State Victim Assistance Academy (SVAA) Case Studies: Lessons for the Field, Final Report

• NCJ Number: 205172
• Date Published: October 2003
• Length: 174 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2002-VF-GX-0001
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Case Study

Annotation

This report presents the results of five case studies of State Victim Assistance Academies (SVAA) that focused on the process of planning, implementing, and sustaining a SVAA, as well as their impact on students, university partners, and the victim services field.

Abstract

Meeting the complex needs of crime victims requires a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to the training of victim service providers. In response to this training need, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) funded five pilot sites referred to as State Victim Assistance Academies (SVAA). Case studies of these pilot sites are presented here and focus on the progress of the SVAA’s in meeting foundation-level educational needs of victim service providers. Following an executive summary, section 1 discusses the history of the SVAA and the methodology for the case studies. Section 2 presents findings from the Colorado SVAA. Colorado has trained 118 victim service professionals during annual trainings from 2001 to 2003. Positive student outcomes were reported and new working relationships were established between the victim services field and university partners. The sustainability of the Colorado SVAA is evidenced by the identification of funding for the 2004 Academy. Section 3 presents findings from the Connecticut SVAA, where week-long trainings were implemented in 2001 and 2002. Overall, 73 victim service professionals have been trained by the Connecticut SVAA with positive outcomes. Sustainability is a problem for Connecticut; lack of funding prevented a 2003 SVAA. Section 4 presents findings from the Pennsylvania SVAA, where week-long SVAA’s have been implemented each year from 2001 to 2003. Overall, 106 victim service professionals have been trained and positive student outcomes were reported. This SVAA has sustainability because it has positively impacted the victim services field and has the support of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Section 5 presents findings from the Texas SVAA, where week-long SVAA’s have been implemented annually from 2001 to 2003. Overall, 146 victim service professionals have been trained and positive student outcomes were reported. New working relationships among the Texas SVAA, its university partners, and victim services organizations have assured the continued implementation of annual SVAA’s. Section 6 presents findings from the Utah SVAA, where 185 victim service professionals have been trained annually from 2001 to 2003. Positive student outcomes were reported and funding has been identified for the 2004 SVAA. Section 7 presents the key findings and lessons learned, while section 8 presents recommendations regarding leadership, marketing, and technical assistance. Tables, appendix