What’s Next for State Victim Assistance Academies?

NAVAA 2014 VOCA National Training Conference August 19-21, 2014

Overview

 Vision 21 and the SVAA  Where Are We Now – SVAA Successes and Challenges  SVAA Assessment and Survey Findings  Where Do We Go from Here with VOCA Partners 2

Build and institutionalize capacity through an infusion of technology, training, and innovation to ensure that the field is equipped to meet the needs of crime victims in the 21 st century.

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SVAA Purpose

Provide comprehensive, academically-based, fundamental education and training for victim assistance service providers, victim advocates, criminal justice personnel, and allied professionals who routinely deal with crime victims. • • • • Establish an SVAA in every state to provide foundation-level education/training for victim assistance providers and allied professionals Encourage victim assistance course of study in colleges and universities nationwide Integrate victim studies into post-secondary curricula Create certificate and/or degree programs 4

A network of state victim assistance academies meets the evolving needs of the growing field of crime victim services professionals and allied professionals, using evidence-informed curricula to forward best practices and ensure culturally competent service delivery to all victims of crime.

-SVAA Strategic Plan, Vision

Shared Vision, Shared Values

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Evolution of the SVAA network

            1998 – co-sponsored state-level academy in Michigan 1999 – PILOT - Colorado, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah 2000 – Vermont 2002 – Arizona, Maine/New Hampshire, Maryland, Missouri, Oregon 2003 - Georgia, Illinois, New York 2004 – California, Minnesota, South Carolina, Tennessee 2005 – Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Washington 2006 – Arkansas, District of Columbia, Iowa, Virginia 2007 – New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, West Virginia 2008 - Alabama, Alaska, Oklahoma 2011 - Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, Wisconsin 2012 – Kansas, Montana, Nevada 2013 – South Dakota  6

SVAAs by the numbers

 42 States, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia have received OVC funding  7 states, 4 territories unfunded  South Dakota – 2013 – first 5 year award 7

SVAA Current Grantees

 Year 1 – Planning and Development ◦ South Dakota  Year 2 – Implementation Launch ◦ Kansas, Montana, Nevada  Year 3 – Replication ◦ Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, Wisconsin 8

Vision 21 Issue Area

Role of the crime victims field in the overall response to crime … knowledge of crime victimization, underserved victims, and enforcement of victims rights

SVAA Value:

Competency

     Best served by those with the basic skills and knowledge to assist in the aftermath of a case. Evidence-informed curricula. Forwards best practices and standards Cultural competency State specific 9

Vision 21 Issue Area

Building capacity in the crime victims field to better serve victims of crime … addressing infrastructure issues, lack of data and research, access to technology, framework of VOCA.

SVAA Value:

Collaboration

    Academy is developed, operated and sustained through a spirit of collaboration at the local, state and federal level. Academic partner brings research perspective.

Blended learning extends delivery of core curriculum.

VOCA key collaborator 10

Evolution of the SVAA network

             1998 – co-sponsored state-level academy in Michigan 1999 – PILOT - Colorado, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah 2000 – Vermont 2002 – Arizona, Maine/New Hampshire , Maryland, Missouri, Oregon 2003 - Georgia, Illinois , New York 2004 – California, Minnesota, South Carolina , Tennessee 2005 – Florida, Idaho, Louisiana , Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Washington 2006 – Arkansas, District of Columbia , Iowa, Virginia 2007 – New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, West Virginia 2008 - Alabama, Alaska, Oklahoma 2011 - Indiana, Kentucky , Nebraska, Wisconsin 2012 – Kansas , Montana, Nevada 2013 – South Dakota 11

Strong VOCA Partner

         Arizona Arkansas District of Columbia Idaho Illinois Louisiana Maine/New Hampshire Maryland Michigan

Post-OVC Funding

        Massachusetts Minnesota Oregon Rhode Island Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia 12

Vision 21 Issue Area

Enduring Challenges – addressed barriers and issues that preclude effective service provision to victims that have been a traditional focus of the field.

SVAA Value:

Excellence

    Needs assessment identifies core competencies, state gaps and challenges Instructors proven to be effective, drawn from the field and academia.

Training material high quality – piloted and replicated.

Delivery methods use adult learning principles, mentoring.

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Vision 21 Issue Area

Emerging challenges crime victims field has yet to address. Addressed innovative responses to issues such as changing demographics, impact of globalization, advances in technology, cybercrime, environmental crimes, and rise of crimes such as human trafficking and identity theft.

SVAA Value:

Innovation

    Resources continue to evolve to meet growing needs.

Embrace use of technology for blended learning Add advanced academies for depth.

Adjust to the new climate without losing site of the vision.

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Schedule

 Most basic academies use a 3-5 day model  RI and NJ weekly over a span of 1-2 months  Advanced academies use a 1-3 day model 15

Blended Learning

 VAT Online  Required vs recommended reading

Models

     Colorado – 5 days/20 hours Illinois – 3 days /16 hours Iowa – 27/13 Oklahoma – 5.5/40 Pennsylvania -18 hrs/4 hrs plus employer 8 hours 16

Variations on time and place

 Texas – 4 in 5 years  Kansas – 4 in two years  Rhode Island – weekly – 8 weeks 17

Academy Success Stories

 The Massachusetts experience  Meeting the vision – growing the field 18

Endicott College Campus

 Residence assignments - reinforce cross discipline/system relationships  Opening – grounding in history & growth of Victims Movement  Teambuilding/Self-Care Activities  Mentor Groups  Poster Presentations - research  Evaluations – Quantitative & Qualitative

Key Academy Components

 93% of participants Strongly Agreed with the statement “MVAA has given me a better understanding of the importance of building and strengthening collaborations with other providers and agencies.”  96% of participants Agreed or Strongly Agree with the statement “MVAA has given me a better understanding of how my individual work impacts the victim’s overall experience.

Student Self-Defined Outcomes

 100% of participants Agreed or Strongly Agreed with the statement: “MVAA has given me a better understanding of the victim's experience across systems.”  100% of participants would recommend MVAA to another victim service provider.

Student Self-Defined Outcomes

Feedback/Input From VOCA Agencies

What successes have you had?

What challenges have you had?

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Vision 21 Challenges

Service providers struggle to maintain basic services and ...

Lack the resources and capacity to extend assistance to crime victims from marginal populations and to victims of new types of crime.

SVAA Challenges

Sustainability a key issue as states struggle to offer core curriculum needed to provide minimum level of victim services.

21 out of 44 academies funded 24

Sustainability Plans Now in Use

Allocation of Resources

 Line item funding – MD, TN (ND, WV)  Victims of Crime Act  (VOCA) Funding (9) Victim Compensation  Funds Justice Assistance Grants  (JAG) Recovery Funds Tuition and fees

Prioritizing Resources for SVAA

     Sex Offender Registration Fees Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) funds Foundations State and local agencies Book sales 25

Sustainability More than Funding

Key to success Strategic Plan Built

Grant years build an infrastructure that supports sustainability .

 Broad stakeholder support  Meaningful academic partner presence  Engaged steering committee 26

Sustainability in Infrastructure

Key to success

Engaged steering committee

One of the most common elements of success!

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Vision 21 Challenges

 Integration of research and evaluation into victim services practice  Defining scope and impact of victimization, especially in emerging crimes such as human trafficking and online financial and sexual exploitation

SVAA Challenges

 Meaningful engagement of academic partner  Curricula gets outdated, and lacks rigor envisioned  Advanced academies delve deeper into new crimes, but basic academies feel need to address  Service models in development or not available 28

Vision 21 Challenges

 Technology, globalization, and changing demographics are driving societal change, but the victim assistance field lacks the resources to develop a comprehensive and forward-thinking strategy for serving crime victims in the 21 st century.

SVAA Challenges

 Re-envisioning the SVAA to meet today’s learner and environment.

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Leadership to fulfill the VISION …

    Collaboration Commitment to excellence Innovation Serving victims with competency 30

 Reinvigorate SVAA Initiative  How can SVAAs continue to meet the fields’ evolving training needs?

 Action Plan focus: ◦ Funding Level ◦ Training Delivery ◦ Update SVAA Model

FY 2014 OVC SVAA Assessment

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Funding Level Objective

Allocate adequate resources to implement a state victim assistance academy

Considerations

     Current costs to run an academy Number of training events required Blended learning Program Requirements Quality of training

FY 2014 OVC SVAA Assessment

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 36 academies included in SVAA network (not all active)  15 questions  Response Period: July 9-30, 2014  22 responses received  Additional follow up planned

SVAA Network Survey

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Preliminary Results

Staff Funding Sources:  Grants ◦ VOCA sub grants/contracts ◦ OVC SVAA grants  Volunteer/in-kind  Academy fees  State government  Fundraising

SVAA Network Survey

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Preliminary Results

     Number of instructors used for each academy ranges from 4 to 30 Majority responded that instructors are paid Some instructors are only paid travel (mileage and hotel when needed) Some instructors are volunteers OVC TTAC request used to pay instructors to deliver a specific course

SVAA Network Survey

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Preliminary Results

 Instructors fill multiple roles ◦ Course Instruction ◦ Curriculum Development ◦ Mentors ◦ Training Evaluation/Assessment ◦ Logistics (marketing, registration, sign in, creating certificates) ◦ Facilitators

SVAA Network Survey

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Preliminary Results

 Majority did not have an established student teacher ratio  Number of students targeted for each academy ranged from 25 to 70  Majority are holding basic academies  Advance academies not held as frequently  Some are conducting combined academies, meaning basic academy with some advanced courses offered

SVAA Network Survey

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Preliminary Results

 Majority of academies charge registration fees  Amount ranges from $50 to $490  Used to cover: ◦ Lodging ◦ Food/refreshments ◦ Training supplies ◦ Instructor salaries/expenses

SVAA Network Survey

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Preliminary Results

 Majority of responses indicate academies do not pay for meeting space  Meeting space donated by academic partner  Of those that pay for meeting space, the expense is covered by registration fees

SVAA Network Survey

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Preliminary Results

 Majority responses indicate that lodging is provided for students, faculty and staff  Partial funding for lodging offered by some academies for students  Some academies offer full scholarships (tuition & lodging)  Some academies only offer lodging to faculty staff on as needed basis

SVAA Network Survey

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Preliminary Results

Support provided by program partners:       Refreshments Meeting Space Lodging Volunteers/Staff Assistance Audio-Visual Equipment Student Scholarships       Technical Assistance Teleconferencing Services Copying Services Receptions Graduation Ceremonies Speakers

SVAA Network Survey

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Fulfilling the Vision:

Building something that lasts!

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Feedback/Input from VOCA Agencies

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OVC & OVC TTAC Resources to Support SVAA Network

 Professional Development Scholarships  Training by Request  Customized Training and Technical Assistance  SVAA Learning Community  Post-Secondary Education Curriculum Kit & Teaching Materials  OVC Resource Center  OVC Program Manager  Other SVAAs 44

Presented by:

Sharron Fletcher SVAA Program Lead Office for Victims of Crime [email protected]

(202) 305-2358 OVC TTAC SVAA Technical Assistance Consultants: Karen Kalergis [email protected]

(512) 775-4534 Kevin Becker [email protected]

(781) 856-1252 45

www.ovc.gov

www.ovcttac.gov

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