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State Victim Assistance Academies
(SVAAs):
1. What is a State Victim Assistance Academy? 1. What is a State Victim Assistance Academy? A State Victim Assistance Academy (SVAA) is a week-long, intensive foundation course of study in victimology and victim's rights and services. SVAAs are operated in partnership with an academic institution and are designed to meet the entry-level educational needs of a broad range of victim assistance providers and allied professionals (generally with 1 to 5 years of experience) by providing comprehensive, fundamental, and academically based education. Each SVAA is based on the National Victim Assistance Academy (NVAA) model, but is modified to reflect the needs and laws of each state. More on the NVAA and available training text and videos. 2. What is the goal of OVC's SVAA initiative? The goal of the SVAA initiative is to assist states in developing effective strategies for establishing their own SVAAs. OVC believes that SVAAs are an effective way to increase the knowledge of victim service personnel and consequently enhance the services offered to victims of crime in each state. 3. How did SVAAs get their start? To fulfill its long-term goal of encouraging a victim assistance course of study in colleges and universities across the country, OVC co-funded the first State Victim Assistance Academy in Michigan in Fiscal Year 1998. In addition to funding support, OVC provided Michigan with technical assistance and resources from the NVAA. Using the work in Michigan as a foundation, OVC formalized the SVAA by soliciting applications from other states to create similar SVAAs. 4. Which states currently operate SVAAs? OVC's first-grant funded SVAA was made in FY 1998 to establish an academy in Michigan. At the same time, OVC's funding to Vermont—to establish the Victim Services 2000 site—also enabled the creation of their state academy. OVC then selected and funded five SVAAs across the country (Colorado, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah) in Fiscal Year 1999. In Fiscal Year 2002, OVC provided third- and final-year funding to these five states, and awarded first-year funding to five new state academies in Arizona, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, and Oregon. In FY 2003, OVC provided first-year funding to Georgia, Illinois, and New York. These three new grantees held their first SVAAs in FY 2005. Use the SVAA Locator to learn about the latest OVC-funded SVAAs. 5. How can I start an SVAA in my state? While OVC occasionally accepts applications for SVAA grants, OVC can help you in two ways:
6. What OVC resources are available to states developing SVAAs? Expert consultants, who are experienced in National and State Victim Assistance Academy planning, implementation, and training, are available upon request to assist states in developing SVAAs. These technical assistance services are provided through OVC TTAC and can address both SVAA planning and implementation. OVC TTAC can also provide a consultant to present any portion of the curriculum that your state develops. To request assistance, contact OVC TTAC.
Please specify "SVAA TA request" in the subject line. To speak with an OVC TTAC Coordinator, please call 866-682-8822 (TTY: 866-682-8880) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. 7. What information is available about the current SVAA sites? An independent contractor designated by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is in the process of completing an independent evaluation report about the five original SVAAs. Based on the results of the evaluation, a lessons learned document will be prepared and shared with the field. This document will contain information about factors that contribute to successful planning, implementation, and sustainability of SVAAs. It will also offer information about the challenges and obstacles faced by the five original SVAAs and recommendations for overcoming such barriers. In addition, OVC is collecting materials developed through Colorado, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah's pioneering efforts. The documents that are most in alignment with the "lessons learned" document will be made available online within the following year. Examples of documents that will be available include evaluation forms, evaluation reports, general forms, brochures, pamphlets, presentations, and other materials developed by the current SVAAs. Until these resources are available online, you may call an OVC TTAC Coordinator at 866-682-8822 (TTY: 866-682-8880) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to obtain the documents that will be most helpful to you in your SVAA development process. 8. How can I contact someone who has already implemented an SVAA? OVC TTAC is the liaison to the organizers of the five original SVAAs. Should you like to talk with someone in one of these states, please contact an OVC TTAC coordinator at 866-682-8822 (TTY: 866-682-8880) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. OVC TTAC will assess your needs and contact the state that is best suited to assist you. For more information, visit the following pages:
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