The Crime Victims Assistance Network (I-CAN) was created in 2007 to assist victims of violent crime. Victims of crime often fall through the cracks, not receiving the assistance they need simply because they are unaware of resources available to them. Additionally, many victims are unable to access services due to barriers to accessing services including money and transportation. I-CAN helps to connect victims with the assistance they need. In addition to the services I-CAN offers, (counseling, therapy, assistance filing for victim compensation funds, advocacy, general information and resource information) I-CAN aims to surrounds victims with as much community support as possible. I-CAN is a mobile agency, in an effort to break down one more barrier that victims encounter in trying to obtain assistance. Our parole program offers a service that no other non-profit agency in the state regularly offers, we assist victims through the parole hearing process. In our observations at parole hearings we discovered that victims were showing up to prisons without any knowledge of what to expect, unprepared, and with no support. I-CAN developed the parole hearing assistance program and received a grant to operate the program statewide.
To support, educate, and empower those impacted by crime.
Unrestricted funds allow us to pay for important everyday things, sometimes not covered by grant funds, that help to keep our agency doors open. Unrestricted funds help to send our staff to training to keep up to date on the latest counseling techniques, trends in victim services, information about certain crime types and new ways these crimes are being perpetrated (e.g. human trafficking, identity theft, etc.), toilet paper and paper towels for the bathrooms our clients, etc..
We are in need of donations to assist in our Parole Hearing Victim Support Program. This program assists victims through the parole hearing process. Parole hearings at prisons can take many hours; averaging 4-8 hours. Prisons don't offer much in comforts for the victims who are attending I-CAN developed victim support bags that include a blanket (some hearing rooms get very cold), notepad and pen, water, snacks, hand sanitizer, hand lotion, lip balm and candy. These bags not only provide essentials for the day but they are a simple comfort to the victims. Many hold on to them like a security blanket and after hours of waiting around for the hearing to begin or conclude, the snacks and water ensure they stay hydrated and not go hungry. We are not only providing these bags to victims directly but are now providing them to several prisons throughout the state so that if an I-CAN advocate is not present at the parole hearing for whatever reason, the victims will still get a care bag to get through the day. These bags cost about $20-40 each. Financial assistance as well as in-kind donations will be appreciated.
Volunteers are needed to help in many areas at I-CAN from answering the support line to assisting victims through assisting victims at parole hearings. Victims are needed to help with community outreach, newsletter development, social media posts, assisting victims at parole hearings, crisis intervention services and general office assistance. Volunteers interested in working in direct services at I-CAN must first complete the I-CAN volunteer training. Potential volunteers must complete an application and interview process. If accepted, the training is a little more than 50 hours in length and takes place 2x per year.
As the agency grows, we are in need of community members interested in helping I-CAN achieve our mission. We need dedicated, passionate community members willing to help increase I-CAN's visibility as well as help to secure donations to further our mission.
In-kind donations of materials for the Parole Hearing Victim Support Program care bags are needed and welcomed. Donations would included bottled water, snacks, travel sized un-scented hand lotion, candy, lunch sized chip bags, granola bars, etc.. In-kind donations in the way of grocery gift cards and gas cards help our client get to important appointment and keep food on the table.
Organization name
Crime Victims Assistance Network ICAN
other names
I-CAN
Mission Category
Mental Health & Crisis Intervention
Operating Budget
$250,001-$500,000
Organization Need
Funding: Unrestricted, Funding: Program, Volunteers, Board Members, In-Kind Donations
Address
2415 L St.