Frequently Asked Questions

Advocates with the National Domestic Violence Hotline are available for victims and anyone calling on their behalf 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The hotline provides crisis intervention, safety planning, information, and referrals. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 100 languages through interpreter services. If you or someone you know is frightened about something in your relationship, please contact the Hotline at 800–799–7233 (TTY 800–787–3224) or via live chat.

Additionally, if you are a teen in an abusive relationship, please contact the Loveisrespect.org Helpline at 866–331–9474 or 866–787–3224 (TTY) by phone, by texting "LOVEIS" to 866–331–9474, or via live chat.

Information on children found at methamphetamine labs can be found in the OVC publication, Children at Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs: Helping Meth's Youngest Victims.

For additional information, visit the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children site.

All OVC vacancy announcements are posted on the USAJobs website. Applicants must apply to each vacancy announcement for which they would like to receive consideration.

A State Victim Assistance Academy (SVAA) is a week-long, intensive foundation course of study in victimology and victim's rights and services.

SVAAs are operated in partnership with an academic institution. They are designed to meet the entry-level educational needs of a broad range of victim assistance providers and allied professionals (generally with 1 to 5 years of experience). SVAAs provide comprehensive, fundamental, and academically based education.

Visit the SVAA section of our site for more information.

OVC encourages state Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Administrators to help fund State Victim Assistance Academies (SVAAs) using VOCA administrative funds. If there is no SVAA in your state, contact your VOCA Administrator to discuss SVAA implementation.

Authorized by the Victims of Crime Act, the OVC Fellowship Program was established in 2002 and provides a valuable public service to the Nation while also giving victim service practitioners an exciting and rewarding opportunity to work alongside Federal Employees and Contractors at the OVC office in Washington, D.C.

Fellows provide direct operational assistance to OVC in designing and developing innovative or enhanced service initiatives, management systems, training programs, capacity-building initiatives, and program evaluation efforts. Review the OVC Fellowship Guidelines for further information.

Fellows work onsite at a government office and are typically expected to follow the federal employee guidelines in regards to work schedule, holidays, and leave. Typically, Fellows work on site at OVC 40 hours per week, which computes to 80 hours in a two week pay period. Further information is available on page 9 of the OVC Fellowship Guidelines.

Your application will be reviewed by the Solicitation Peer Review Committee. First, the committee considers the basic eligibility requirements noted in the solicitation. After those requirements are met, the committee takes into consideration the applicant's proposed professional goals and objectives for the Fellowship, educational background, professional experience, public service, public policy experience, volunteer activities, communication skills, narrative response to the solicitation, and overall suitability for the Fellowship.

Please note that the committee may contact an applicant's references to assist with verifying that the application meets the requirements stated above. OVC may elect to have a personal interview with the final candidate and will support the lodging, meals, and per diem of the applicant if travel to Washington, D.C., is necessary for the interview.

Review the OVC Fellowship Guidelines for further information.

Fellowship opportunities are posted periodically to our Current Funding Opportunities page. Also review the OVC Fellowship Guidelines for information about—

• the application and selection process;
• audit, programmatic, administrative, financial, and fiduciary requirements;
• reporting procedures;
• financial management;
• salary, benefits, and budget; and
• working conditions at OVC.

Child sexual abuse statistics are available in the Department of Health and Human Services' annual Child Maltreatment reports.

For additional information, visit the Child and Youth Victimization and Sexual Assault sections of our website.