Partners, in conjunction with collaborators from numerous state agencies, nonprofit organizations, victim services organizations, and local multidisciplinary teams, has worked to establish a network of education and technical assistance to improve services for people with disabilities who experience violence. The goal of this project is a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to improving the criminal justice system’s response to violent crimes and increasing their capacity to address the needs of people with disabilities. This project supports victims with disabilities through a training and co-advocacy initiative and is overseen by a statewide advisory committee representing diverse fields. This effort is a subaward funded through the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s Victims Justice Assistance Project with funding from the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
Project Goals
This project promotes:
- A coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to improving the criminal justice system’s response to violent crimes, and
- Addressing the needs of underserved populations, including people with disabilities.
Activities include:
- Development of protocols with a statewide multidisciplinary team,
- Co-advocacy with other organizations to support crime victims, and
- Training and technical assistance.
- Develop and provide resources for victim advocates and victims.
- Provide links to related resources.
There is no cost to individuals or programs for these services. We are committed to creating inclusive environments for all activities we sponsor. Sign language interpreters and Spanish or other language interpreters provided upon request in order to ensure effective communication.
Victims of both state and federal crimes are served, regardless of their participation with the criminal justice system.
Services provided to victim service agencies and criminal justice programs:
- Technical assistance
- Information and referral
- Practical support and problem solving
- Accessibility surveys
- Assistive technology support and referral
- Training:
- Scheduled for your staff
- Conference presentations
- Just-in-Time training: Individualized training around the needs of a person you are serving
Co-advocacy services for individuals you are serving:
- Access resource team meetings
- Support and linkage with appropriate resources
- Individual and systems advocacy
- Assistance in applying for crime victim compensation
- Assistance in accessing
- Victim services, or
- Disability-related supports
For more information about this project, contact:
Kiah Hall at kiahh@uark.edu