Welcome to the Victim Assistance Academy of Nevada

SAVE the DATE 

Third Annual Victim Assistance Academy of Nevada (VAAN)

Weaving a Tapestry of Advocacy in Nevada

August 14-19, 2016

Silver Legacy Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada

The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), in partnership with public, private and statewide agencies, is excited to be holding the third Annual Victim Assistance Academy of Nevada (VAAN)! This week-long academy will be held August 14-19, 2016 at the Silver Legacy Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada.

The goal of VAAN is to provide, expand and enhance foundational skills and knowledge for those who interact with victims of crime and has been designed to reflect Nevada’s changing needs.  The academy will be open to 35 participants, geared towards advocates and victim assistants, so space is limited. 

The application for VAAN can be found on the “Application” link.  Topics covered include an overview of victims’ rights, ethics, boundaries, cultural considerations, sexual and domestic violence, human trafficking and other special classes of victims.  VAAN will utilize the experience of national and local trainers to incorporate group activities and simulation exercises to foster learning and fellowship.   

 Cost:

$200 registration fee includes:

§  5 full days of training from local and national experts 

§  Resource information 

§  Binder of presentation materials and flash drive 

§  Opportunities to network throughout the state 

Travel assistance and per diem reimbursement will be available for those participants traveling more than 50 miles to attend.

 Do you want to attend or send staff to the VAAN?  What is standing in your way?  Do any of these sound familiar?

§  Funding – Does your agency have limited training funds and this just isn’t possible? 

§  Staff Coverage – Does your agency have such limited staff that sending someone to this training would dramatically hinder your agencies ability to serve victims of crime?  Or, it would be too difficult for the employee left in the office to cover? 

§  You have been doing this for years and don’t think you would benefit from this. 

§  Too busy to leave the office for an entire week.  

  We believe this academy will be valuable to each agency and individuals who serve victims of crime.  The Steering Committee has made it a priority to work creatively and individually with those wanting to attend but face some of the issues above.  If you are interested in attending or sending someone from your agency to VAAN, please contact Ashlyn Gray at (702) 895-0604 by phone, or Ashlyn.gray@unlv.edu by email so we can discuss how we may be able to help.  We are working with service providers around the state on some creative solutions to assist other agencies.  We realize there may be some unique geographical challenges but let us try to help make this training opportunity a reality.