Emotional / Support Referral

	First Responder The first person to respond to a crime scene after the police officer has secured the area. This person provides on-site support and crisis intervention to victims and survivors.
	Home Visitation Provide in-home needs assessments and crisis intervention to victims and survivors
	Short Term Counseling Refers to in-person crisis intervention, emotional support, guidance and counseling provided by advocates, counselors, mental health professionals, or peers. Such counseling may occur at the scene of the crime, immedialty after the crime, or on an ongoing basis
	Personal Safety TPO/Restraining Order Educate and assist victims with filing Temporary Protection Orders
	Support Groups (Homicide Survivors, child Grief and Loss, Domestic Violence) - Coordinate and provide support group activities including emotional and social support, and self-help
	Housing / Shelter Provide assistance with identifying short and long-term housing and related support services to victims and families following victimization
	Physical Needs Refers to assisting victims/survivors with securing emergency food, shelter, and clothing.
	Financial Referral Identifying cash outlays for transportation, food, clothing, emergency housing, etc.
	Transportation Assist victims with fares for local transportation, provide referrals to agencies who provide MARTA tokens and other assistance with transportation.
	Victim Compensation Includes making the victim aware of availability of crime victim compensation, assisting the victim with completing the required forms and gathering needed documentation. This process may also include follow-up contact with the victim compensation agency on behalf of the victim.
	Employee Intervention Provide notification and supportive documents to employers, creditors and others on behalf of the victim.
	School Intervention Provide support to child and teen victims, act as liaison between school and victim families.
	Interpretation / Translation Refers to services provided to Hispanic and Portuguese victims and survivors.

Outreach
Workshops and classes at schools, neighborhood organizations, senior citizen centers, Hispanic and refugee communities to provide crime prevention education. Advocates discuss AVA services and identify available support.

	Neighborhood Organization Meetings
	Schools
	Crime Prevention Education
	Hispanic / Refugee Community
	Prevention Services
	Senior Citizen Centers

Program Components

The program has experienced tremendous growth and through a highly-qualified full-time and volunteer staff, serve the needs of victims and witnesses of crime via a myriad of services under five major components:

Domestic Violence

Our Domestic Violence component's key focus is to provide services to primary and secondary victims of domestic violence. Currently, our advocates provide courtroom accompaniment, counseling and crisis intervention to victims of domestic violence.

AVA provides ongoing training to domestic violence advocates and advocate-interns in partner abuse and crisis intervention counseling.

The volume of domestic violence cases continues to increase each year and currently makes up almost 60% of the agency's caseload.

Child Abuse

Perhaps no crime is sadder than the crime of child abuse. Child victims are helpless and often left emotionally scarred.

Child abuse is defined as any act of omission or commission that endangers or impairs a child's physical or emotional health and development. This includes:

1) physical abuse and corporal punishment resulting in a traumatic condition,

2) emotional deprivation,

3) physical neglect and/or inadequate supervision, and

4) sexual abuse and exploitation.

Historically, child abuse has been an underreported crime. According to the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse, more than 1,200 children die in the United States yearly at the hands of child abusers.

The AVA Child Abuse Component addresses the unique needs of child victim within the criminal justice system. AVA provides crisis intervention counseling, emergency referrals, court accompaniment, support services during prosecution, and prevention and safety information for victims and their families.

We assist with over 600 child abuse cases per year that are adjudicated at the Municipal Court level. If additional information on Child Abuse or services for children, please visit the Fulton County Department of Family and Children Services.

Survivors of Homicide

Murder is the "ultimate victimization". Imagine the devastation of having a loved one murdered. What can you do? How do you cope? Not to mention, how do you handle the court process?

Family and friends of homicide victims are often neglected by the criminal justice system because they are not the primary victim. The Homicide component offers services to families, survivors and witness of homicide at the Municipal Court level.

The Victim Witness Assistance Program advocates on behalf of victims by offering immediate crisis intervention, emergency assistance, courtroom accompaniment, counseling and group therapy. These services often include referrals to appropriate agencies such as the Atlanta Legal Aid or the Atlanta Bar Association.

To assist survivors with better understanding the criminal justice process, which can be frustrating and bring about painful memories, AVA hosts a bi-weekly Homicide Support Group. This group conducts numerous information sessions whereby survivors and witnesses can gain vital information pertinent to dealing with their legal issues and emotional dilemmas.

Identity Theft

AVA’s “Stop Atlanta Fraud Empower (SAFE)” campaign consists of a three-prong innovative approach of education, advocacy, and training to help reduce the incidences of fraud in the City of Atlanta and increase city resident awareness of their rights if victimized. The SAFE Campaign includes a triage and tracking center that assess calls to its helpline at 404-588-4740. This initiative educates consumers and provides a link to available community resources through a centralized location.

The Consumer Advocate assists victims of Identity Theft and Bank Fraud by helping them file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, and the Atlanta Police Department. Our advocate also helps victims with correcting their credit report and by providing them referrals to the appropriate agency. In addition, through community outreach and training, our advocate helps local groups and law enforcement be better equipped to handle cases of Identity Theft and Bank Fraud.

You can help by:

	Reporting crime and cooperating with the police
	Going to court and testifying to the facts if you are a victim or a witless
	Contributing funds. The program operates on a limited budget comprised of grants and donations. Funding from the community is a must for continued success. We welcome and need your support.
	Volunteering your time. AVA presently utilizes volunteers/interns from various universities as well as community organizations schools/PTA, churches and other service agencies. These volunteers are highly skilled and trained n victim services. They are utilized to bolster staff capacity and improve delivery to victim and witnesses of crime.

Georgia Victim's Bill Of Rights
As a victim of crime you have the right to:

	designate an immediate relative to act on your behalf
	receive prompt telephone notification of the release of the accused
	compensation for certain expenses related to your victimization
	access to available community based victim service programs
	information regarding the steps in the criminal case
	notification prior to any hearing involving the release of the accused
	express your opinion on the pending release of the accused
	confidentiality involving the release of your personal information
	express your opinions regarding the disposition of the case