NCJ Number
238409
Date Published
August 2006
Length
47 pages
Annotation
This report presents the results of an evaluation of crime victim services in five locales that were linked to faith-based resources.
Abstract
This project evaluated the ability of faith-based resources to be successfully linked with crime victim services in five locations: Richmond, CA; Baltimore, MD; St. Paul, MN; Philadelphia, PA; and Nashville, TN. The evaluation looked at the different activities that were used by faith leaders and secular service providers to improve their response to crime victims. The following activities were used across the five sites to varying degrees: meetings of advisory committees, informal meetings such as luncheon roundtables, outreach visits to community organizations, presentations of the project at existing community events, and dissemination of project information through the use of flyers, brochures, or bulleting inserts. Results of the collaboration between faith leaders and crime service providers include faith leaders' increased awareness of victim services and service providers; improved communication between faith leaders and service providers and more awareness of the commonalities and bonds they share for serving crime victims. Lessons learned from the collaborative project include the knowledge that it is possible for faith leaders and secular providers to work together to aid victims, that staffing issues need to be addressed at the start of the collaboration and that staff need to be consistent throughout the projects length, and that the length of the project needs to be expanded in order to effectively accomplish the project's tasks. Tables and appendixes