development, networking, coalition building, and 

service delivery. Funds may be used to develop program literature, 

train advocates, produce a newsletter, support victim 

outreach efforts, and recruit volunteers. 

Eligibility: Organizations and coalitions operating for at 

least 1 year that have not received federal Victims of Crime 

Act (VOCA) victim assistance grant funding and that have an 

annual operating budget of $50,000 or less are eligible to 

apply. All applicants must also have a history of serving crime 

victims. 

How to Apply: Interested organizations should submit a letter 

of request on the agency’s letterhead to the OVC Director. 

Please visit the following website for more information: http:// 

www.ovc.gov/fund/expandingoutreach/welcome.html 

BJA Announces 

Tribal Court Funding Opportunity 

Summary: BJA is soliciting applicants for the Tribal Courts 

Assistance Program grant. The program helps develop new 

courts, improves the operations of existing courts, and 

provides assistance with the enhancement of tribal justice 

systems. (BJA) 

2009 Grants to Indian Tribal Governments 

and Sexual Assault Services Program 

Due Date: March 3, 2009 

Letter of Intent Due: February 24, 2009 

Letter to be sent to Office of Violence Against Women- 

OVW.VAIW@usdoj.gov 

Grant Registration Due 2/24/09 - on www.Grants.gov 

Application due 8:00 P.M. Eastern time - 3/3/09 

Eligibility: Participation in the workshop is limited to individuals 

who are employed by either an individual Indian tribal 

government or a consortium of Indian tribal governments. 

Participants should be directly responsible for either managing 

Funding Opportunities 


a current OVW grant award, or will be responsible for preparing 

and submitting an application for OVW grant funding. 

Summary: The Offi ce on Violence Against Women (OVW) is 

pleased to announce the release of its FY 2009 Grants to Indian 

Tribal Governments and Sexual Assault Services Program 

solicitation and guidebook. A copy of the solicitation may be 

obtained at: www.ovw.usdoj.gov. Please note that the program 

has changed this year. The most important change is that the 

solicitation covers not just the Grants to Indian Tribal Governments 

Program, but also the Tribal Sexual Assault Services 

Program that was created as a part of the Violence Against 

Women Act of 2005. OVW has decided to issue a single solicitation 

and offer tribal governments the opportunity to access 

funds from both programs by submitting a single application 

for funding. Tribes who are interested in accessing funds from 

the Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program must submit an application 

which addresses the FY 2009 Program Priority Area. 

As a reminder, OVW will not be hosting pre-application teleconferences 

this year. Instead, OVW has partnered with ACKCO, 

Inc., to host a series of three regional project development and 

pre-application workshops. The purpose of the workshops is to 

increase the capacity of workshop participants to successfully 

develop competitive applications for the Tribal Governments 

Program. The workshops are presented free of charge. Participants 

are responsible for their own travel costs and travel 

arrangements. Current grantees can use funds from their OVW 

travel set-aside to pay for the cost of sending one representative 

to one of the workshops. The dates and locations of the 

workshops are as follows: 

Workshop Dates Location & Hotel Information: 

Feb. 3-5, 2009 (Hotel cut-off date Jan. 16) 

Doubletree Sacramento 

2001 Paint West Way 

Sacramento, CA 95815 

(916) 929-8855 

Group Name: Department of Justice-OVW 

Feb. 10-12, 2009 (Hotel cut-off date Jan. 27) 

Hilton Anchorage 

500 West Third Street 

Anchorage, AK 99501 

(800) 889-9793 

Group Name: Department of Justice- OVW 

If your tribe or organization is interested in applying for FY 

2009 funding, then you are strongly encouraged to attend one 

of these workshops. To register, please contact ACKCO: 

For more info, e-mail: kathleen.telmont@ackco.com, Web: 

www.ackco.com/ovw, Telephone: 1-800-525-2859 ext. 153.

Rural Domestic Violence Dating Violence, 

Sexual Assault & Stalking Assistance Program 

Due date: February 4, 2009 by 8 p.m. 

Eligibility: Applicants are limited to States, Indian tribes, local 

governments, and nonprofi t, public or private entities, including 

faith-based, community and tribal nonprofi t organizations to 

carry out programs serving rural areas or rural communities. 

Summary: The USDOJ OVW is seeking applications for the 

Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, 

and Stalking Assistance Program. This program furthers the 

DOJ’s mission by supporting projects designed to address and 

prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and 

stalking in rural jurisdictions. 

Please visit the following website for more information: http:// 

www.ovw.usdoj.gov/. 

FY 2009 Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation 

and Safe Exchange Grant Program 

(“Supervised Visitation Program”) 

Due Date: February 5, 2009 (letter of Intent) 

February 9, 2009 (Application) 

Funding Opportunities 

Summary: The purpose of this solicitation is to announce 

the availability of fi scal year (FY) 2009 funds for a cooperative 

agreement to assess the effi cacy or effectiveness of policies 

and other interventions designed to change the economic or 

environmental characteristics of a community to reduce rates 

of youth violence perpetration and victimization. 

Key Dates: 

Letter of Intent Receipt Date: January 26, 2009 

Peer Review Date: April - May 2009 

Council Review Date: May – June 2009 

Earliest Anticipated Start Date: September, 2009 

Technical assistance will be available for potential applicants 

during one conference call. The call for eligible applicants will 

be held on January 22, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

(Eastern Time). The conference can be accessed by calling: 

1-866-771-6423 and entering the passcode: 6139831. 

Expiration Date: One day after application due date. This funding 

announcement can be accessed at: http://grants.gov/ 

OJJDP FY 09 Gang Prevention 

Coordination Assistance Program 

Due Date: Mar 04, 2009 

Eligibility: Eligible applicants include states, units of local 

government, and tribal governments. 

Summary: The FY2009 Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation 

and Safe Exchange Grant Program (“Supervised Visitation 

Program”) solicitation is now available on Grants.gov. 

The Supervised Visitation Program furthers the Department of 

Justice’s mission by increasing opportunities for supervised 

visitation and safe exchange of children in cases of domestic 

violence, child abuse, sexual assault, dating violence, and 

stalking. In FY2009, the Supervised Visitation Program is accepting 

applications from new applicants and current grantees 

that did not receive funding in 2008. 

The letters of intent to apply should be submitted by February 

5, 2009. All applications are due by 8:00 p.m. EST on February 

19, 2009. 

For more information contact: michelle.dodge@usdoj.gov., 

Phone: (202) 353-7345. 

Youth Violence Protection through 

Economic Environments, 

and Policy Change (U01) (CD-09-009) 

Summary: Youth gangs continue to have a signifi cant adverse 

impact on youth, families, and communities across America. 

A growing number of communities have adopted OJJDP’s 

Comprehensive Gang Model, a multistrategy, multidisciplinary 

approach that has proven to be effective in reducing gang 

activity. The OJJDP FY 2009 Gang Prevention Coordination Assistance 

Program provides funding for localities to enhance coordination 

of Federal, state, and local resources in support of 

community partnerships implementing the following antigang 

strategies: primary prevention, secondary prevention, gang 

intervention, and targeted gang enforcement. This program is 

authorized by statutes appropriating funds for FY 2009. 

Eligibility: State governments, County governments, City or 

township governments, Special district governments, Public 

and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native 

American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public 

housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American 

tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) 

, Nonprofi ts having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, 

other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofi ts that do 

not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions 

of higher education. 

Please visit the following website for more info: http://ojjdp. 

ncjrs.gov/grants/solicitations/FY2009/GangPrevention.pdf. 

Due Date: February 23, 2009 


Training Opportunities 

Office for Victims (OVC) of Crimes 

The Ultimate Trainer 

Date: February 10-12, 2009 

Cost: $250.00 

Location: 

Loews Denver Hotel 

4150 East Mississippi Avenue 

Denver, Colorado 80246 

Summary: This workshop is designed for victim service providers 

and allied professionals who develop and deliver training 

but do not have a formal background or extensive experience 

in adult education or instructional design. This interactive training 

will help you build the knowledge and practical skills you 

need to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate quality-training 

programs. During the training, you will apply new concepts 

and skills by developing a lesson plan for a training for your 

organization. 

To register, go to: https://www.sei2003.com/ovcttac2009/UltimateTrainer.asp. 

limited number of rooms have been reserved at the reduced 

rate. One night’s room deposit is required to confi rm reservatons. 

This conference offers juvenile justice professionals a national 

perspective on the issues they face in their day-to-day efforts 

to make a difference in the lives of children and families. The 

sessions at the conferences will highlight effective practice 

and programs, offer tips and tools, provide an opportunity 

for networking, and inspire and invigorate participants. With 

breakout sessions on a wide variety of topics, from truancy 

and safe schools, to gangs, to family violence, to child abuse 

and neglect, to juvenile sex offenders, to substance abuse, 

there is sure to be something for everyone. 

For registration and additional information please visit: http:// 

www.ncjfcj.org/content/view/1147/315/. 

Crimes Against Children 

in Indian Country 

Date: April 7-9, 2009 

Location: Hinckley, MN 

2009 National 

Victim Assistance Academy 

Date: March 1-6, 2009 

Location: American Airlines Training & 

Conference Center 

Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 

The Offi ce for Victims of Crime (OVC) in the U.S. Department 

of Justice sponsors the National Victim Assistance Academy 

(NVAA). The NVAA is comprised of education and skill-based 

classroom trainings for those who assist victims and survivors 

of crime. 

For registration and additional information, please visit: https:// 

www.ovcttac.gov/nvaa/. 

36th National Conference 

on Juvenile Justice 

Date: March 11-14, 2009 

Location: Disney Coronado Springs Resort 

1001 W Buena Vista Drive 

Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 

(407) 939-1000; Fax: (407) 939-1001 

Single and double accommodations are available at a rate 

of $155 per night and are subject to state and local taxes. 

Rooms are available at the contract rate until February 11, 

2009. Early hotel reservations are strongly recommended as a 


Strengthen Our Native Communities. Protect our Native 

Youth. Youth face challenges today that are not paralleled by 

any previous generation. Youth can be vulnerable to threats 

from: Internet - online predators; School violence - bullying, 

gang activity, discrimination; Victimization - domestic violence, 

historic, physical, and emotional trauma; Substance abuse 

- alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamines and other drugs; and 

Suicide - depression. 

Unfortunately, our Native youth are impacted by these threats 

at rates many times higher than their non-Native peers. Many 

times Tribal communities do not have access as other communities 

to the same resources necessary for addressing 

these threats. 

Since its conception in 2004, this training conference for 

tribal and non-tribal service practitioners has addressed the 

challenges and opportunities presented when working with 

youth in Indian Country. Training is provided by practitioners 

experienced in working with Native youth as well as working in 

Indian Country. 

Who Should Attend 

Law Enforcement: administrators, supervisors, investigators, 

patrol, school and community offi cers 

Courts: judges, administrators, prosecutors, and victim service 

coordinators 

Corrections/Probation: youth corrections offi cers, probation 

offi cers, sex offender monitors, and re-entry staff 

Education: teachers, principals, and school superintendents 

Youth & Social Services: employee assistance and community

Training Opportunities 

service providers, youth service organization staff, peer counselors, 

and social workers 

For questions regarding the conference, contact Jason Sterling, 

888-370-1752, or go to www.fvtc.edu/youthl. 

Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) 

Sexual Assault Advocate/Counselor Training 


Location: Sheraton Austin Hotel 

701 East 11th Street 

Austin, TX 78701 

Cost: $200.00 

Summary: This training is intended primarily for sexual 

assault advocates, counselors, volunteers, or staff at rape 

crisis centers. However, nurses (including sexual assault nurse 

examiners - SANEs), physicians, law enforcement offi cers, and 

mental health practitioners who assist sexual assault victims 

may also benefi t from this training. With a focus on crisis 

intervention rather than long-term counseling, this training 

helps you deepen your understanding of the problem of sexual 

assault and the major roles of an advocate/counselor. Through 

case studies, role-playing, and other interactive exercises, 

you will gain real-world skills to assist sexual assault victims 

effectively and sensitively. 

For registration and information, go to https://www.sei2003. 

com/ovcttac2009/SexualAssault.asp.’ 

27th Annual “Protecting Our Children” 

National Conference on Child Abuse 

and Neglect: Access to Prevention, 

Protection, and Treatment: 

A Matter of Fairness, Justice, and Action 


Location: Reno, Nevada 

Summary: This year’s conference will focus on the future 

of Indian child welfare and how each of us—tribal leaders, 

ICW workers, and other stakeholders—share the important 

responsibility in continuing this work. Workshops and presentations 

will feature innovative strategies to effectively meet the 

needs of our children and families through strong, collaborative 

partnerships. 

For More Information visit: http://www.nicwa.org/calendar/. 

Fifth National Sexual Assault Response 

Team (SART) Training Conference 

Date: May 27-29, 2009 

Location: Westin Seattle 

Seattle,Washington 

Cost: $200.00 

The Fifth National SART Training Conference, organized by the 

Sexual Assault Resource Service (SARS), with funding from the 

Offi ce for Victims of Crime (OVC) at the Offi ce of Justice Programs 

within the U.S. Department of Justice, will be held May 

27-29, 2009, at The Westin Seattle in Seattle, Washington. 

It is anticipated that as many as 1000 SART professionals 

from across the nation will gather for this unique multidisciplinary 

training conducted by leading experts from each of 

the SART disciplines.The three-day conference will feature 

57 workshops, fi ve keynote addresses and an exhibition hall 

of non-profi t and corporate exhibitors. The conference will 

provide valuable learning experiences and networking opportunities 

for law enforcement, sexual assault nurse examiners 

(SANEs) and other medical examiners, advocates, prosecutors, 

and crime lab specialists. 

SART Scholarships 

Team scholarships will be offered in 2009 to a limited number 

of SART teams comprised of four team members representing 

four different SART disciplines; individual law enforcement 

scholarships will also be offered. The scholarships are 

designed to assist participants in covering air, hotel, and the 

Conference Registration Fee. Download individual law enforcement 

scholarship application forms here. Deadline to apply is 

February 2, 2009. 

For information on the 2009 SART Team Scholarship Application 

visit www.sane-sart.com. For information regarding 

the IACP SART Law Enforcement Scholarship please e-mail 

sartscholarship@theiacp.org 

Save the Date! 

National Center for Victims of Crime 

2009 National Conference 

June 22-24, 2009 | Washington, DC 

Hyatt Regency Washington Capitol Hill 

Now accepting Workshop Proposals 

(Registration to open in January 2009) 


Our Mission Statement 

Unified Solutions is dedicated to partnering with American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) 

communities and their allies to end violent crime, heal from the effects of trauma, and promote 

resilience. We recognize the problem of violence in our communities and at home can be directly 

linked to institutional practices of dominance and privilege. Therefore, we invite individuals 

and agencies to examine and transform these practices and dismantle internalized oppression 

at all levels. 

We: 

(1) provide training and resources to build confident and responsive grassroots and 

workplace leadership; 

(2) work in partnership with diverse community sectors, actively seek the participation 

and involvement of resident community members in our work, and recognize equitable, shared 

power among all stakeholders involved in a project; 

(3) facilitate learning environments and promote linkages between multi-cultural, multi- 

disciplinary, and multi-faith communities to develop a best practices network of “unified 

solutions” to sustain peace in our world; 

(4) tailor our services and products to uphold the unique cultural heritage and spiritual 

vitality of those we serve. 

About our Logo 

The Unified Solutions logo was formed from a collaborative process with community members. We received great blessing 

from those who support the vision of Unified Solutions and who offered their talent and expertise to find a way to express the 

vision in visual art. 

Special thanks to Victor Robles, Yaqui artist, and Desiree Trowbridge, Latina artist, who helped breathe life into this work. 

The image depicts a Phoenix, the Earth, and four sets of hands coming from each direction to create something new. A 

light radiates out from the center between the hands, to show the sacred power of the work that comes from this kind of 

collaboration. 

The image tells a story and sends a message: 

The fate of our world depends upon our ability to come together and create together—all people, 

young and old, of all colors, from all directions. 

When we commit our hands together in action, creating a new way with unified solutions, 

the power of this light shines from within the Phoenix. 

The Phoenix burns to ashes and is re-born. 

The Phoenix takes on all that is finished, all that no longer serves us 

—like greed and fear and competition 

—and burns it away. 

All that is left is the light that guides us, and the Earth is reborn. 

UNIFIED SOLUTIONS CONTACT INFORMATION 

Phone: Tempe office (toll free): 877-438-4400 Fax: 480-966-3599 

Address: 2164 E. Broadway, Suite 125, Tempe, AZ 85282 

E-mail: Gina@unified-solutions.org Natalia@unified-solutions.org 

Melissa@unified-solutions.org 

Jesucita@unified-solutions.org 

Tim@unified-solutions.org 

Becky@unified-solutions.org 

Dianne@unified-solutions.org 

Devennie@unified-solutions.org 

Stan@unified-solutions.org 

Linda@unified-solutions.org

2009 January - February - Unified-solutions.org

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