West Virginia State Victim Assistance Academy Initiative

The purpose of this project is to assist States in developing effective strategies for establishing State Victim Assistance Academies (SVAA) - planning for an SVAA that provides comprehensive, academically-based, fundamental education and training for victim service providers, victim advocates, criminal justice personnel, and allied professionals who routinely interact with victims of crime. West Virginia State University will plan the State Academy for West Virginia, along with the West Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services and West Virginia Victim Compensation Fund via an MOU. West Virginia State University is the academic partner.

The strategic goals for West Virginia State University in their first (planning) year are to:
1. Establish a diverse Steering Committee
2. Conduct and analyze findings of a statewide training needs assessment
3. Provide academic credit, a host site for Academy, and utilize expert faculty to help oversee curricula development and implementation of the Academy
4. Develop a strategic plan
5. Develop selection protocol for potential instructors and students
6. Develop an evaluation plan
7. Develop a viable financial plan for sustaining the program
8. Submit all required reports to OVC

ca/ncf