The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet has been awarded federal funds to host a State Victim Assistance Academy, which trains groups that assist crime victims.
The goal of the academy is to provide fundamental, comprehensive, and academically-based education and training for victim assistance providers, victim advocates, criminal justice personnel, and allied professionals who routinely deal with crime victims in Kentucky.
According to experts, training programs of this sort are ever more essential given that crime victims experience a complex array of needs, requiring the knowledge and cooperation of many different service providers and professionals.
The Justice Cabinet is now soliciting project abstracts for a Beginner-level Victim Assistance Academy, which targets victim-service providers and other allied professionals who are in the first three years of their career.
The curriculum will be provided in a 40-hour residential format and should use a trauma-informed, multi-disciplinary approach. It must not duplicate other educational resources that are readily available in the state.
Based on the assessment of the initial project abstract, applicants could be invited to complete a more extensive proposal using the cabinet’s electronic grants management system. Project abstracts should demonstrate adherence to the project goals listed below, as well as significant expertise concerning both the needs of crime victims and the implementation of culturally competent, trauma-informed practices.
The goals for the Beginner-level Victim Assistance Academy include:
• Drawing together a diverse, statewide steering committee to participate in planning and facilitation of the academy.
• Establishing a comprehensive, skills-based training and fundamental educational program for early-career, victim-service providers and allied professionals in Kentucky.
• Augmenting other educational resources already available to those serving victims of crime in Kentucky.
• Incorporating and establishing a partnership with the academic community during the planning and delivery of the academy.
• Collaboration with the National Center for Victims of Crime State Victim Assistance Academy Resource Center, the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s Grant’s Management Branch and other project partners.
Electronic versions of project abstracts and associated materials should be submitted to Marjorie Stanek, marjorie.stanek@ky.gov, by 6 p.m. Monday, March 13.
For additional information, please contact Marjorie Stanek at 502-564-8295 or via e-mail at marjorie.stanek@ky.gov.
(story provided by the Kentucky Department of Corrections)