March 2009 National Victim Assistance Academy

March 2009 National Victim Assistance Academy March 1-6, 2009 American Airlines Training & Conference Center Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas Area Apply now for the NVAA. The deadline for applications has been extended to January 30, 2009! NOTE: Scholarships are no longer available for Track 2 or 3.

Texas will be hosting a State Victim Assistance Academy in 2009. For more information, contact Kelly Willis at kwillis@tarrantcounty.com.

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) in the U.S. Department of Justice sponsors the National Victim Assistance Academy (NVAA). The NVAA is comprised of education and skill-based classroom trainings for those who assist victims and survivors of crime.

Following a formal evaluation in 2003, the NVAA was redesigned to better address the skills and abilities that are required of victim service professionals. The revised NVAA was launched in 2007 and includes three distinct tracks tailored to the needs of each participant. All three tracks will be offered during the week-long 2009 Academy.

Participants are now eligible to receive CEUs for their attendance and completion of Tracks 1, 2, or 3.

Track 1, Foundation-Level Training, is an intensive 5-day training for those who have less than 3 years of experience in the victim services field and who work directly with victims. This training provides entry-level professionals and volunteers with knowledge, skills, and resources to serve victims and survivors of crime more effectively. The training lays the groundwork for building a career in the victim services field.

Track 2, Professional Skill-Building Institute, focuses on timely, specific topics that have a direct impact on provider’s work. The specialized training courses, such as compassion fatigue/vicarious trauma, ethics in victim services, and providing culturally competent services to victims of crime, are for those who have been in the victim services field for at least 2 years. Track 2 is 5 days.

Track 3, Leadership Institute, helps administrators and leaders build and refine the necessary skills to effectively manage their programs. The courses are specifically designed to help victim service administrators and leaders develop and refine their skills and abilities to manage and sustain their victim service programs. Track 3 is 5 days.

For more information about the NVAA, consult the Fact Sheet on VAT Online, NVAA, and Other Training Offerings.

To learn more about the NVAA and to access information about previous academies, please visit the OVC Web site.

For information about the 2008 NVAA and to download the Foundation-Level Training curriculum, visit the 2008 NVAA page.

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