NOVA Training
The National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) is committed to upholding excellence in the field of victim advocacy and crisis response by providing trauma-informed training, education and credentialing to all victim assistance and allied professionals. Our training programs are created to promote a standard of knowledge among those interacting with victims/survivors of trauma and to ensure each victim/survivor receives a level of care and respect that empowers and promotes their wellbeing.
We offer a variety of training opportunities for victim assistance professionals and crisis responders at all levels. Our skill-based trainings include on-line course and in-person trainings designed to accommodate individuals and groups around the world. Interested in becoming a NOVA Subject Matter Experts and joining the NOVA Faculty? Please read the NOVA Faculty Standards of Excellence and complete our NOVA Faculty Application!
Join us this year for these and other dynamic trainings offered by NOVA!
NOVA Victim Assistance Academy
Offered twice a year (Spring and Fall), pre-approved by the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP) this training provides skills and tools for new and aspiring advocates. Learn more >
National Advocacy Leadership Center
For our Premier Members we offer Monthly and Quarterly CEU Webinars on a variety of topics for advocates of all levels of experience. Learn more >
NOVA CAMPUS ADVOCACY TRAINING
Offered once a year, this training is specialized in the topics and skills for victim advocates in college/university settings. Learn more >
HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESPONSE ACADEMY (HTRA)
Offered once a year, this specialized training is designed to provide concrete skills, best practices and lessons from the field for professionals working with victims of human trafficking. Learn more >
CHILD & FAMILY ADVOCACY ACADEMY
Offered in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, this advanced training is designed to provide evidence-based best practices, enhance valuable skills and share prevention models and systems-based approaches for professionals working with child and adolescent victims of crime and their families. Learn more >
NOVA Crisis Response Team Training
NOVA collaborates with communities around the world to facilitate CRT Trainings focused on providing trauma mitigation, education and emotional first aid in the aftermath of a critical incident, either small-scale or mass-casualty. Learn more >
NOVA’s Annual Training Event (Conference)
Once a year we invite all victim advocates and allied professionals to join us for four days of in-person trainings and workshops. Learn more >
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
During NOVA’s observation of National Crime Victims’ Rights week in April we offer a variety of trainings and events to promote victims’ rights. Learn more >
Customized Victim Assistance Training for Teams
NOVA offers customized Victim Advocacy Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) to help corporations, communities and agencies develop innovative approaches, polices and trainings to expand and enhance support for victims and survivors of crime. Learn more >
Trauma-Informed Advocacy Course (Self-Paced)
Created in partnership with the Justice Clearing House, this self-paced online course discusses the foundational topics of victim advocacy and providing trauma-informed services. Through this online course, you’ll learn the fundamentals and best practices of trauma-informed advocacy and develop critical skills for being an effective victim advocate. From the neurobiology of trauma to ethical practice, and self care, this course will give you the information you need to better communicate and succeed in this helping profession. Learn more >
Are you a Subject Matter Expert interested in becoming a NOVA Faculty member?
We would love to hear from you! Please read the NOVA Faculty Standards of Excellence and complete our NOVA Faculty Application.
NOVA’s Customized Victim Assistance Training and Technical Assistance Program
NOVA offers customized Victim Advocacy Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) to help corporations, communities and agencies develop innovative approaches, policies and trainings to expand and enhance support for victims and survivors of crime. NOVA’s Customized TTA Services include:
• NOVA’s Introduction to Victim Advocacy Training (12 hours)
• NOVA’s Customized Victim Assistance Academies, pre-approved by the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP)® (40 hours)
• Dynamic Webinar Trainings on Emerging Trends and Best Practices in Victim Assistance
• One-on-One Technical Assistance, Coaching and Mentorship
NOVA’s Introduction to Victim Advocacy Training (12 hours):
This two (2) day training can be offered virtually or in-person and will cover the foundational topics of victim advocacy and providing trauma-informed services. Attendees will learn about the following topics:
• Trauma-Informed Advocacy (2 hours)
• Communication Skills (2 hours)
• NOVA’s Crisis Intervention Model (2 hours)
• Ethics, Boundaries and Confidentiality (2 hours)
• Cultural Humility in Outreach and Advocacy Services (2 hours)
• Vicarious Trauma and Self-Care (2 hours)
NOVA’s Introduction to Victim Advocacy Training includes: NOVA instructors, training, materials, technology orientation (virtual training only), and NOVA’s Certificate of Completion for each attendee.
Cost: Please contact Callie Stewart (calliestewart@trynova.org), listing how many attendees you expect to participate and if you prefer a virtual or in-person training to receive a quote. Please note that all custom trainings require a minimum of 25 attendees. If you are a single registrant interested in training, please consider the NOVA Victim Assistance Academy (NVAA).
NOVA’s Customized Victim Assistance Academy (40 hours – Get Credentialed!):
This 40-hour training can be offered virtually or in-person and is designed as a comprehensive victim services course to meet the needs of your staff. All Customized Victim Assistance Academies are created to meet the qualifications of the National Advocacy Credentialing Program (NACP)® and are pre-approved prior to the training to ensure all attendees can apply for professional credentialing.
NOVA works closely with your leadership to understand the training needs and specialty topics that will best prepare your staff to respond and assist victims/survivors of crime with best-practices and trauma-informed skills.
NOVA’s Customized Victim Assistance Academy includes: Instructors, training, resources and materials, homework, NOVA Certificate of Completion, and NACP Provisional Advocate Credentialing for all attendees.
Cost: Please contact Callie Stewart (calliestewart@trynova.org) to learn more. After an initial meeting and needs analysis, a contract is developed and agreed upon between the two parties. Please note that all custom trainings require a minimum of 25 attendees. If you are a single registrant interested in training, please consider the NOVA Victim Assistance Academy (NVAA).
NOVA’s Customized Victim Assistance Academies are carefully created to meet the needs of your staff and the clients they serve. As a result, our curriculum and training development process typically requires at least 3 months from start to finish.
Current and Prior Recipients of NOVA’s TTA Include:
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Testimonials
“I was incredibly impressed with the group of speakers – they were all SO proficient on their respective topics, interesting and fun. I thought it was a great training. Thank you!”
“I was a sex crimes and child abuse police supervisor in the 90s, overseeing both detectives & victim assistants, so I was a little familiar with NOVA. But I was really impressed by this training. Among the best I’ve seen in 40 years in and around the business.”
“Truly amazing training. All the speakers were top notch, not only in terms of expertise but also in terms of energy and presentation style. This is one of the most engaging/interesting trainings I’ve been to in a long time. Thanks!”
“Thanks for providing such a high caliber of trainers. It was an emotional week and I am inspired by every one of the trainers and speakers who came.”
“Thanks for doing this service for our nation’s many communities! It is greatly needed and in an area of crime/shame/blame/hurt/pain that many of us privileged don’t think about regularly”
For more information on receiving Technical Assistance or to learn more about Customized Training, please contact calliestewart@trynova.org.
NOVA Victim Assistance Academy: Shaping The Future Of Victim Advocacy
The NOVA Victim Assistance AcademyTM (NVAA) is a forty-hour live distance learning training for aspiring and new victim assistance professionals. Offered through NOVA’s National Advocacy Leadership Center (NALC), this unique academy provides comprehensive, skill-based training through an innovative online platform.

WHO SHOULD REGISTER? This course is designed for new and aspiring victim advocates, although we welcome advocates at any level.
WHEN IS THE TRAINING OFFERED?
The NOVA Victim Assistance Academy is offered twice a year, Spring and Fall.
The Spring NVAA is offered as a fully live, virtual 40 training with live classes twice a week for 10 weeks. There are two class times offered in spring, a morning and evening session (Eastern Time).
The Fall NVAA is offered as a Hybrid Model with a combination of live and asynchronous virtual training, that allows more flexibility for completing parts of the course on your own time.
NOVA has adopted different schedules for the Spring and Fall in an attempt to accommodate more students and make the NVAA more accessible to those who want it.
FALL 2023 Session: Registration has ended!
Info on the Spring 2024 NVAA schedule will come later this year.
WHAT IS THE COST?
Fall 2023 Registration: Applicants who apply by the Early Bird deadline of July 19, 2023 are eligible for the discounted rate of $360. NOVA Members are eligible for a further reduced rate of $300. After July 19, 2023, the standard tuition rate is $400 and NOVA Member rate is $350. Registration will close August 4, 2023 or earlier if capacity has been reached. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and spots cannot be held.
HOW DO I REGISTER A GROUP OF 5 OR MORE?
To get the group discount of $275 per student for a group of 5 or more from the same agency, please send a list of the applicant names, point of contact information for the group, and cardholder information to nvaa@trynova.org. Each person in the group will need to fill out the PDF registration form in its entirety.
HOW IS THE NVAA COMPLETED?
The NVAA will be offered online via Zoom Meeting. In order to participate in the NVAA, each student must be able to access Zoom. Access to a camera and microphone are not required, but highly encouraged to increase participation and engagement. Auto-transcription is provided during the training.
WILL I RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE AFTER THE COURSE?
Attendance is taken throughout the live training. Per the attendance policy, students can miss up to two presentations but must make them up by completing a brief assignment. In order to receive a certificate of completion, students must adhere to the attendance policy.
WHY REGISTER?
The NVAA is:
CONVENIENT: Expanded access to learning for victim service professionals who may have schedule, geographical or physical limitations with accessing more traditional academies.
SKILL-BASED: Students receive comprehensive, skill-based training in an innovative online classroom.
INTERACTIVE: The academy allows students to interact directly with faculty and classmates, and participate in engagement activities and discussion, all in real time from their home or office.
UNIQUE: Direct access to over 20 nationally-recognized Subject Matter Expert (SME) Faculty Members. See our dynamic faculty members in action!
VALUABLE: Pre-approved by the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP)®.
Please contact nvaa@trynova.org with any questions or concerns.
Take a moment to browse through our NVAA Alumni testimonials to learn why these and other victim assistance professionals are choosing the NVAA.
Ask Our Alumni
Students of the NOVA Victim Assistance Training (NVAA), NOVA Human Trafficking Response Academy (HTRA), NOVA Campus Advocacy Training (NCAT) and NOVA Child and Family Advocacy Academy (CFAA) can all access their student centers below.
Passwords have been provided to you by your NOVA program manager.
Human Trafficking Response Academy
NOVA’s Human Trafficking Response Academy is an introductory to intermediate level training course designed for victim advocates and allied professionals working with survivors of human trafficking. This training academy includes topics pertaining to both forms of human trafficking: sex trafficking and labor trafficking (forced labor). While there is no prerequisite for this course, those enrolling should already have reasonable foundational knowledge in victim services.
Who should register?
This is a foundational training specifically dedicated to human trafficking response services. There is no prerequisite to take the course, however, those enrolling should already have reasonable foundational knowledge in victim services.
When is the training offered?
The 2024 Human Trafficking Response Academy will be offered virtually over 3.5 days from Monday, January 22 through Thursday, January 25th, 2024. Students must have access to Zoom to participate in the training.
Monday, January 22nd: 9:30am – 4:45pm ET
Tuesday, January 23rd: 9:30am – 4:45pm ET
Wednesday, January 24th: 9:30am – 4:45pm ET
Thursday, January 25th: 9:30am – 12:45pm ET
Multiple breaks will be provided throughout each day.
What is the cost?
Register before November 1 and enjoy an Early Bird Rate of $350. Standard registration (after 10/31/1023) will be $400/person.
NOVA Members enjoy a 10% discounted rate. Group discounts are also available for five (5) or more students from the same organization. Please contact marieljewell@trynova.org for more information.
How do I apply?
Registration for the 2024 HTRA will open September 18th, 2023. Registration will be open until November 30th, 2023 or until capacity has been reached.
What topics are covered?
Dynamics of Labor Trafficking, Dynamics of Sex Trafficking, The Impact of Trauma, Understanding Trauma-Informed Response & Care, Mitigating Trauma During Recovery & Reunification, Harm Reduction, Working with Trafficking Survivors with Disabilities, Unique Considerations for Working with Trafficking Survivors, Human Trafficking & the Criminal Legal System, Human Trafficking & the Legal System: Survivor Experience, Civil Legal Options for Survivors, Law Enforcement Response, Creating an Effective Community Response, Personal Wellness & Vicarious Trauma.
What are HTRA alumni saying?
“The HTRA made me feel more comfortable with working with victims of human trafficking. I’ve been working in this field for about a year but there is still so much I don’t know, so all of the information I’ve gained from this course has been super beneficial.”
“This course impacted my skills, knowledge, and attitude towards working with trafficking survivors in every single way. Every presentation had SUCH an impact on my personal and professional life.”
“This particular training encourages me to start volunteering with local non-profit agencies to use my knowledge of what I have learned thus far.”
“It lit a burning desire to get more involved in anti-trafficking.”
How is it different?
The HTRA is a unique, high-quality training which allows students to directly interact with nationally-recognized Subject Matter Experts. Our faculty hail from the following influential organizations and institutions:
Human Trafficking Legal Center
Human Trafficking Training Center
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force
NOVA Child & Family Advocacy Academy (CFAA)
Offered in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), this 18-hour online training academy is designed to provide evidence-based best practices, enhance valuable skills and share prevention models and systems-based approaches for professionals working with child and adolescent victims of crime and their families.
2023 CFAA Registration is now closed.
WHO SHOULD REGISTER?
This course is designed for professionals working with child and adolescent victims of crime and their families. There is no prerequisite to take the course, however, those enrolling should already have reasonable foundational knowledge in victim services.
The CFAA is limited to 60 participants. Registration will remain open until Monday, November 13th OR until class capacity has been reached.
WHEN IS THE TRAINING OFFERED?
The CFAA will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays for three weeks starting November 28th to December 14th from 1:00pm – 4:15pm Eastern Time via Zoom Meeting.
Live training dates: November 28, November 30, December 5, December 7, December 12, December 14.
WHAT IS THE COST?
Applicants who apply by the Early Bird deadline of Monday, October 23rd are eligible or the discounted rate of $300. Applications received after that date will be charged $350. Members enjoy a discounted rate of 10% off.
WHAT TOPICS WILL BE COVERED?
Trauma-Informed Family Advocacy, Intergenerational Trauma, Serving D/deaf Child Survivors, Serving Neurodivergent Children, Law Enforcement & Agency Collaboration, Reaching Underserved Communities, Community Impact & School System Response, Child and Adolescent Suicide Intervention, Communicating with Families, Vicarious Trauma & Self-Care, Family Engagement & Connection, Survivor Engagement & Voices.
HOW IS THE CFAA COMPLETED?
Zoom Meeting is the platform used for the CFAA. In order to participate in the CFAA, each student must be able to access Zoom and a microphone feature. Cameras will be optional but not required. Call-in only for Zoom is not permitted. Auto-transcription is provided during the training.
Sign Up Here for NOVA Training Updates!