Global Strategies for Implementation

What Victim Service Providers Can Do
To Assist in Nationwide Implementation
of New Directions

Collaborate with Justice Agencies to:

• Identify upcoming State and local criminal justice- and allied professional-related training events and conferences, and notify conference organizers of the availability of presenters to conduct a New Directions workshop or training session. Include relevant sections of the New Directions Implementation Guide to emphasize the importance of including a New Directions workshop or training session as part of the conference agenda.

Collaborate with State Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Administrator to:

• Consider hosting a meeting of community VOCA grant subrecipients to review and develop implementation strategies for New Directions as the State develops or revises its plan for distribution of Federal VOCA funding at the State level.

Collaborate with the Health Community to:

• Request time on local hospitals' Board of Director's monthly or quarterly meeting agendas to outline the critical role that health care providers play in the continuum of victim services, and stress adoption of New Directions recommendations within the health care community.

Collaborate with the Mental Health Community to:

• Request that members of the mental health community (State or county mental health associations) explore key mental health issues raised in New Directions, such as issues concerning confidentiality. Encourage mental health associations to incorporate the New Directions Chapter 8 on the Mental Health Community into their professional continuing education programs. (For information about how to order copies of the Mental Health Community Bulletin, see the section entitled Overview of Guide & New Directions Resources.)

Collaborate with the Business Community to:

• Request presentation time during the chamber of commerce and community civic organizations' monthly meetings to discuss the importance of the business community in addressing violence, and adopting New Directions recommendations for the establishment of uniform policies and procedures in preventing and responding to workplace violence and victimization.
  
  
• Ask the business community to provide, where appropriate, financial sponsorship of some of the activities listed in this Implementation Guide. For example, the business community can be approached to help sponsor a community forum. (See the section of this Guide entitled Suggested Events To Promote New Directions.)

Collaborate with the Faith Community to:

• Arrange a meeting with members of the community's Interfaith Council to discuss the adoption and implementation of New Directions recommendations within the faith community's overall missions and goals.

Collaborate with the Education Community to:

• Reserve space on local county boards of education and local college and university Departments of Criminal Justice advisory boards' monthly meeting agendas to discuss the important need to implement New Directions recommendations for the education community.

Collaborate with the Legal Community to:

• Host a New Directions informational forum on Law Day (May 1) for members of the State or county bar association to highlight the key role that attorneys in the private sector play in enhancing victims' legal options.

Collaborate with the News Media to:

• Sponsor a morning breakfast for members of the local news media to increase their awareness of victims' needs to be treated with sensitivity and dignity, as well as the important role the media play in increasing the community's understanding of violence and victimization based on recommendations contained in New Directions.
  
  
• Arrange a meeting with local newspaper editorial boards to discuss New Directions recommendations for community involvement in meeting the needs of crime victims in the wake of community violence. (See the section of this Implementation Guide entitled Getting the Word Out About New Directions for a sample opinion/editorial column.)
  
  
• Contact local cable access channels and propose a program format that highlights crime in the community, the need for supportive victim services, and how the community can better respond to crime victims and crime prevention based on recommendations found in New Directions.