The Indiana Victim Assistance Training Project was created to develop and promote professional skills and knowledge for those who work directly with victims of all crimes. Its mission is to develop and provide a comprehensive, accessible and affordable training series that is available to all professionals who serve victims of crime in Indiana and to encourage & support longevity in the field of victim service. Guidance is provided by a multidisciplinary steering committee.
Central to the Training Projects work is a provision of the Indiana Victim Assistance Basic Academy. This is an entry-level training program designed for people who are new to the field of victim services. It takes place over three weeks and provides 41 hours of content through a mix of webinars and in-person, classroom instruction. The Academy is open, free of charge, to anyone employed by a government or non-profit entity who provides direct services to victims of crime and who has held their current position for 3 years or less.
Over the 3 weeks, students receive training from seasoned professionals in a broad variety of subjects. Topics include basic advocacy skills, core competencies, crimes, and specific considerations for providing victim services. Please see the document below to learn more about the academy.
Successful graduates of the program are eligible for the National Advocacy Credentialing Program Provisional Credential. For more information, please visit NACP’s website.
Dates: June 2- 18, 2026
In-person session dates : June 4,5,17,18
Applications accepted : March 17 – April 15
Dates: August 11 – August 28, 2026
In-person session dates: August 13,14, 27, 28
Applications accepted: May 27 – June 18
A link to the application will be available on May 27th
The ICADV Victim Assistance Training Project has been partially supported by various past and present state and federal grants and contracts (chronologized below) since its inception in 2016. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this training curriculum are those of the author(s) and no not necessarily reflect the views of the funders.
2025-2026: Contract 077453 administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute
2024-2025: Awards 15POVC-22-GG-00743-ASSI and 2020-V2-GX-0011 administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute
2018-2024: Award 2018-V3-GX-0028 administered by the Office on Victims of Crime
2016-2018: Contract D3-18-11802 administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute
Webinars and Online Training
VAT Online is a foundational Web-based victim assistance training program that offers victim service providers and allied professionals the opportunity to acquire the essential skills and knowledge they need to more effectively assist victims of crime.
The OLTI offers the opportunity for interested professionals to expand their knowledge of cutting-edge developments in the criminal justice and community response to sexual assault, with particular emphasis on those crimes committed by someone who is known to the victim ( i.e., non-strangers).
The National Center for Victims of Crime is the nation’s leading resource and advocacy organization for victims of all types of crime, regardless of whether the crime is physical, emotional, or financial.
Through the support of the federal government, the National Center was able to create this online learning platform for victim service providers and other allied professionals who serve crime victims.
For more training resources visit our Resources page or our Webinar Archive.
Get information about events, trainings and more by signing up for our quarterly newsletter!
Donate Now 
