Network Of Victim Assistance

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES 24 HOUR A DAY HOTLINE SUPPORT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO HELP VICTIMS OF CRIME EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND RECOVER FROM THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL TRAUMA OF VICTIMIZATION. THE ORGANIZATION, THROUGH ITS CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTER PROGRAM, WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO HELP ENSURE MULTIDISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE. THE ORGANIZATION COORDINATES STATEWIDE CRISIS RESPONSE TO INCIDENTS OF MASS VIOLENCE AND PROVIDES IN-HOME TRAUMA SUPPORT COUNSELING TO THE AREAS MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY ACCESSING OFFICE BASED SERVICES. THROUGH OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER (SANE) PROGRAM, NOVA OFFERS SURVIVORS PROMPT, COMPASSIONATE CARE AND A COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL-FORENSIC EXAM.

CRISIS SUPPORT AND COUNSELING: LAST YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED 34,747 HOURS OF HELPLINE SUPPORT, COUNSELING AND ADVOCACY TO VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS FROM ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THREE OFFICES OR THROUGH ITS MOBILE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM. SUPPORT AND COUNSELING GROUPS OFFERED INCLUDED THOSE FOR CHILDHOOD VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, TEEN RAPE VICTIMS, FAMILIES OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS AND CLERGY ABUSE VICTIMS.

CRIME VICTIM ADVOCACY: IN FY 2022, THE ORGANIZATIONS STAFF PROVIDED THESE SERVICES TO 2,581 VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. OF THOSE SERVED, 59% WERE DEALING WITH A SEXUAL ASSAULT, 56% OF VICTIMS WERE FEMALE AND 25% WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 18. THE ORGANIZATION, THROUGH ITS CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTER PROGRAM, WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO HELP ENSURE 280 MULTIDISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE.

PREVENTION AND EDUCATION: IN FY 2022, THE ORGANIZATIONS EDUCATORS PROVIDED 833 PROGRAMS TO 15,708 STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS ON SUCH TOPICS AS PERSONAL SAFETY, BULLYING, CYBER SAFETY AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTINUED TO EXPAND TO ITS PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. AN ADDITIONAL 160 TRAININGS WERE PROVIDED TO 2,402 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PROFESSIONALS TO ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS IN WORKING WITH VICTIMS, UNDERSTAND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IN REPORTING ABUSE AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF PERSONAL SAFETY SKILLS AND VICTIMIZATION ISSUES. PROGRAMS AND TRAININGS ARE REGULARLY MONITORED AND EVALUATED USING VARIOUS SURVEY TOOLS.SAMPLE OUTCOMES INCLUDE:5TH GRADE CYBERBULLYING SURVEY: 7.61% AVERAGE INCREASE IN PREFERRED RESPONSES FOLLOWING NOVAS CYBERBULLYING PROGRAM INDICATES THAT STUDENTS PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE OR PROGRAM MATERIAL HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY STRENGTHENED AND REINFORCED. FOLLOWING NOVA'S MANDATORY REPORTING OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE TRAINING, 93% OF PARTICIPANTS FELT THAT THEY BETTER UNDERSTOOD THEIR RESPOSNIBILTIIES AND DUTIES AS MANDATED REPORTER. MAJORITY (75%) OF ALL PARTICIPANTS LEFT THEIR TRAINING WITH AN INCREASED LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITIES TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT, SCORING 4.625 ON A 5-POINT LIKERT SCALE. OVER 81% OF ALL PARTICIPANTS FELT THAT THE MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING WAS "VERY HELPFUL", A 5 ON THE LIKERT SCALE, IN UNDERSTANDING THEIR ROLE IN MAKING AN EFFECTIVE REPORT OF SUSPICION OF CHILD ABUSE.