NVAA

The centerpiece of OVC's efforts to train crime victim advocates and allied professionals is the National Victim Assistance Academy. 1997 Office for Victims of Crime Report to Congress

Who Should Attend?

The Office for Victims of Crime encourages a broad representation of individuals, organizations and agencies that serve crime victims to attend, including:

Federal, State, Local, and International Criminal Justice-based Programs:

Community-based Programs Serving:

• Assault/Robbery Victims
• Child Victims
• Domestic Violence Victims
• Sexual Assault Victims
• Elderly Crime Victims
• Drunk Driving Victims
• Survivors of Homicide Victims
• Economic/Property Crime Victims
• Hate/Bias Crime Victims
• Victims in Rural Areas
• Gang Violence Victims
• Stalking Victims
• Victims with Disabilities
• White Collar/Telemarketing Fraud Victims

Specialized Programs Including:

• Native American Service Providers
• Health and Mental Health Professionals
• Faith-based Organizations
• Youth-serving Agencies
• College and School-based Services
• State VOCA Assistance and Compensation Programs
• Federal Law Enforcement, Prosecution, Judiciary, and Corrections
• International Victim Service Providers

Application Process

A separate application form is included with this brochure. Please share this announcement with other victim service and allied professionals who wish to apply to the Academy. In order to be eligible for selection, candidates must submit two copies of the typed application form and two letters of recommendation -- fax copies will not be considered. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Applications must be received at VALOR headquarters by March 10, 2000. Students will be notified of their selection status by March 24, 2000.

Academy Logistics & Costs

All students must register on campus by 5:00 pm on Sunday, June 18th. The Academy will close on Friday evening, June 23rd. Students will be expected to: participate fully in the entire Academy course; stay in university housing; and utilize the meal plan. The Academy team works with each university to provide Academy student housing and meals at a low cost. The all-inclusive cost to students for tuition, all course materials, housing, and meals will be $465 for the week. Advance payment of these costs and confirmation of attendance must be submitted to VALOR upon notification of acceptance to the Academy.

Student Selection Criteria

The Office for Victims of Crime will help guide the student selection process. The Academy offers a rigorous, foundation level course of study for students seeking to gain comprehensive education on a broad range of topics. The curriculum is geared toward victim service providers and allied professionals with between one and five years of experience working with crime victims. While applicants are asked to designate their preference for site location, many factors are taken into consideration to ensure that each Academy class represents a wide range of geographic, cultural, and professional diversity.

Course Overview

The 2000 National Victim Assistance Academy

The 40-hour academic-based, rigorous course curriculum emphasizes foundations in victimology and victims' rights and services, as well as new developments in the field of victim assistance. While it is assumed that students have had previous training in their areas of specialization, this course focuses on academic instruction and study that is broad-based and includes a range of victim-related topics. The interactive, skills-building course of study includes lectures, experiential exercises, working and discussion groups, computer laboratories, faculty mentoring groups, and self examinations to enhance student learning.

State-of-the-Art Education Across the Nation

The Academy will be conducted simultaneously on the campuses of American University in Washington, D.C.; California State University in Fresno, California; the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina; Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas; and Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. The five Academy classes will be joined utilizing state-of-the-art audio/visual linkages for 8 of the 40 hours, whereby the Academy's nationally recognized faculty will provide instruction across all sites. Additionally, there will be a team of expert faculty in residence at each site to teach course sections, lead group discussions and laboratory exercises, and conduct faculty mentoring sessions.

Academy Faculty

The prestigious Academy faculty represents nationally recognized leaders in the fields of victimology, criminal justice, and victims' rights and services including: faculty from co-sponsoring academic institutions; speakers from national crime victims' organizations; and local, state and federal victims' rights and criminal justice experts.Over 60 faculty members lend their expertise to conduct Academy classes each year.

Course Curriculum

A comprehensive Academy text covering 36 different subject areas has been developed to serve as the course curriculum. Academy students will be expected to attend the entire program and to participate in laboratory and working group sessions. In addition, students will be required to complete all pre-Academy reading assignments.

Academic Credit

Academic credit at both the graduate and undergraduate levels will be offered from the following nationally accredited universities: California State University-Fresno; the Medical University of South Carolina; and Washburn University. Three full academic credits will be provided for successful completion of the 40-hour course curriculum and fulfillment of all requisite conditions for undergraduate and graduate credit. The course credit is transferrable worldwide. A fee of $114 for academic credit is required to cover administrative costs in processing course credit.

Continuing Legal Education Credit

The Academy is approved for continuing legal education (CLE) credit for attorneys by the states of New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Attendees may request American University Washington College of Law to seek routine approval from other states as well.

Certificate of Graduation

Upon successful completion of the entire Academy course, including participation in all Academy sessions, students will be awarded a certificate from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. An additional certificate will be awarded from those universities offering academic credit to students who elect to receive academic credit

Since 1995, nearly 1,000 students representing all 50 states, one American territory and four foreign countries have completed the National Victim Assistance Academy.

Each host University contributes to the Academy in invaluable ways -- from the academic expertise lent by their faculty to providing state-of-the-art learning facilities for Academy instruction.

"The importance of your work cannot be overstated but the importance of training is so vital."