The basic Georgia Victim Assistance Academy is a comprehensive, skills-based training experience for crime victim advocates and for those who serve crime victims through a range of victim services programs. The overarching goal is to improve the quality and consistency of victims’ services in Georgia. The training weaves core concepts and best practices together in ways that encourage a victim-centered, multidisciplinary, and collaborative approach to supporting those whose lives have been impacted by crime. We are building the capacity of our communities to recognize, respect, and respond to the needs and experiences of crime victims in our state by cultivating academy participants’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

The Academy is designed for advocates with fewer than three years of experience – these advocates will receive the highest priority but all are welcome to apply, including long-term direct service volunteers. It is 40 hours of experiential practice, aka “baseline victimology” full of mini-lectures, large group discussions, and practical small-group exercises. Offered annually, the Academy is limited to 50 participants who will learn together from Sunday afternoon through Friday afternoon.

WHEN & WHERE:

The Academy will be held from Sunday, May 19, 2019 through Friday, May 24, 2019 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Perimeter Dunwoody located at 4386 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd in Atlanta, Georgia. All participants will reside in the hotel for the week; check-in will be on Sunday afternoon. Should there be any changes or updates, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council will notify all applicants.

DEADLINE:

Applications are due by April 15, 2019 by 5 pm.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ACADEMY AND TO APPLY!