Here are some friendly reminders about the new Section 7.0 revisions of the Standards that went into effect in October 2016. Approved DV Treatment Providers will need to submit documentation that their Treatment Victim Advocate meets at least the Entry Level qualifications during Renewals in July of 2017. Here are some important things to remember:
What are the Qualifications for Treatment Victim Advocates (TVAs)?
Section 7.0 outlines two new qualification levels for TVAs: Fully Qualified and Entry Level. The requirements for each of these levels are provided below.
II. Fully Qualified Treatment Victim Advocate Requirements
B. Training hours per COVA or NOVA program with focus on the following as electives: Confidentiality, safety planning, co-occurrence of domestic violence and child abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse, DVRNA, MTT, DVOMB Standards, domestic violence offender issues, domestic violence offender treatment competencies, risk/lethality assessment, and special victim and offender populations.
C. Experiential hours according to COVA or NOVA requirements
D. Peer consultation is strongly encouraged with other fully qualified Treatment Victim Advocates, or consultation with local victim services. Peer consultation may include:
1. Sharing information about training opportunities
2.Sharing information regarding resources
3. Confidentiality issues
4. Advocacy on behalf of a specific population
5. Technical assistance, safety planning, brainstorming difficult cases
III. Entry Level Treatment Victim Advocates
A provider may utilize and "Entry Level Treatment Victim Advocate" who meets the following qualifications:
A. Training Hours:
1. A minimum of 30 initial hours of training in domestic violence to include: victim advocacy, domestic violence dynamics, victimization and safety planning.
2.The remaining 30 hours of training required for Fully Qualified Treatment Victim Advocate shall be achieved within the first year of work as a domestic violence Entry Level Treatment Victim Advocate
B. Experiential Hours:
1. 70 hours of experience working with domestic violence victims. These hours may be achieved through any combination of employment, volunteer work, or internships.
2. The remaining 70 experiential hours required for a Fully Qualified Treatment Victim Advocate shall be achieved within two years.
C. Peer Consultation: is strongly encouraged with other Fully Qualified Treatment Victim Advocates, or consultation with local victim services. Peer Consultation may include:
1. Sharing information about training opportunities
2. Sharing information regarding resources
3. Confidentiality issues
4. Advocacy on behalf of specific population
5. Technical assistance, safety planning, brainstorming difficult cases
D. The COVA CACP basic certification shall be applied for by the end of the second year of working as an Entry Level Advocate. (NOVA certification is also accepted.)
Dual Role Relationships
Treatment Providers shall not have a dual role with her/his advocate as defined in Section 7.03.
VIII. Dual Roles
A. Treatment Victim Advocates shall not have a dual role with her/his Treatment Provider, the offender or the victim. Discussion Point: It is the expectation of the DVOMB that individuals also governed under the Mental Health Practice act (Title 12, Article 43 of the Colorado Revised Statutes) will also comply with the statutes, rules, and policies of their Governing Board.
B. The Treatment Victim Advocate cannot be in another relationship with the Provider (such as a spouse or relative).
C. The Treatment Victim Advocate cannot also be working in other therapeutic or case management capacities with the domestic violence Offenders or victims within the same treatment agency
D. The Treatment Victim Advocate shall not also be the therapist for the victim. Discussion point: Dual relationships can create barriers to an open and honest dialogue. The advocate may be concerned about raising issues that may potentially impact the personal or other relationship with the Provider. Dual roles may be confusing to ta victim and impact their ability to trust the advocate.