Victim Assistance Academy

Audience: Victim advocates, educators, attorneys, law enforcement, mental health workers, medical professionals and all allied professionals who assist crime victims
Method: Online
Duration: 4 weeks (Meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Details below.)
Cost: $350

Scholarships are available via the Nebraska Crime Victim—Training and Technical Assistance Program. Learn more below.

Continuing education and college credits are available. See the note on credits below. 

In-depth victim advocacy training

This in-depth training session focuses on both interpersonal and professional development, covering subjects like communication, empathy, professional advocacy, self-care and understanding traumatic reactions in the brain. Experts in their fields will present on the latest research, legislation and practical resources to provide continuing professional development on a variety of relevant issues.

NEVAA brings training to students and professionals who work with victims of crime and has served more than 350 advocates in the Nebraska community since its launch in 2013. In October 2018, NEVAA became a Creighton University program that offers nationally accredited training to students and professionals who work with (or will work with) victims of crime.

Victim Assistance Academy topics

The course curriculum is both broad and rigorous, covering more than 25 topics, including:

• Advocacy
• Communication skills
• Tactical communication
• Empathy
• Maltreatment of children
• Navigating boundaries and advocacy ethics
• Domestic/dating violence
• Sexual assault
• Human trafficking
• Immigration
• Technology-facilitated crimes
• Self-care for helping professionals
• Working with Native American victims
• Mental health

AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships are available to apply for via the Nebraska Crime Victim—Training and Technical Assistance Program (NCV-TTAP). These funds are available to victim service providers and allied professionals (i.e. law enforcement, attorneys/judges, mental health professionals). If you’re interested in the scholarship, note that you are responsible for:
 

• Paying the registration fee directly to Creighton (your organization may also pay)
• Applying for the NCV-TTAP scholarship and submitting it at least 10 days prior to the event registration deadline
• Attending the training and providing proof of attendance and payment
• Submitting all required documentation to NCV-TTAP for reimbursement within 14 days of completing the training
   

For more information and instructions visit the Nebraska Crime Victim -Training and Technical Assistance webpage  or contact Tonia Nantkes with any questions.  

NCV-TTAP is part of the Federal Grants and Programs Division of the Nebraska Crime Commission and this project is supported by Award NO. 2018-V3-GX-0087 awarded by the Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime, Department of Justice.

TRAINING SCHEDULE

Participants will meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week for four weeks. See meeting times below. Some sessions will be recorded to allow for flexibility, though we encourage participants to view all sessions live. Please reach out to Lacey Craven with specific scheduling questions.

A note on credits

Upon completion of the academy, students are eligible for 40 hours of continuing law enforcement units (CLEUs) or continuing education units (CEUs) for many of the disciplines involved in the academy. You may also take NEVAA for three undergraduate course credits through Creighton University or University of Nebraska at Kearney with proper registration, completion of the academy and any additional course requirements. Creighton University tuition is reduced to UNK’s tuition rate.

NEVAA is a pre-approved “A” level training with the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP) for those who are interested in national victim advocate accreditation. You can find more information at trynova.org/help-crime-victim/nacp/.

This course meets the Board of Mental Health and Social Work requirements for continuing education in the state of Nebraska. Credits are self-reported.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit is pending in Nebraska.

Creighton University will issue a 1098-T by January 31 for all learners enrolled in courses for credit. As part of that process, you may be asked to provide your Social Security number.

Refund Policy