VOCA-TVA Working Group (formerly
VOCA-VAIC Working Group)
Crime is a serious problem in Indian Country; victim
services in Indian Country are inadequate, and victim assistance
providers face unique challenges. In the past, tribal
victim assistance programs and state Victims of Crime Act
(VOCA) programs have faced challenges in their efforts
to provide and fund services for tribes. Complaints from
tribes have focused on VOCA funding decisions and criteria,
compensation processes, and collaboration. Tribes have
stated that American Indian and Alaska Native victims do
not receive appropriate amounts of compensation from state
programs and do not receive proportionate amounts of VOCA
funding for their victim assistance programs. Conversely,
states have had problems obtaining the appropriate paperwork
from tribes and adapting to the complexities of changing
tribal governments. Therefore, a clear need exists for
state VOCA administrators and Tribal Victim Assistance
(TVA) Discretionary Grant Program directors to collaborate
and develop strategies that increase state VOCA funding
of tribal programs and tribal compliance with state funding
requirements.
OVC has provided funding to support continuing collaboration
between American Indian and Alaska Native grantees and
state VOCA victim assistance grantees through a series
of working group meetings. Meeting attendees include state
VOCA administrators and TVA program managers. The working
group will offer guidance and information to OVC about
(1) identifying American Indian and Alaska Native consultants
for the training and technical assistance database; (2)
identifying American Indian and Alaska Native organizations
with the capacity to deliver training and technical assistance
in Indian Country; (3) continuing discussions from earlier
meetings about increasing American Indian representation
on decisionmaking boards, increasing the availability of
compensation to American Indian and Alaska Native victims,
and improving the relationship between VOCA and American
Indian and Alaska Native programs; (4) replicating the
success of state VOCA and TVA programs that have collaborated
and improved communication and funding; and (5) increasing
TVA's ability to sustain victim services beyond federal
funding.
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