The Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc. (MCVRC) is pleased to announce the launch of a National Identity Theft Victims’ Network cooperative agreement with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to facilitate up to nine sub-awards of up to $50,000 each to create or support regional or statewide coalitions to assist victims of identity theft.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports there are around 8.3 million Americans who become identity theft victims each year. Yet very few victim service providers have had specific training on identity theft victimization and coordination is lacking among professionals who come into contact with this victim population. This project seeks to fill a significant gap in support by developing infrastructure, training materials, outreach tools and direct victim assistance services to this underserved group.

The subrecipient coalitions will assist victims of identity theft by encouraging the expansion of existing victim service programs to improve the responses to victims of identity theft. The project’s overarching goal will expand the outreach and capacity of victim service programs to better address the rights and needs of victims of identity theft.

As a legal service provider with expertise in both victims’ rights and identity theft, and as a cooperative partner in several prior OVC pass through agreements, MCVRC’s leadership will help to build and create an infrastructure, training materials, outreach tools and direct victim assistance services to better serve the under-served population of identity theft victims. MCVRC will provide support and guidance to the subrecipient coalitions, working to create or improve their current service delivery portfolio at the local, state and regional level to better address the needs of and assistance to identity theft victims.

The Request for Proposals and sub-award application instructions will be made available and announced on MCVRC’s website at www.mdcrimevictims.org in Spring of 2011. Interested organizations throughout the United States, including nonprofits and governmental entities are encouraged to contact MCVRC immediately for placement on the notification list to receive important updates.

Additionally, MCVRC is seeking a Project Director for the National Identity Theft Network collaborative project. The Project Director is a part of the Identity Theft Networks Team at MCVRC, located in Upper Marlboro, MD and will have overall responsibility for the success of the subrecipient sites in meeting their project goals. Please see our website at mdcrimevictims.org for the full position announcement. Applicants should submit their resume and cover letter as one attachment via email to jobs@mdcrimevictims.org.  Please use the subject line “Identity Theft Project Director.”

About MCVRC: MCVRC was founded in 1982 as the Stephanie Roper Committee by Roberta and Vince Roper after the brutal murder of their daughter Stephanie. Since its founding, MCVRC has become a national leader in victims’ rights advocacy and representation. MCVRC’s services, all offered free of charge, include: criminal justice support and education; individual, family and group counseling; legal assistance; faith-based referrals; and advocacy to improve the treatment of victims who suffer the devastating consequences of undeserved crime. Visit us on the web at www.mdcrimevictims.org.