NOVA’s Specialized Training and Technical Assistance Response Program for Criminal Justice and Allied Professionals Responding to Military Members, Veterans and Families
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Funded by the DOJ Office on Violence Against Women, The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) have partnered and been awarded the Advocating for Military-Connected Survivors Training and Technical Assistance Project for Civilian Criminal Justice and Allied Professionals Responding to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking involving military personnel (active duty, National Guard/reservists, and veterans) and their families.
PROGRAM GOALS
Together, NOVA and NCVLI offer customized TTA with the following goals:
1. Provide Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) to civilian criminal justice and allied professionals serving military members, veterans, and their family members impacted by sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and/or stalking.
2. Offer guidance on maintaining and/or establishing Military-Civilian Coordinated Community Response Teams.
3. Strengthen coordinated community responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking by improving communication and collaboration between the military and civilian criminal justice systems.
4. Coordinate, educate, and support victim centered military-civilian response protocols designed to reduce barriers to reporting and help-seeking.
5. Provide education through specialized training, technical assistance and resources to improve outcomes and fill currents gaps in services for military related IPV and SA victims/survivors, through cross jurisdiction collaboration within and outside of military bases.
Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Support
Are you and/or your agency in need of Training & Technical Assistance (TTA)?
Complete and email our TTA Request Form to AngelaDuhon@trynova.org.
NOVA is available to provide no cost Trainings and Technical Assistance on a wide variety of topics, to include, but not limited to:
– Overview of military culture, dynamics of victimization and barriers to reporting
– Victims’ rights within civilian and military justice systems
– Lethality assessment and safety planning with military-connected victims
– Victims’ services and resources available within military and civilian advocacy
– Ethics, confidentiality and reporting options
– Overview of Military Protective Orders (MPOs) and Civilian Protective Orders (CPOs)
– Financial Remedies for Military-Connected Victims
– Outreach and advocacy to historically marginalized and underserved military-connected victims
– Building & Sustaining Military-Civilian Coordinated Community Response (CCR) – Programs
– Developing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with military partners
– Additional topics provided upon request!
Our TTA support includes:
Monthly trainings, webinars and brown bag discussions focused on helping civilian communities develop and enhance outreach and advocacy services for military-connected victims.
Customized trainings tailored to states, U.S. territories, tribal jurisdictions and communities invested in developing civilian-military CCR teams, partnerships and trauma-informed response systems for military-connected survivors.
Individualized TA support including coaching calls; site visits; and one-on-one consultations. Our team will respond to all requests for TA support within three (3) business days.
Contact NOVA’s Advocating for Military-Connected Survivors Project Team to request support and/or a customized training today. Our experienced NOVA/NCVLI team, along with our nationally-recognized Subject Matter Expert Project Partners in civilian and military advocacy, will work to tailor TTA support to your community’s individual needs.
Additional Resources
Cybercrime Support Network is launching its Military & Veteran Program as part of the Partnership to FightCybercrime. This bold new alliance of military and veteran service organizations, government entities, non-governmental organizations, foundations and corporations is banding together to help educate and mobilize the military & veteran community to recognize, report, and recover from cybercrime.
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This project is supported by Grant No.15JOVW-22-GK-04039-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
Military & Veterans Student Center is password protected.
Please enter the password that was supplied by NOVA.
Upcoming Training & Events
NOVA and NCVLI invite all civilian victim advocates, criminal justice professionals, and professionals working with military-connected victims, to include all OVW grantees, sub-grantees and potential grantees to attend the following upcoming training events.
Please check back regularly for updated event information, including event descriptions and event registration or click the button below to sign up for our mailing list!
All events are free and open to OVW grantees, sub-grantees and potential partners. For more information on these events or technical assistance with your program, please contact Angela Duhon, MSCJ/FP, CA, NOVA’s Military/Civilian Victim Services Sr. Program Manager via email at AngelaDuhon@trynova.org.
Past Events and Recordings
Enjoy! PLEASE NOTE: Certificates are NOT provided for viewing recordings.
Webinar: Collaborative Approaches to Prevent Firearms Violence in Domestic Violence Cases Involving Military-Connected Families
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Presenter(s): Elizabeth “Gizzy” Gray LCSW, CAC, CA and Darren Mitchell, Fellow, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges & Domestic Relations and DV Consultant
Join the National Organization for Victim Assistance team as we welcome presenters Dr. Elizabeth “Gizzy” Gray, LCSW, CAC, CA and Darren Mitchell, J.D. for a comprehensive discussion on how firearms being present in Domestic and Dating Violence cases increase ones risk and lethality, how to eliminate identified training gaps as it pertains to firearms, and keys to success moving forward.
As a result of this webinar, participants will be better able to:
– Advocate for the implementation in their communities of the key components of an effective firearms surrender program in civil protection order cases, including those involving military-connected families.
– Contribute to a collaborative military-civilian response to firearms in domestic violence cases, providing a pathway to safety for victims and moving beyond an honor system for respondents who have access to firearms.
NOVA Webinar Resource List May 2023
Recording Coming Soon!
Webinar: Safety-Forward Approaches with Military-Connected Survivors
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Presenter(s): Katie Chiarantona, MSW, Associate Director, Coordinated Community Response, Department of Defense (DoD) & National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA)
Have you ever wondered: How you and your organization can best advocate and support military-connected survivors of domestic and/or dating violence, along with how to identify potential military/civilian partners to provide this support?
If so, join NOVA and special guest Katie Chiarantona, MSW , Department of Defense (DoD) for an in-depth discussion on best practices for community advocates, law enforcement, criminal justice professionals and partners to adopt in order to enhance safety measures for military-connected survivors of Domestic Violence.
Learning Objectives:
– Identify and discuss military members and their families demographics (Link to access included in the resource list)
– Clarify safety considerations for military-connected survivors of DVSAS
– Define and discuss what a military-civilian coordinated community response means
– Describe advocacy and safety planning options for military-connected survivors
Attendees were provided a resource list with several Department of Defense Instructions, examples of forms addressed throughout the webinar, and other useful links and information.
NOVA Safety Forward Approaches w Military Connected Survivors Resource List May 2023
Brown Bag: Military Members & Families Project Interactive Toolkit for Military-Connected Victims of Abuse
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Presenter(s): National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI)
Are you and/or your community currently working with military-connected survivors? Do you have a Coordinated Community Response Team?
Join the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) project team as we introduce and discuss our new Community Self-Assessment Checklist.
Description: The Military Members & Families Project Military-Civilian Coordinated Community Self-Assessment checklist will provide communities working with military-connected survivors with a guide for developing a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) approach to preventing and responding to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking involving military members, veterans and their families.
Many communities already have long-established, successful CCR Teams(CCRTs) involving multidisciplinary community partners that are focused on prevention and responding to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking within their community. Other communities may need to begin the process of building a new CCRT. The Community Self-Assessment Checklist provides both new and existing CCRTs with a step-by-step guide for assessing, engaging and elevating the unique needs of military-connected survivors within a community CCR approach.
Brown Bag: Military Members & Families Project Interactive Toolkit for Military-Connected Victims of Abuse
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Presenter(s): National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI)
Description: Have you ever wondered: How can I advocate for military-connected survivors, and who can I partner with to provide support? Could I ever learn military jargon, or how the military criminal justice system works? Yes, you can! Join us for a hands-on walkthrough of the Toolkit for Advocating for Military-Connected Survivors!
The Toolkit contains a variety of eLearning tools and resources to help you provide survivor-centered, trauma informed and collaborative advocacy for military-connected survivors—from acronym flash cards and quizzes to interactive videos with multiple choice, true/false and victims’ rights tip pop ups! Learn how to access these tools, ranging in topics from victims’ rights to coordinated community response (CCR) to enhancing survivor safety!
Many new tools have been added since May, 2022 .
Webinar: Exploring New Connections to Prevent & Respond to IPV in Military & Veteran Populations
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Presenter: Tony Korol-Evans, Ph.D., Training & Special Projects Administrator, Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
Description: Significant research exists on intimate partner violence (IPV) response, traumatic brain injury (TBI), persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS), post-traumatic stress (PTS), suicidal ideation (SI), and homicidal ideation (HI). Occasionally, the research on these topics will overlap, such as in the case of TBI, PPCS, & PTS or IPV, SI, & HI. Research on the relationship between IPV and TBI has largely centered on survivors of head trauma and strangulation, and even this research is fairly new and less known in the field. Most of the studies look at these six concepts in silos or in small clusters. This training examines the relationship between all six and how understanding their connection can provide opportunities for intervention that could ultimately save lives.
Learning Objectives:
– Explain what the acronyms HI, IPV, PPCS, PTS, SI, & TBI stand for in their own words
– Describe statistics and information on these key terms
– Evaluate how these topics overlap
– Discuss different touchpoints where interventions can be made
– Begin to develop a protocol for their organizations to screen for evidence of multiple instances of these indicators of potential lethality & a plan for referrals
Brown Bag: How to Best Support National Guard Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivors in Your Community
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Presenter(s): Mary B. Hale, National Guard Bureau, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program, Air National Guard, Region 2 Lead
Description: The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) would like to invite you to join us for an interactive discussion on how to best support National Guard survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Specifically, the presenter will focus on the many unique needs and barriers survivors encounter when accessing services, and how community agencies can assist.
Learning Objectives:
– Provide attendees with the history and structure of the National Guard
– Review/introduce definitions and terms
– Introduce the National Guard Bureau’s (NGB) Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program & Reporting Options
– Community Partnerships & Collaboration
2-day Training: Outreach & Advocacy When Working with Military Veterans
Wednesday and Thursday, June 22 & 23, 2022
The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) would like to invite you to join us for an interactive discussion on the many unique needs and barriers encountered by Veterans and their families.
Attendees will be able to:
– Define what it means to be a Veteran, and the unique challenges and risks associated with Veteran survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
– Identify underserved veteran-survivors and resources available to these populations.
– Define Military Sexual Trauma (MST), PTSD , Traumatic Brain Injury and other veteran-specific mental health concerns
Brown Bag: Introduction to the Interactive Toolkit for Military-Connected Victims of Abuse
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Presenter(s): National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA), and National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI)
Description: Have you ever wondered: How can I advocate for military-connected survivors, and who can I partner with to provide support? Could I ever learn military jargon, or how the military criminal justice system works? Yes, you can! Join us for a hands-on walkthrough of the Toolkit for Advocating for Military-Connected Survivors!
The Toolkit contains a variety of eLearning tools and resources to help you provide survivor-centered, trauma informed and collaborative advocacy for military-connected survivors—from acronym flash cards and quizzes to interactive videos with multiple choice, true/false and victims’ rights tip pop ups! Learn how to access these tools, ranging in topics from victims’ rights to coordinated community response (CCR) to enhancing survivor safety!
This Brown Bag was an interactive, small group navigation of the Toolkit so you walk away ready to use the Toolkit. As registration is limited, please register if you can both attend and actively participate in small group exercises. Registration closes April 19, 2022.
Webinar: Military Sexual Trauma: Unpacking the Culture of Sexual Assault in the Military
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Presenter(s): Captain Latetia Bland, USAF Deputy, Integrated Resilience
Description: Military Sexual Trauma: Unpacking the Culture of Sexual Assault in the Military is a communal opportunity to learn about sexual assault and sexual harassment, as well as the culture that allows it to exist within the military subculture. According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Military Sexual Trauma (MST) refers to sexual assault or sexual harassment experienced during military service.
Attendees will be able to:
– Define Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and understand its background
– Understand the subcultures that exist in the Military
– Add supportive data to their advocacy toolkits
– Understand the impacts of MST
– Understand their role in prevention, intervention and culture change
– Further the dialogue around MST
Military-Connected Victims Virtual Training Course
Tuesday, March 22; Thursday, March 24; Tuesday, March 29; and Thursday, March 31, 2022
The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA), in partnership with the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI), is excited to invite civilian victim advocates, criminal justice professionals, and professionals working with military-connected victims to attend a FREE Virtual Training Course on Building Military-Civilian Collaborative Community Responses to expand and enhance support for military-connected victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Offered in Partnership with: Colorado Sexual Assault Coalition (CCASA) and Kansas Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence (KCSDV)
Topics discussed include: Military Culture, Victims’ Rights, Military & Civilian Protective Orders, Compensation Programs, Risk Assessment, Military Investigative Process & Justice System, and Safety Planning.
Webinar: Connecting: Suicide, Interpersonal Violence, and the Military Community
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Presenter(s): Dr. Elizabeth Gray, LCSW, CADCI, CA
Join the NOVA/NCVLI team as we welcome Dr. Elizabeth Gray for an interactive discussion on the various connections between suicide and violence, and how this relates to the military community
Suicide. Violence. Both are complicated public health crises on their own. But, when combined, what changes in the way advocates or agencies respond? Join us as we explore the connections between suicide and violence within the military community, to address biases, discover resources, and build confidence.
Webinar: Addressing Domestic Violence in the Digital Age with Military-Connected Victims
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Presenter: Adam Dodge, Founder, Ending Technology-Enabled Abuse (EndTab)
Abuse has gone digital. Today, we are spending more time on our devices than ever before. This has pushed victims, and those seeking to harm them, online in record numbers and created new safety risks for victims of gender-based and family violence. As such, it has become increasingly important to develop skills that prioritize digital safety in the communities we serve. In this session, we will demystify the tech-enabled abuse landscape and illustrate how anyone can prevent and address the ways in which victims are harmed online and via their devices.
Military-Connected Victims Virtual Training Course (Alaska, California, Hawaii, and Washington)
Tuesday, November 30, Wednesday, December 1, & Thursday, December 2, 2021
The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA), in partnership with the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI), invited civilian victim advocates, medical staff, and criminal justice professionals in Alaska, California, Hawaii, & Washington.
Topics discussed included: Military Culture, Victims’ Rights, Military & Civilian Protective Orders, Compensation Programs, Risk Assessment, Military Investigative Process & Justice System, and Safety Planning.
Offered in Partnership with: California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV), Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (HSCDV), and End the Violence Spokane.
Webinar: Victims’ Rights Attorneys and their Respective Roles Panel
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Facilitators: National Crime Victim Law Institute
Join the NOVA/NCVLI team as we welcome panelist: Lieutenant Colonel Lauren A. Shure, Deputy Division Chief of the Special Victims’ Counsel Division; Major Joshua Mikkelsen, Associate Professor, The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School; Lieutenant Commander Alexandra Nica, Victim Legal Counsel; and Russell P. Butler, Adjunct Professor, University of Baltimore Law School as they discuss what a victims’ rights attorney is, their respective roles, how and where they have protected military-connected victims’ rights, and the value of cross-collaboration in providing effective services for military-connected victims.
Brown Bag: Trauma, Intimate Partner Violence, and Mental Health Advocacy: How Victim Advocates & Mental Health Professionals Can Work Together to Enhance Safety, Empower Clients, and Normalize Help Seeking Behaviors.
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Presenter: Deidra Saina, LCSW
Ms. Deidra Saina, LCSW provided the audience with an interactive discussion on Trauma, Intimate Partner Violence, and Mental Health Advocacy: How Victim Advocates & Mental Health Professionals Can Work Together to Enhance Safety, Empower Clients, and Normalize Help Seeking Behaviors.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT MS. SAINA WILL NOT BE REPRESENTING THE U.S AIR FORCE IN ANY CAPACITY, AND IS JOINING US AS AN INDEPENDENT CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AND VICTIM ADVOCATE.
Tip Sheets – Emotional Safety & Mental Health Referral
Brown Bag: Removing Retaliation: Creating a Culture of Respect
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Presenter: Eric Barreras /Difference Makers 10 Strong
Do you work with military-connected victims of sexual assault or domestic violence? Mr. Barreras provides a conversation around actual and perceived retaliation. Understanding the difference is critical, as there are decisions made by leaders and peers within the military, which can unintentionally leave a victim feeling unsupported.
Webinar: Military & Civilian Victims’ Rights 101
Thursday, July 1, 2021
Presenter(s): National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI)
Military-connected victims face unique challenges—from navigating the complexity of military and civilian criminal justice to knowing which rights can be asserted in each justice system. This training will provide foundational knowledge on victims’ rights in military and civilian criminal justice.
Military-Connected Victims Virtual Training Course
Tuesday, June 1; Tuesday, June 8, Tuesday, June 15; and Tuesday, June 22, 2021
The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA), in partnership with the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI), invited civilian victim advocates and criminal justice professionals in Alabama, Missouri, Puerto Rico and Texas to a training course on Building Military-Civilian Collaborative Community Responses to expand and enhance support for military-connected victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.
Offered in Partnership with: Alabama Coalition Against DV (ACADV), Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer ( Puerto Rico), and Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA).
Brown Bag: Outreach and Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Military-Connected Victims
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Presenter by: Angela Duhon, NOVA’s Military/Civilian Victim Services Program Manager and Dr. Tony Korol-Evans, Statewide Trainer for the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence.
NOVA’s Military/Civilian Victim Services Program Manager held an Interactive Brown Bag Discussion on outreach and advocacy for LGBTQ+ Military-Connected victims of interpersonal violence and sexual assault.
Brown Bag: Understanding Male Victimization: The Overlooked Survivors
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Presenter: Difference Makers 10 Strong Eric Barreras & Edward Wilson
To effectively respond and prevent domestic and sexual violence in our military and civilian communities, we must better understand how to serve the male population, and it must be just as robust as our support for women survivors.
Military Members & Families Virtual Training Course
Thursday, March 4; Thursday, March 11; and Thursday March 18, 2021
The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA), in partnership with the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI), invited civilian victim advocates and criminal justice professionals in Arizona, Florida, Maryland and Ohio to a training course on Building Military-Civilian Collaborative Community Responses to expand and enhance support for military-connected victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.
Offered in Partnership with: Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV), Arizona Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (ACEDSV), Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV), and Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN).
Webinar: Identifying and Responding to Stalking in Military Communities
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Presenter: Jennifer Landhuis, Director of the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC), an AEquitas initiative
Brown Bag Discussion: Best Practices for increasing access to protective orders for military-connected victims: Introducing the North Carolina state-wide model
Thursday, September 24,2020
Presenter: Stephanie Satkowiak, Domestic Violence Specialist in North Carolina’s Judicial Branch
This project was supported by Award No. 15JOVW-22-GK-04039-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women. The opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication, conference agenda, or product, are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Department of Justice.
About Us
Our team includes national experts in victim assistance and legal advocacy:
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Angela Duhon, MSCJ/FP,CA Dr. Ava Ramirez-Ene, Ph.D. |
Meg Garvin, MA, JD
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Contact Us
Project Partners
This project is supported by nationally-recognized Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in civilian and military victim advocacy. Project partners include:
Eric Barreras
Founder & CEO, DM 10 Strong
Anneliese Brown
Project Director, Activating Change
Jennifer Dane
Founder & Executive Director, Modern Military Association of America
Saydyie DeRosia
Chair, National Association of Victim Assistance in Corrections
Meg Garvin, MA,JD,MsT
Executive Director & Clinical Professor of Law, National Crime Victim Law Institute
Jennifer Landhuis
Director, AEquitas’, SPARC
Shashika Peeligama, LMSW
Senior Program Manager, Gender & Family Justice, Center for Justice Innovation
Kristen Rambo
Executive Director, ASISTA
Jane Stapleton, M.A.
President, Soteria Solutions
Dave Thomas
Program Manager, International Association of Chiefs of Police
Arlene Vassell
Vice President of Programs, Prevention & Social Change, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence