2025 Georgia Victim Assistance Academy Tier B on August 24-27, 2025 in Jekyll Island, GA

In partnership with the Georgia Commission on Family Violence's Family Violence Conference, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) is hosting its Applied Georgia Victim Assistance Academy (GVAA) Tier B in Jekyll Island, GA on August 24-27, 2025. 

GVAA is a comprehensive, skills-based training experience for crime victim advocates and those who serve crime victims in a range of victim services programs. The overarching goal is to improve the quality and consistency of victim service provisions in Georgia. The applied-level training (Tier B) provides advocates a safe space to deepen understanding and strengthen skills via guided group scenario analysis designed to challenge and stretch participants. By cultivating academy participants' knowledge, skills, and approaches, we hope to build the capacity of our communities to fully recognize, respect, and respond to the needs and experiences of crime victims in our state.

The Academy is designed for advocates who have completed the Basic GVAA (Tier A) and those who have not completed Tier A but have three or more years of experience in victim service delivery. Tier B is an applied experience focused on small-group exercises to allow participants to collaborate, examine, and evaluate trauma-informed approaches and apply concepts and best practices to complex situations with a focus on cultural competence. The Academy will be limited to 25 participants who live and learn together for four days and three nights.
 

ADVANTAGES:

  • The GVAA training team includes professionals widely recognized in Georgia as leaders in their fields. Many on our training team are the same professionals who speak at victim services conferences around the country and administer some of the best-run programs in the state. With their guidance, Tier B participants engage in scenario-based learning opportunities to sharpen their advocacy and listening skills. This year, our team is expanding to include several GVAA alums. 


WHO SHOULD APPLY:

  • Graduates of GVAA Tier A and victim advocates with three or more years of experience are eligible to apply for this session. Applicants who complete all prerequisites by the application deadline will receive priority in the selection process.


ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

  • Proof of certification that you have completed (or will complete) prerequisite coursework
  • Signed commitment that you will participate in the mandatory virtual orientation (during the week of August 10)
  • Signed commitment that you will attend and complete the full course of instruction
  • Signed commitment by participant and/or employing agency to cover unpaid meals, mileage, parking fees, and any other reimbursable expenses not covered by CJCC


ONLINE APPLICATION:

Please be prepared to provide the following:

  • Referral Letter – This letter should be from the applicant's supervisor on agency letterhead. The letter should explain how this training is expected to benefit the applicant, the employing agency, and the victims served by the agency.
  • Prerequisites:
    • Certificate of Completion for Victims Compensation 101 (you can also use your certificate from GVAA Tier 1 to meet this requirement)
    • Certificate of Completion for Trauma 101 and Brain 101 through Georgia State University's Child Welfare Training Collaboration
      • Offered on-demand as one course (Trauma/Brain 101)
      • Offered virtually and in-person each month as separate courses


APPLICATION PERIOD:

  • Applications are now being accepted. Click here to begin. The application submission deadline is Monday, July 18, 2025, by 5 pm (EST). 


SELECTION PROCESS:

  • Up to 25 applicants will be selected. Faculty will email all applicants and their supervisors on or before Monday, July 25, to inform them of their acceptance. If selected, the applicant must confirm receipt of their acceptance and commitment to attend the academy experience in its entirety no later than Friday, August 1, 2025, by 5 pm (EST).  Selected applicants and their supervisors will also receive an email on or before Friday, July 25, with the next steps and instructions. 


WHEN & WHERE:

  • The Academy will be held from Sunday, August 24, 2025, through Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
  • At The Courtyard located at 178 South Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA, 31527. 


COST:

  • There is no registration fee, and hotel accommodations will be paid on behalf of participants. Breakfast will be provided on August 25th-27th, and lunch will be provided on August 25th and 26th. However, participants and their agencies are responsible for mileage, parking fees (if applicable), and all other meals during the Academy. However, any confirmed participant who is absent may be responsible for the first night's lodging expense if no alternate applicant is available. A debit/credit card is required by each participant at check-in for incidentals, as room registrations will be in the participant's name. Rooms are single occupancy.
  • Participants will be responsible for all off-site costs, including any group activities.
  • Note: There are no scholarships available. 


If you have questions, please contact CJCC's Training & Development Coordinator by email at [email protected], or by phone at (678) 497-9160.

Click here to begin the application.