Grant-Funded Initiative Will Educate Public on Survivors' Rights, Trauma Responses, and Pathways to Healing
Survivors Empowered is proud to announce that it has been selected as a recipient of a $5,000 Community Awareness Project grant from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) in support of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) 2026.
The grant will fund After the Sirens: Healing, Dignity, and Support for Survivors, a nationwide public awareness campaign launching April 19, 2026. The project centers on survivor dignity and access to trauma-informed support when the emergency response ends, and long-term recovery begins.
When violence occurs, sirens signal urgency and action. But when the sirens fade, and the cameras leave, survivors are often left alone—disoriented, traumatized, and unsure of our rights or where to turn for help. This campaign ensures that communities understand what survivors need next: respect, informed care, and the assurance that their rights and humanity still matter when the emergency response is over."
The campaign centers on survivor dignity and ensures that when emergency response ends, access to trauma-informed support and resources begins.
Campaign Components
Educational Materials
We’re designing and distributing trauma-informed resources, including:
- Survivors’ Bill of Rights for Violence – Affirming survivors’ rights to healing, dignity in grief, safety, privacy, advocacy, and autonomy
- “Symptoms of Trauma and Shock After Violence” – Clear explanations of common trauma responses such as anxiety, dissociation, intrusive thoughts, sleep disruption, and physical tension
- Victims’ rights cards and resource directories – Information on crisis support, legal advocacy, peer support, and trauma-informed care
All materials will be available in English and Spanish and distributed through community partners, survivor networks, public events, and online platforms.
Digital and Social Media Campaign
Throughout National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we’ll deploy a coordinated digital outreach campaign featuring:
- Survivor-centered graphics and messaging focused on healing, dignity, and support
- Educational posts explaining survivors’ rights and trauma responses
- Clear guidance on how friends, families, and communities can support survivors respectfully
- Links to trauma therapy resources and survivor-vetted information
Digital outreach ensures access for survivors who may not be ready or able to attend in-person events and provides discreet access to information during times of acute trauma.
Public Educational Forum – Thursday, April 23, 2026
A free, online public forum featuring Griffin Dunne, actor, director, producer, and author of The Friday Afternoon Club.
The forum will feature survivor advocates and trauma-informed educators including Brenda Mitchell, grief trauma therapy specialist; Betsy Shapiro, ATR-BC art therapist; and the cofounders of Survivors Empowered, Sandy and Lonnie Phillips. Topics will include victims’ rights, understanding trauma responses, respecting survivor autonomy, and pathways to trauma-informed support and healing.