Although the field has made great strides in working more collaboratively on behalf of crime victims, services still are often fragmented. All too often victims must struggle to discover their rights, determine the services and resources available to them, and find out how to access them. Sometimes even service providers are not aware of the availability of services and resources and how to access them.

To support the development of integrated services delivery systems that could serve as models for other communities, OVC funded Victim Services 2000 (VS 2000) demonstration sites.The goal of each VS 2000 demonstration site is to improve the range, quality, and accessibility of services for all types of crime victims and to provide technical assistance to other communities. In 1997, OVC awarded a VS 2000 grant to Denver, Colorado; in 1998, OVC grants went to Medina County, Ohio, and the State of Vermont. Both urban and rural communities were chosen as sites to determine what differences, if any, emerged.

Over the course of the 5-year grant, each project was asked to write a Bulletin about its needs assessment process and the resulting initiatives. This documentation may help other communities increase the range, quality, and accessibility of services to all crime victims.This Bulletin, from the DenverVS 2000 project, is the first in that series. These Bulletins will either contain or direct read-ers to tools to aid implementation, sources for technical assistance and related resources.