Getting Human Service Agencies the Answers They Need: A Toolkit for Sustainable Data Use
2024-06-26 12:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Join researchers from Chapin Hall and others for this webinar on a new toolkit to help agencies build the culture and infrastructure needed to apply data analysis routinely, effectively, and accurately— referred to as “sustainable data use.” Join them as they discuss some of the key strategies and tools included in the Toolkit that can serve as a helpful resource for building sustainable data use in human service agencies.

Using data to improve human services programs is becoming commonplace. Agency administrators, researchers, and policymakers increasingly turn to applied data analytics to evaluate programs or inform evidence-based policy. The applications of the data may vary but the goal is the same: to improve the lives of the families served. More recently, service agencies have been pursuing a broader goal: to move from data to knowledge to action not just once, but routinely, creating a reinforcing cycle of evidence-building and program improvement. Through funding from the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), Chapin Hall and MDRC created a toolkit Panelists include: Emily Wiegand, Senior Researcher & Analytics Manager, Chapin Hall Rose Geoghegan, Associate Researcher (Data Analytics), Chapin Hall Emma Monahan, Senior Researcher, Chapin Hall Melissa Wavelet, Senior Fellow, Center for Data Insights, MDRC Alysia Cox, Child Welfare Assistant Deputy Director, Strategy and Innovation, Oregon Department of Human Services Jennifer Holman, Family Preservation Program Manager, Oregon Department of Human Services.

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How financial sextortion impacts youth and what we’re doing to rewrite the script
2024-06-26 15:00 - 15:45
In this webinar, the full title of which is “’Your life will be ruined’: How financial sextortion impacts youth and what we’re doing to rewrite the script,” Kathryn Rifenbark from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Melissa Stroebel, researcher from Thorn, will share what they’ve learned about child sextortion from their recent study focusing on the growing crisis of financial sextortion.
Key findings from their study, to be released June 24, include:

26,718 reports of financial sextortion were reported to NCMEC in 2023 alone.
NCMEC received an average of 812 sextortion reports per week between August 2022 and August 2023.
Instagram and Snapchat are the most common platforms, with additional encrypted messaging apps also being used.

Anticipated takeaways from this insightful discussion:

Awareness of the issue: Learn about the alarming rise in financial sextortion cases, and the importance of awareness and prevention
Insights into exploitation tactics: Understand how these manipulative schemes operate and the significant risks to youth
Support systems and resources: Recognize the importance of support systems and know where to find help for victims
How to make a difference: Discover the important role of cutting-edge technology in combating this form of child sexual exploitation and how you can help support it.

Join them to explore this urgent issue and learn how to work together to protect our youth, and rewrite the script on financial sextortion.
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Community Firearm Violence Exposure and Weapon Carrying
2024-07-09 12:00 - 13:00
Join the National Collaborative on Gun Violence Research for this webinar focused on community violence prevention, examining the complexities of firearm violence through the lens of recent research funded by NCGVR. Specifically, this session zeroes in on urban gun violence, the leading cause of death for young Black men.
In the first presentation, Charles Lanfear, Ph.D, discusses a longitudinal study of Chicago residents that exposes stark disparities in the experiences of firearm violence and firearm carrying based on race, sex, and birth cohort. Highlighting the varying ages of first exposure to gun violence and onset of gun carrying, the study emphasizes changing societal conditions over time and their impact on individuals’ encounters with gun violence and gun carrying over the life course. Next, Elise White, Ph.D., offers an intimate look at the lives of young gun-carriers in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Through personal narratives, the research uncovers the pervasive fear driving these young individuals—predominantly Black men—to arm themselves, amidst a backdrop of limited economic opportunities and mistrust of law enforcement. In the final presentation, Dorothy Dillard, Ph.D, discusses the environmental factors influencing gun possession decisions among young Black men in high crime cities. By examining the lived experiences of these individuals, the presentation highlights a need for community-centric approaches to safety and prevention.
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Measuring Victim Service Outcomes with iMPRoVE
2024-07-09 14:00 - 15:00
Join CVR staff and colleagues to learn about the free iMPRoVE tool for measuring victim service outcomes. iMPRoVE (Measuring Provider Responses to Victimization Experiences), made available for all victim and survivor-serving organizations through funding from the Office for Victims of Crime, is designed to help providers gather crucial feedback about the outcomes and quality of the services.
iMPRoVE simplifies data collection, enabling victims and survivors to anonymously share their experiences about the services they received and how those services affected their lives and well-being. This valuable feedback can then be tracked over time and benchmarked against the results of other, similar programs to help providers enhance program design, improve service delivery, build staff morale, and demonstrate the effectiveness of services. These data are also being used to target training, build community partnerships and even strengthen requests for additional funding.
This introductory webinar is offered July 9 and 17.
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Violence Prevention Research Conference
2024-07-14 - 2024-07-16
This conference is co-sponsored by the University of New Hampshire and the University of Kentucky and will be held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is both a new iteration and a continuation of the formally known “Family Violence and Child Victimization Conference.” The conference will have a focus on multiple forms of violence, with an emphasis on prevention. This conference will offer a unique opportunity for researchers and practitioners from a broad array of disciplines to come together for the purpose of sharing, integrating, and critiquing accumulated knowledge on violence prevention.
Interested in presenting? Proposals/Abstracts deadline March 2.
Learn more

Measuring Victim Service Outcomes with iMPRoVE
2024-07-17 14:00 - 15:00
Join CVR staff and colleagues to learn about the free iMPRoVE tool for measuring victim service outcomes. iMPRoVE (Measuring Provider Responses to Victimization Experiences), made available for all victim and survivor-serving organizations through funding from the Office for Victims of Crime, is designed to help providers gather crucial feedback about the outcomes and quality of the services.
iMPRoVE simplifies data collection, enabling victims and survivors to anonymously share their experiences about the services they received and how those services affected their lives and well-being. This valuable feedback can then be tracked over time and benchmarked against the results of other, similar programs to help providers enhance their program design, improve service delivery, build staff morale, and demonstrate the effectiveness of services. These data are also being used to design training, build community partnerships and even strengthen requests for additional funding.
This introductory webinar is offered July 9 and 17.
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The Costs and Consequences of Tech Abuse in Intimate Partner Violence
2024-08-22 14:00 - 15:00
This webinar will present recently released findings on tech-facilitated abuse that reveal the costs and consequences of cyberstalking, image-based sexual abuse, and doxing within intimate partner violence (IPV). The research was led by the Justice Information Resource Network and Dr. Mark Cohen in partnership with the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. The findings show disparate rates of prevalence across gender identity, sexual orientation, race, and income. They also detail the kinds of costs and other harms experienced as a consequence of TFA, including lost earnings, property loss, technology costs, health costs, and harms to wellbeing at work, in school, and in social connection. Join us for this webinar where the researchers will share key findings, and advocates will discuss implications for services and strategies to support survivors.

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Homicidio de pareja íntima de latinas: factores de riesgo y barreras de servicio
2024-08-28 14:00 - 15:00
Las latinas experimentan homicidios de pareja (IPH) en tasas desproporcionadamente altas; sin embargo, la investigación sobre cómo la violencia de pareja (IPV) conduce al homicidio en esta población es limitada. Para ampliar esta investigación, Esperanza United utilizó un enfoque centrado en la comunidad y basado en evidencia para examinar las barreras a la búsqueda de ayuda para víctimas latinas de homicidio por parte de su pareja. Se llevaron a cabo sesiones de escucha y entrevistas con informantes clave con sobrevivientes, defensores y profesionales de nueve organizaciones latinas comunitarias, seguido por un análisis de investigación cualitativo en profundidad sobre los riesgos de homicidio, los factores de protección y las barreras al apoyo.
Objetivos de aprendizaje:

Aumentar el conocimiento sobre los factores de riesgo de IPH y las barreras de servicio entre las sobrevivientes latinas
Aumentar la confianza en la promoción de las fortalezas de la comunidad en materia de prevención.
Discutir el sistema y la promoción de políticas.

Presentadoras:
Alondra D. Garza, Ph.D. (ella/ella) es profesora asistente en el Departamento de Justicia Penal y Trabajo Social de la Universidad de Houston-Downtown. Su investigación se centra en la respuesta de la justicia penal a la violencia contra las mujeres y en intervenciones culturalmente relevantes y basadas en el trauma para las víctimas. Su trabajo reciente ha aparecido o se publicará próximamente en Crime and Delinquency, Homicide Studies, and Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice.
Vanesa Mercado Díaz, M.A. (ella/ella) es especialista en investigación y evaluación en Esperanza United, un centro de recursos sobre violencia de género culturalmente específico financiado con fondos federales. Recibió su maestría en derechos humanos y políticas públicas, donde su investigación se centró en la violencia de género en las comunidades latinas y América Latina. Su trabajo con el equipo de Investigación y Evaluación de Esperanza implica aumentar el conocimiento de las experiencias latinas a través de programas, investigación y evaluación culturalmente receptivos y al mismo tiempo promover la justicia social en el campo de la violencia de género.
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Intimate Partner Homicide of Latinas: Risk Factors and Service Barriers
2024-08-28 14:00 - 15:00
Latinas experience intimate partner homicide (IPH) at disproportionately high rates, however, research on how intimate partner violence (IPV) leads to homicide in this population is limited. To expand this research, Esperanza United used a community-centered, evidence-based approach to examine barriers to help-seeking for Latinx victims of intimate partner homicide. Listening sessions and key informant interviews with survivors, advocates, and practitioners from nine community-based Latine organizations were conducted followed by an in-depth qualitative research analysis of homicide risks, protective factors, and barriers to support.
Learning objectives:

Increase knowledge about IPH risk factors and service barriers among Latina survivors
Grow confidence in promoting community strengths in prevention
Discuss system and policy advocacy

Presenter Bios: Alondra D. Garza, Ph.D. and Vanesa Mercado Diaz, M.A
Alondra D. Garza, Ph.D. (she/her/ella) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Social Work at the University of Houston-Downtown. Her research focuses on the criminal justice response to violence against women and trauma-informed, culturally relevant interventions for victims. Her recent work has appeared or is forthcoming in Crime and Delinquency, Homicide Studies, and Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice.
Vanesa Mercado Diaz, M.A. (she/her/ella) is a Research and Evaluation Specialist at Esperanza United, a federally funded culturally specific gender-based violence resource center. She received her master’s in human rights and public policy where her research focused on gender-based violence in Latine communities and Latin America. Her work with Esperanza’s Research and Evaluation team entails increasing knowledge of Latin@ experiences through culturally responsive programs, research, and evaluation while promoting social justice in the field of gender-based violence.
This webinar is co-sponsored by Esperanza United and will be presented in Spanish with ASL and English interpretation.
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Policy and Research Briefing - Safe Housing Capacity Building Center and NRCDV
2024-09-03 13:00 - 15:00
Join NRCDV and the Safe Housing Capacity Building Center for their annual Policy and Research Briefing on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, from 1:00 to 3:00pm Eastern Time. We’ll discuss the findings of our report, “Examining the Needs and Experiences of BIPOC LGBTQ Survivors through a Flexible Funding Pilot Project,” and share relevant policy solutions. The project highlighted in this report expands on a 2022 process evaluation of the flexible funding pilot project conducted by NRCDV in partnership with the LGBT Center of Central PA.
Presenters and speakers include:

Lavon Morris-Grant, Director of Community Engagement, NRCDV
TL Waid, GLO Site Director, The LGBT Center
Oyesola Oluwafunmilayo Ayeni, PhD, Director of Research and Evaluation, NRCDV
Shenna Morris, Vice President of Policy and Systems Change, NRCDV

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Finding Data on Community Demographics
2024-09-06 14:00 - 15:00
This is the first in the CVR September series on Finding Data. Each session will include a 20 min. introduction to an online data source, after which participants will have an opportunity to use the source to gather a few local statistics while CVR staff stand by to answer questions. Those who attend all four sessions and submit short session worksheets will receive a certificate of completion.
All sessions will start at 2:00 pm ET. Select one or more sessions at the end of this form.

Friday, Sept. 6: Finding Data on Community Demographics
Friday, Sept. 13: Finding Data on Reported Crime—State and Local
Friday, Sept. 20: Finding Data on Violent Deaths in your State
Friday, Sept. 27: Finding Data on Campus and Tribal Communities

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Finding Data on Reported Crime--State and Local
2024-09-13 14:00 - 15:00
This is the second in the CVR September series on Finding Data. Each session will include a 20 min. introduction to an online data source, after which participants will have an opportunity to use the source to gather a few local statistics while CVR staff stand by to answer questions. Those who attend all four sessions and submit short session worksheets will receive a certificate of completion.
All sessions will start at 2:00 pm ET. Select one or more sessions at the end of this form.

Friday, Sept. 6: Finding Data on Community Demographics
Friday, Sept. 13: Finding Data on Reported Crime—State and Local
Friday, Sept. 20: Finding Data on Violent Deaths in your State
Friday, Sept. 27: Finding Data on Campus and Tribal Communities

REGISTER for one or more sessions.

2024 NAPSA Conference
2024-09-16 - 2024-09-19
The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) Conference is the only national conference that focuses solely on Adult Protective Services (APS) and this year they are thrilled to partner with the State of New Mexico, Aging and Long-Term Services Department for our 2024 Conference. Together, conference organizers hope to offer more than 100 workshops and attract 1,000 attendees from Adult Protective Service units across the US as well as allied professionals in government, law enforcement, medicine, banking & finance, legal systems, nursing homes/ombudsman, community based organizations and more!
Learn more

Finding Data on Violent Deaths in Your State
2024-09-20 14:00 - 15:00
This is the third in the CVR September series on Finding Data. Each session will include a 20 min. introduction to an online data source, after which participants will have an opportunity to use the source to gather a few local statistics while CVR staff stand by to answer questions. Those who attend all four sessions and submit short session worksheets will receive a certificate of completion.
All sessions will start at 2:00 pm ET. Select one or more sessions at the end of this form.

Friday, Sept. 6: Finding Data on Community Demographics
Friday, Sept. 13: Finding Data on Reported Crime—State and Local
Friday, Sept. 20: Finding Data on Violent Deaths in your State
Friday, Sept. 27: Finding Data on Campus and Tribal Communities

REGISTER for one or more sessions.

Finding Data on Campus and Tribal Communities
2024-09-27 14:00 - 15:00
This is the final session in the CVR September series on Finding Data. Each session will include a 20 min. introduction to an online data source, after which participants will have an opportunity to use the source to gather a few local statistics while CVR staff stand by to answer questions. Those who attend all four sessions and submit short session worksheets will receive a certificate of completion.
All sessions will start at 2:00 pm ET. Select one or more sessions at the end of this form.

Friday, Sept. 6: Finding Data on Community Demographics
Friday, Sept. 13: Finding Data on Reported Crime—State and Local
Friday, Sept. 20: Finding Data on Violent Deaths in your State
Friday, Sept. 27: Finding Data on Campus and Tribal Communities

REGISTER for one or more sessions.

Youth Violent Crime Series: Setting the Stage - Understanding the Current Data and the Adolescent Brain
2024-10-02 13:30 - 15:30
The National District Attorneys Association is kicking off its webinar series on Youth Violent Crime with this session, Setting the Stage – Understanding the Current Data and the Adolescent Brain. Join them to hear from these exciting panels:
Introductory Remarks

Karhlton Moore, Director, Bureau of Justice Assistance (recorded)
Elizabeth Ryan, Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Nelson Bunn, Executive Director, National District Attorneys Association

Crimes Involving Youth, Trends, and Data: What does the research say about youth and crime?

Kevin Scott, Acting Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics
Nancy LaVigne, Director, National Institute of Justice

Understanding the Adolescent Brain and it’s Place in Crime Reduction Efforts

Jemour Maddux, PsyD., ABPP, Managing Director, Lamb and Maddux, LLC, Office of Psychological
Services Court Advisory Center

Learn more about the series and register

Introduction to iMPRoVE, the Victim Services Outcome Measurement Tool
2024-10-02 14:00 - 15:00
Are you ready to enhance your program with valuable insights from victims and survivors? Join us for one of the upcoming overview webinars on iMPRoVE (Measuring Provider Responses to Victimization Experiences), a FREE, innovative tool funded by the Office for Victims of Crime.
What You’ll Learn:

Simplified Data Collection: How iMPRoVE makes it easier to collect and analyze survivor feedback while allowing anonymous sharing of experiences and service impact.
User Feedback & Strategies: Reactions and tips from programs using iMPRoVE and effective techniques for collecting survey responses.
New Aggregate National Dashboard: Discover how this powerful feature lets you benchmark your data against other programs, helping to enhance program design, service delivery, staff morale, and demonstrate service effectiveness.

Webinar Dates:
October 2 at 2 PM EST
November 13 at 2 PM EST
December 11 at 2 PM EST
Don’t miss this chance to explore how iMPRoVE can transform your program. Register today and invite one or two colleagues from your program to attend with you!

The Youth Protective Factors Study: Risk, Strengths, and Reoffending
2024-10-02 14:00 - 15:00
NIJ announced this webinar on The Youth Protective Factors Study: Effective Supervision and Services Based on Risks, Strengths, and Development, an unprecedented, multistate, multiyear examination of the risk and protective factors that most influence reoffending—particularly serious offenses that involve physical harm to others—among youth ages 10 to 23 in the juvenile justice system.
Researchers recently released the first of a series of briefs associated with this study that provide key insights into the risk factors most associated with youth reoffending.
Join The Council of State Governments Justice Center, UMass Chan Medical School, and the University of California–Berkeley as principal researchers share findings from this initial analysis, including research-based strategies for juvenile justice supervision, case planning, and service delivery to enhance public safety and improve youth outcomes.
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New Findings on Firearms Violence in the United States
2024-10-08 14:00 - 15:00
This webinar focuses on new research findings from National Collaborative on Gun Violence Researcher (NCGVR)-funded projects on a diverse set of topics.
In the first presentation, Michelle Degli Esposti, Ph.D., explores the geographic and demographic disparities in firearm mortality rates across the United States over three decades. Highlighting significant regional differences in suicide and homicide rates, this research pinpoints geographical hot spots where firearm homicides and suicides have increased or decreased with unusual speed, an analysis that could help inform targeted prevention strategies and policies.
Next, Hannah Laqueur, Ph.D, presents an investigation into the movement of firearms from legal sales to criminal hands in California. By analyzing a vast dataset of crime guns and legal transactions, the study reveals the changing dynamics of criminal firearm commerce, including the rise of privately manufactured firearms, the role of theft and “dirty” dealers in supplying crime guns, and risk factors identifying firearms likely to be used in crimes.
In the final presentation, Bruce Taylor, Ph.D., discusses results of a survey of law enforcement agencies about violence against officers, including officer-involved shootings, and what predicts it. Survey responses showed that such violence is relatively rare, but that it affects agencies of all sizes across the country.
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Using Research to Enhance Incorporation of Victim Services
2024-10-17 13:00 - 14:15
Research can provide agencies with objective data, evaluation of that data, and examples to base foundational decisions for incorporating law enforcement-based victim services. Lessons learned from these efforts can contribute to ongoing strategic planning and sustainability of services. Using research information and tools can enhance the ability to meet the needs of victims and co-victims.
Join the Justice Clearinghouse for this engaging session on how research can inform staffing, services, and measurement for a victim services organization. Amy Durall will moderate a panel of presenters: Elizabeth Tibaduiza, Lynn Langton, and Susan Howley.
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Domestic Violence: Understanding the Data and Policy
2024-10-23 13:00 - 14:00
Women’s contact with the criminal justice system has trended upward over the last several decades, and their pathways into the justice system often include domestic violence. How do these experiences influence trends among justice-involved women? How can we better track domestic violence incidents to understand their prevalence? And how can the criminal justice system—and policymakers—better acknowledge the relevance of domestic violence when addressing women’s justice involvement? Join experts from the Council on Criminal Justice Women’s Justice Commission (WJC) and Crime Trends Working Group (CTWG) as they unpack the research and highlight opportunities related to women’s justice involvement and domestic violence.
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The Impact of COVID-19 on Domestic Violence Victims and Survivors – Lessons Learned from Service Providers Nationwide
2024-10-25 14:00 - 15:30
This presentation highlights the key findings from a nationwide study that examined the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on service provision for domestic violence victims and survivors. Policy implications are also discussed based on interviews and survey data collected from victim service providers across the United States, including all 50 states, Washington DC, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The research team will discuss the following significant themes:

Type of abuses and the associated risks;
The needs of domestic violence victims and survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and beyond;
The challenges in meeting these needs;
The best practices that have shown effectiveness in addressing these challenges.

The findings presented during this webinar are informed by a collaborative project between John Jay College of Criminal Justice and George Mason University funded by the National Science Foundation’s Build and Broaden 2.0 program (NSF Award Number: 2127295/6). The views and interpretations are those of the authors, not the institutions — the National Science Foundation, John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY), and George Mason University.
The presentation will be led by:

Mangai Natarajan, Ph.D.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York (CUNY)

Yasemin Irvin-Erickson, Ph.D.

Department of Criminology, Law, and Society, George Mason University
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Funding Safety: Crises and Opportunities For Violence Prevention Efforts
2024-10-29 12:00 - 13:00
In this webinar from the Joyce Foundation, researchers from NYU and the University of Baltimore School of Law will discuss recent papers on strategies to sustain and expand funding for community violence intervention (CVI) and related programs, including improving access to victim compensation for underserved victims. These papers contextualize recent funding within the long history of public support for violence reduction and explore how coalitions of practitioners, policy advocates and other partners can leverage existing and potential resources, drawing lessons from efforts to reform access to public funding for survivors of violence through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Crime Victim Compensation Program.

Featuring panelists:
John Maki, Fellow, the New York University Marron Institute of Urban Management
Heather Warnken, Executive Director, the Center for Criminal Justice Reform at the University of Baltimore School of Law

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Responding to Intimate Partner Violence-Related Strangulation: Integrating Policy, Practice, and Research
2024-10-29 12:00 - 13:30
This webinar examines intimate partner violence strangulation and an innovative response policy. The presentation will include an overview of the nature and extent of strangulation, its dangers, and adverse medical consequences, followed by a review of a strangulation ordinance in Burleson, Texas, that mandates extensive training for first responders and a city-wide response protocol for strangulation detection and investigation, documentation of strangulation signs and symptoms, medical assistance, and service referrals for strangulation survivors. The webinar will also cover ordinance implementation and highlight research findings from the evaluation funded by the National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice.
Presenters include Dr. Tara O’Connor Shelley, Professor and Director of the Institute on Violence against Women and Human Trafficking, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Public Administration, Tarleton State University; Police Chief Billy Cordell (Burleson PD); and Mr. Ken Shetter, President and General Counsel of One Safe Place and National Director of the Family Justice Center Alliance, Alliance for HOPE International.
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2024 CVR Research Convening: Conducting Research on and with Hard-to-Reach Victim Populations
2024-10-30 13:30 - 15:30
Join the Center for Victim Research to explore strategies, challenges, and successes with conducting research with victim populations that have historically been difficult to reach for research but who may also experience greater barriers to victim services and recovery. Our keynote panelists will share their work and recommendations for researching diverse victims’ experiences, particularly using strong community engagement.
As an attendee, you will have an opportunity to ask questions of the speakers and take part in smaller breakout discussions.
Expert panelists:

Mary Breaux, PhD, Clinical Professor and Director of the Crime Victims’ Institute at Sam Houston State University – discussing research with children and older adults who experience abuse.
Carlos Cuevas, PhD, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Co-Director of the Violence and Justice Research Lab at Northeastern University – discussing research relating to Latino victimization and service utilization.
Katie Edwards, PhD, Professor of Counseling Psychology and Director of the Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln – discussing research relatingto Indigenous families and sexual and gender minority youth.

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Daily Caregiver Mental Health: A Dynamic Risk Factor of Elder Mistreatment
2024-11-04 13:30 - 14:30
Caregiver mental health plays a crucial role in the well-being of care recipients, and when compromised, it may increase the risk of harmful behaviors such as elder mistreatment. Mental health is inherently dynamic, with symptoms varying both within and between individuals. This variability underscores the need to examine how daily mental health experiences influence the risk of adverse caregiver behaviors, such as elder mistreatment, over time.
This presentation from the National Adult Protective Services Association’s R2P will provide an overview of research focused on day-to-day variations in caregiver mental health, the association with adverse caregiver behaviors, and how this knowledge can help predict and prevent elder mistreatment. Further, this presentation will introduce novel approaches for elder mistreatment research grounded in a complex systems model of caregiver mental health. Based on this model, increased variability in daily caregiver mental health may serve as an early warning signal for mistreatment, highlighting the potential for early detection and mitigation of risks.
Presenter: Dr. Frank Puga, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Acute, Chronic, and Continuing Care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing. He earned his Ph.D. in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on the mental health and stress profiles of older adults living with chronic illness and their care partners, particularly in populations disproportionately affected by age-related diseases, such as Hispanic and LGBTQ+ communities. Dr. Puga’s current R01-funded project from the National Institute on Aging examines how stress, resilience, and cultural factors influence daily and long-term mental health outcomes among Hispanic dementia caregivers. A key objective of his work is to identify which individuals, and under what circumstances, are more likely to develop clinically significant psychopathology. A secondary aim is to determine the dynamic relationship between caregiver well-being and engagement in harmful behaviors, such as elder and vulnerable adult mistreatment. Ultimately, Dr. Puga’s research seeks to inform the development of culturally responsive, resilience-based interventions tailored to the unique needs of individuals living with chronic illness and their caregivers. As a Mexican American, he is deeply committed to ensuring that underrepresented and underserved populations at greater risk for age-related diseases are engaged in research, helping to promote more equitable healthcare outcomes.
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Impact of Firearm Violence on Youth
2024-11-12 12:00 - 13:00
In this webinar by the Joyce Foundation, researchers from University of California, Davis and Northwestern University will discuss new findings that explore the nature and dynamics of childhood exposure to gun violence in US cities; the impact of firearm exposure on youth mental health and on future adult experiences of gun violence; and the impact of “collective efficacy” on firearm violence exposure for youth.
Learn more and register

Introduction to iMPRoVE - the Victim Services Outcome Measurement Tool
2024-11-13 14:00 - 15:00
Are you ready to enhance your program with valuable insights from victims and survivors? Join us for one of the upcoming overview webinars on iMPRoVE (Measuring Provider Responses to Victimization Experiences), a FREE, innovative tool funded by the Office for Victims of Crime.
What You’ll Learn:

Simplified Data Collection: How iMPRoVE makes it easier to collect and analyze survivor feedback while allowing anonymous sharing of experiences and service impact.
User Feedback & Strategies: Reactions and tips from programs using iMPRoVE and effective techniques for collecting survey responses.
New Aggregate National Dashboard: Discover how this powerful feature lets you benchmark your data against other programs, helping to enhance program design, service delivery, staff morale, and demonstrate service effectiveness.

Webinar Dates:
November 13 at 2 PM EST
December 11 at 2 PM EST
Don’t miss this chance to explore how iMPRoVE can transform your program. Register today and invite one or two colleagues from your program to attend with you!

Youth and the Criminal Justice System Webinar
2024-12-05 13:00 - 14:30
This webinar from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) presents official statistics on youth and the justice system using key data collections administered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). It will examine the latest statistical information on various youth justice topics, including youth victims of violent crime, trends in youth arrest rates, and youth in residential placement facilities.
Presenters from BJS will highlight findings from several data collections, including the:

National Crime Victimization Survey
National Incident-Based Reporting System Estimation Program
National Survey of Youth in Custody
Survey of Sexual Victimization
National Prisoner Statistics Program
Annual Survey of Jails.

Presenters from the NIJ will discuss findings from the:

National Juvenile Court Data Archive
Juvenile Facility Census Program, which includes the Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement and the Juvenile Residential Facility Census.

A discussant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will offer insights from a programmatic perspective.

Live captioning will be available.
Presenters
Derek Mueller, PhD, BJS Statistician
Alexandra Thompson, BJS Statistician
Lizabeth Remrey, PhD, BJS Statistician
Michael Field, BJS Statistician
Emily Buehler, PhD, BJS Statistician
Andrea Coleman, PhD, OJJDP Senior Policy Advisor
Benjamin Adams, MS, NIJ Office Director
Kaitlyn Sill, PhD, NIJ Social Science Research Analyst
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18th National Indian Nations Conference
2024-12-10 - 2024-12-13
The 18th National Indian Nations Conference is now open, presented by the Office for Victims of Crime, will be held December 10–13, 2024, at the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation in Palm Springs, California.
This conference will focus on the unique needs of American Indian and Alaska Native crime victims and provide training for victim service providers; law enforcement officials; prosecutors; judges; medical and mental health professionals; social workers; and victim advocates at the Tribal, federal, state, and local levels.
Our distinguished keynote speakers include D.J. Eagle Bear Vanas, Ottawa Tribe; David Adams, Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa Indians; Kola Shippentower, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; and Frank Waln, Lakota Nation. A full agenda is forthcoming and will be posted on the conference website once it is available.
Learn more and Register
