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Grantees
Tribal Program Information for
Choctaw Nation Victim Assistance Program
| Tribal Program Name |
Choctaw Nation Victim Assistance Program |
| Tribe |
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 1210
Durant, OK 74701-1210 |
| Physical Address | 219 N. Broadway
Hugo, OK |
| Primary Phone | 580/326-8304 |
| Fax | 580/326-2410 |
| Email | lgoodwin@choctawnation.com |
| Status |
Active |
| Primary Contact Person | Linda Goodwin, Director |
| Secondary Contact Person | Vicki Perez, Assistant Director |
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| Additional Details | The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is located in the rural southeastern portion of the state, and the service area covered by the tribe is approximately 11,000 square miles. The Choctaw Nation covers the counties of McCurtain, Choctaw, Pushmataha, Bryan, Atoka, Coal, Pittsburg, Haskell, Latimer, Leflore, and a portion of Hughes. According to the Choctaw Nation membership department, total tribal membership exceeds 160,000. There are 91,000 Choctaw in the State of Oklahoma with 69,000 residing in the county area. The Native population of the service area is estimated to be 80,000 plus. The extremely rural area is without public transportation presenting problems of accessibility for existing services. The Choctaw Nation service area has no major metropolitan city within its boundaries.
Currently the tribe receives funding from the OVC Tribal Victim Assistance discretionary grant program, which helps American Indians within the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma cope with and heal from crime. The Choctaw Nation Victims Assistance program (CNVA) provides direct services to crime victims by offering immediate services to victims, community outreach, advocacy, training, distribution of educational materials, and overall promotion of safety and collaboration within the communities of the Nation. CNVA seeks to identify and address the needs of crime victims. Victims served by CNVA include; victims of elder abuse, child abuse, homicide, gang violence, domestic violence, driving while intoxicated victims, and other victims of crime.
In fiscal year 2004, the tribe was able to extend the services of CNVA by offering spiritual counseling, traditional healing, and faith-based counseling to victims of crime. This service was made possible through the Counseling & Faith-Based Services for Crime Victims in Indian Country grant award. The availability of faith counseling can provide victims of crime with peace of mind and an increased ability to cope with problems. Counseling can also help reestablish harmony so that the problem no longer harms the mind, emotions, or spirit of the individual. With funding, CNVA were able to employ a part-time spiritual counselor to establish and improve links between faith-based organizations, spiritual leaders, and traditional healers and victim service programs.
Through the CFBSCVIC grant award, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma established and improved links between faith-based organizations, spiritual leaders, traditional healers, and victim service providers within the Nation. In, addition the counselor makes referrals for counseling services. CNVA has also created ongoing dialogue with the US Attorney’s Office, the State VOCA office, and the FBI Victim Coordinator. In October 2005, a multidisciplinary advisory committee consisting of victim service providers, faith organizations, spiritual leaders, and traditional leaders was formed to direct and guide the activities of the project toward the best possible services for the community.
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