Carson City October 11, 2021
The Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) will be hosting its first virtual Victims Assistance Academy of Nevada (VAAN) training for victim advocates from November 1, 2021, through January 30, 2022. Interested individuals working in a capacity to serve victims of crime, employed in local, county, or state agencies are encouraged to complete the online VAAN application or visit vaan.nv.gov for more information.
The application deadline for the free 40-hour training academy is October 15 and VAAN is selecting 35 participants for the 2021 academy. The training includes 24 courses covering topics ranging from victims’ rights, ethics, boundaries, cultural considerations, sexual and domestic violence, human trafficking, child abuse, elder abuse, LGBTQIA, immigration, suicide intervention, trauma-informed care, COVID-19 pandemic, and military trauma.
VAAN aims to develop, implement, and maintain a statewide academy to support and enhance fundamental skills and knowledge for advocates and employees who interact with victims of crime.
“The virtual VAAN will be more accessible to agencies across Nevada,” said Ross Armstrong, Administrator of DCFS. “Advocates are in the field every day supporting victims of crime and the virtual format will allow those advocates to sharpen their skills on their own timeframe in a way that hasn’t been available in Nevada before.”
The virtual format will provide advocates from across the state access to the most up-to-date training from speakers who serve victims in Nevada and nationwide. DCFS is working to ensure the same educational content previously provided in-person is maintained in online modules that advocates can learn from and share with their agencies. Additional engagement opportunities will be provided through VAAN discussion forums to provide advocates with support from peers working in victims’ services.
If you have questions regarding the academy, applications, speakers, or courses, contact Program Officer Jenny Escalera-Guerrero at vaan@dcfs.nv.gov.