One-Day Collaborative Planning Meeting

Before the planning meeting, the training coordinator compiled the results of the interviews and questionnaires for attendees of a 1-day collaborative meeting held on February 2, 2001. The results were sent to meeting attendees along with background information on the project concept and VS2000 and the highlighted questions that would comprise the agenda for the meeting. Results were also posted in the meeting room. Because participants were informed of interview and questionnaire results before the meeting, it was clear to all attendees where the group needed to focus its attention.

After referring to the posted results and facilitating a multistep collaborative problem-solving process, the group acknowledged the momentum that existed in Vermont for creating a victim assistance academy and laid the groundwork for coordination on the project. Group members agreed on a draft mission for the project and outlined advisory and coordinating responsibilities. In addition, they determined that the VVAA should be guided by an Advisory Group for the planning and implementation stage (2 to 3 years) and even identified ideal member agencies of this group. Location, duration, participant base, preferred trainers, scope, and general topics were chosen.

The 1-day planning group suggested that a Curriculum Committee of preferred trainers be formed to decide the hours allotted per topic and the sequence for the topics chosen. Two other committees were formed that eventually became stand-alone projects: the Tri-State Victim Assistance Consortium and the Standards Committee. Eventually, the work of the National Victim Assistance Standards Consortium was used to evaluate the victim assistance standards that were being met through the VVAA. Vermont also undertook creating its own standards, based on the national work.

At the end of the single collaborative planning meeting, members identified their interest in and ability to continue with the project by joining one of the committees or joining the Advisory Group. Advance planning and preparation helped create a well-thought-out plan with broad support, which helped when approaching potential members; all potential Advisory Group members accepted the invitation to participate. Two more were later added on their own request after the project was presented to the Governor's Criminal Justice Cabinet. Advisory Group membership was composed of leaders from the Criminal Justice Training Council (the Police Academy), the Department of Corrections, the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, the Bar Association, the Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs, the Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the Center for Crime Victim Services, the Department of Mental Health, the Victim/Survivor of Crime Council, the Attorney General's Office, and the Defender General's Office.