Project Scope

Through a contract with the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, the ICI professionals provided a statewide needs assessment and strategic plan for the provision of domestic violence and sexual assault services in compliance with the Administration for Children and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau’s Division of Family Violence Prevention and Services requirements.

This project will be carried out in collaboration with the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General Victim Services Unit, Oklahoma District Attorneys Council, and the Native Alliance Against Violence.

Project Summary

The Threshold of Transformation: Vision for Victim Safety serves as a framework for education, a guide for victim service providers, and a tool to bring communities together to address domestic violence which has routinely ravaged our state.

The research and plan were conducted and developed by Integrated Concepts, Inc., working in cooperation with the statewide organizations.

Extensive Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victim Services Released

“Domestic Violence homicides accounted for 19.5% of all homicide deaths in Oklahoma. Oklahoma persistently ranks in the top 10 nationally for women killed by men in single victim, single offender incidents.”

In early 2017, the following organizations launched a project to develop a plan to address enhanced and effective services for victims of domestic violence:

Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (OCADVSA) State of Oklahoma Office of Attorney General Victim Service Unit (OAG-VSU) Native Alliance Against Violence (NAAV)

The goal was to produce a plan which creates an environment of safety, security, and stability for all Oklahoma residents, including underserved populations. The plan addresses all populations in Oklahoma, i.e., tribal and non-tribal.

“More than one in three Native American or Alaska Native women will be raped at some point in their lives. Most do not seek justice because they know they will be met with inaction or indifference.”

Over a ten-month period, input from victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, service providers, family justice safety centers, law enforcement, the judiciary, and the community-at-large was collected via written surveys, focus groups, and individual interviews. In addition, best practice models from throughout the United States were consulted and relied upon in the development of the plan.

“Over 95% of Oklahoma domestic violence victims, who also became homicide victims, never spoke to a trained domestic violence advocate.”

The research included a review of the multiple cultures of Oklahoma which provide the context for the many challenges to effective victim services. The report outlines the current status of victim services. The Oklahoma Victim Services System serves 38 tribal nations, 77 state counties, and 590 municipalities which create a primarily rural, complex, jurisdictional “checkerboard.”

“Change must begin with leadership. Change is needed. The strategic plan needs to affect real, positive change. It should not just be lip service” A victim service provider

The report details seven recommendations complete with objectives and implementation strategies. The recommendations include the development of fives implementation teams, engagement of organizations that currently address underserved populations, and strategies to address criminal justice, program services, and prevention efforts. The Oklahoma Victim Service System is designed to encourage and support prevention and ongoing community services which are victim-centered, culturally appropriate, and built on a foundation of evidence-based best practices

“A victim is more likely to receive effective and appropriate help when the community surrounds her with support and the services she needs to be safe and secure.”

Full Legal Disclaimer

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by agencies of the United States Government, numerous Tribal Nations, and the State of Oklahoma, Neither the United States Government, any Tribal Nation, the State of Oklahoma nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, nor any of their contractors, subcontractors or their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or any third party’s use or the results of such use of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government, any Tribal Nation, the State of Oklahoma, or any agency thereof or their contractors or subcontractors. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, any Tribal Nation, the State of Oklahoma or any agency thereof.