Deadline extended to March 24
The second Oklahoma Victim Assistance Academy (OVAA), designed to improve the quality and consistency of services to crime victims in Oklahoma, will be held June 5-10 at East Central University in Ada. Student applications and all required documents must be received by March 24. Scholarships are available to cover registration and all room and board for the academy.
“The Attorney General’s Office is committed to protecting and enforcing the rights of Oklahomans who have been victimized by crime,” Attorney General E. Scott Pruitt said. “I encourage anyone who works to safeguard the rights of crime victims to take the time to attend the victim assistance academy. They will gain a better understanding of the effects of crime and significantly improve their ability to help survivors regain control of their lives.”
The OVAA is an intensive week-long course of study for victim advocates, service providers, law enforcement professionals and social service providers who work directly with crime victims in any capacity in a paid or volunteer position. The academy increases providers’ capacity to serve those victimized by crime, encourages cutting-edge thinking about ways to help victims regain control of their lives and enhances the multidisciplinary training currently provided.
The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office will select up to 40 candidates to attend the academy. All students who complete the 40-hour training will receive a certificate of completion. Continuing education units (CEU's) have been applied for victim advocates and allied professionals. Academic credit from East Central University or Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City is available for an additional fee.
Students will complete 20 hours to 40 hours of online course work prior to the academy.
Candidates with less than five years of experience in working with victims are preferred. However, applicants with more than five years of experience are eligible, if they submit written justification why they should be considered for the academy.
Information about the academy and an application can be found online at www.assistvictims.com. Information also is available from Jannason Long at ECU at (580) 559-5859 or jlong@ecok.edu, or from Allyson Carson at the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office at (405) 522-4397 or Allyson.Carson@oag.ok.gov.
The purpose of the Attorney General’s OVAA is to provide comprehensive, academically based, fundamental education and training for victim assistance providers, victim advocates, criminal justice personnel, and allied professionals who routinely serve crime victims.
