Home | Support for Shooting Victims at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Support for Shooting Victims at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Helping Oak Creek and the Sikh Community Heal

We at OVC convey our deepest sympathies to the victims of the Oak Creek shootings, their families and friends, the people of Wisconsin, and the Sikh community worldwide. Through the following OVC and OVC-funded resources, victims and their families, and the victim service providers that are assisting them, can receive information about victim compensation, victim assistance, and crisis intervention:

Resources for Victims

The Wisconsin Victim Compensation Program, funded through the OVC-administered Crime Victims Fund (the Fund), helps victims offset the financial burden of funeral, mental health, medical, and other expenses related to the shootings. Following is contact information for this program:

Wisconsin Department of Justice
Crime Victim Compensation Program
Post Office Box 7951
Madison, WI 53707-7951
(608) 264-9497 or 1-800-446-6564 (Toll-free)
The Online Directory of Crime Victim Services is an online, searchable directory designed to help service providers and individuals locate crime victim services in the United States and other countries. Access the Directory to locate information about services in your area.
The Disaster Distress Helpline, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), is a national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 via telephone (1-800-985-5990) and SMS (text ‘TalkWithUs’ to 66746) to residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or man-made disasters.
The following publications may also be of assistance in the aftermath of this crime—

Hope for Recovery: Understanding Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
http://www.ptsdalliance.org/images/hope_for_recovery.pdf
This booklet was developed to help the reader understand the nature and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The booklet discusses its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and how family and friends can help a loved one in recovery from PTSD.
OVC Handbook for Coping After Terrorism: A Guide to Healing and Recovery
http://www.ovc.gov/publications/infores/cat_hndbk/welcome.html
This handbook provides victims of terrorism with information based on the expertise of mental health, crisis counseling, and victim assistance professionals. The handbook is intended to help these victims understand their reactions to an act of terrorism or mass violence.

OVC Help Series for Crime Victims: Homicide
http://www.ovc.gov/pubs/helpseries/pdfs/HelpBrochure_Homicide.pdf
The OVC HELP Series of brochures provides a resource for victims of crime and the victim service providers that work with them every day. Each brochure defines a type of victimization; discusses what to do if you are the victim of this crime; and provides national resources for more information and assistance on where to go for help.

What You Can Do If You Are a Victim of Crime
http://www.ovc.gov/publications/infores/whatyoucando_2010/welcome.html
This brochure highlights victims’ rights and compensation and assistance programs, and lists national organizations that help victims to find information or obtain referrals.

Resources for Victim Service Providers

The Wisconsin Victim Assistance Program, supported through the Crime Victims Fund, links victims to direct service providers and victim advocates to help them cope in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy. Following is contact information for this program:

Wisconsin Department of Justice
Office of Crime Victim Services
P.O. Box 7951
Madison, WI 53707-7951
608-267-2251
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): Community Relations Service (CRS) is the "peacemaker" arm of the U.S. Department of Justice for community conflicts and tensions, provides expert guidance and assistance to community officials and civic leaders to help resolve and prevent racial and ethnic conflict, violence, and civil disorders.
The following publications may be of assistance to service providers in the aftermath of this crime—

Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program
http://www.ovc.gov/pdftxt/AEAP_Brochure.pdf
This brochure describes OVC’s Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program, which provides federal funds to support crisis response, consequence management, criminal justice support, crime victim compensation, and training and technical assistance during crisis aftermath.
Field Manual for Mental Health and Human Service Workers in Major Disasters
http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Field-Manual-for-Mental-Health-and-Human-Service-Workers-in-Major-Disasters/ADM90-0537
This Field Manual is intended for mental health workers and other human service providers who assist survivors following a disaster. This pocket reference provides the basics of disaster mental health, with numerous specific and practical suggestions for workers. Essential information about disaster survivors’ reactions and needs is included. "Helping" skills are described with guidance for when to refer for professional assistance. Strategies for worker stress prevention and management are presented in the last section.

Helping Survivors in the Wake of Disaster
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pages/helping-survivors-after-disaster.asp
This fact sheet provides concise information for volunteers, mental health clinicians, chaplains, and medical personnel on the effects of traumatic stress and recommendations for helping survivors of disasters.

Mental Health Reactions After Disaster: A Fact Sheet for Providers
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pages/handouts-pdf/Reactions.pdf
This fact sheet provides overview of common reactions and severe stress responses to disaster, including PTSD.

Mental Health Response to Mass Violence and Terrorism: A Field Guide
http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA05-4025/SMA05-4025.pdf
This guide is intended for service providers and professionals in the mental health field providing the basics in responding to and assisting victims and families during the aftermath of mass violence and terrorism.

On Common Ground - Law Enforcement Training Video on Sikhism
http://www.justice.gov/crs/video/ocg-video.htm
The training film serves as a valuable tool in educating law enforcement officials and various communities across United States on cultural and religious practices associated with Sikhism.

Psychological First Aid Field Operations Guide
http://www.nctsnet.org/trauma-types/natural-disasters/psychological-first-aid
Developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the National Center for PTSD, Psychological First Aid is an evidence-informed approach for assisting survivors of disaster and terrorism.

Responding to Victims of Terrorism and Mass Violence Crimes: Coordination and Collaboration Between American Red Cross Workers and Crime Victim Service Providers
http://www.ovc.gov/publications/infores/redcross/ncj209681.pdf
This booklet, jointly published by OVC and the American Red Cross (ARC), provides information on how ARC staff and volunteers can better assist victims of terrorism and mass violence crimes. It focuses on victims’ rights and needs, OVC resources, victim compensation and assistance, and key differences between the needs of victims of crime and victims of natural disasters.

For more information and resources, you may be interested in reviewing the following OVC topical pages—