National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA)

Project AWARE: Cyber Safety Sense
Because of the complex and devastating nature of cyber crimes, we diligently work to protect/restore victims’ good names and personally identifying information. We understand the vulnerabilities associated with privacy breaches, as that information is used to victimize people financially, physically and emotionally, we also understand the trauma that is created from such violations. In response to the ever-increasing demand for identity theft victim assistance, NOVA has developed Project AWARE. This Cyber Safety and Identity Theft Awareness program combines innovative tools to reduce online threats and victimization, along with resources for remediation.
The two Project AWARE Programs include:
• AWARE Victim Advocate Training – Interactive summits to equip Victim Advocates and allied professionals with the necessary tools to assist victims of ID Theft and Fraud.
• AWARE Consumer Education – Cyber Safety Sense trains consumers within their own communities on Cyber Safety Principles and how to apply the Online Safety Checklist to lock down possible Points of Compromise within their home and family.
Both these NOVA training programs are very effectively and efficiently educating professionals and consumers with the most up-to-date online user protection tools to combat theft of privacy, identity and personal information. NOVA is very proud of the empowerment this knowledge has provided to these participants. Dramatically expanding each year, Project AWARE helps families across America improve their cyber safety sense.
As online fraud and identity theft victimization increase, so does NOVA’s response.

NOVA provides a toll-free helpline (800-TRY-NOVA) which annually affords thousands of crime and disaster victims in every state access to crisis intervention and referrals for services in their local community.

The NOVA Victim Assistance Academy (NVAA) is an innovative and comprehensive training for aspiring professionals in the field of crime victim services.

NVAA, as part of NOVA’s National Advocacy Leadership Center, provides the foundation of core competencies for victim advocacy with the benefit of direct access to nationally recognized Subject Matter Experts. The knowledge shared has broad application for anyone working with victims of crime.

Perhaps the most exciting feature of NVAA is that students interact with faculty, participate in role plays and group exercises, and talk to fellow classmates all in “real time” from their home or office. The forty-hour Academy meets nine consecutive Wednesdays, in a live, distance-learning classroom. To enhance participation, class size is limited to thirty. Students interact directly with instructors.

NOVA Crisis Response Team (CRT) training has nearly thirty years (since 1986) of evidence-informed and field-tested best practices as a crisis management utility that includes trauma mitigation and education protocols. With over ten thousand trained in North America and internationally, NOVA CRT training is an effective tool that can be instantly scaled-up for mass-casualty critical incidents.

NOVA’s Basic CRT training is twenty-four hours. A forty-hour CRT version offers the same basic core but is expanded skill-building and scenario application.

NOVA’s Advanced CRT is twenty-four hours and builds upon the essential CRT protocols with current best practices and in a ‘refresher’ training context.

The National Advocate Credentialing Program® (NACP), developed through the cooperative effort of multiple national and state victim assistance organizations, was launched in 2003 as the first voluntary credentialing program available to crime victim advocates nationwide.

NACP is designed to promote a minimum of forty hours of pre-service training for advocates, recognizes the advocate’s years of experience, whether volunteer or paid, and requires continuing education for all advocates credentialed under the program.

Four levels of credentialing are offered – Provisional, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced-for all of which eligibility is based upon minimum requirements. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and will be reviewed and approved quarterly.