SVAA is Growing! Please welcome our NEW Director... with $50 off!

“ESSENTIALS” COURSE EXPANSION

As we celebrate our 50th year of serving victims of crime and trauma, we are excited to turn over more leaves that will bring about changes that will continue to add to our story in a positive way. One of many changes within Victim Assistance Program (VAP) is growing our education department to include the hiring of a new Essentials Coordinator.

Our current Sr. Director of Education, Dana Zedak, CA, LSW, has voluntarily chosen to relinquish her managing responsibilities to dedicate her time to our flagship course, the Essentials of Victim Advocacy. This 40-hour course is the only nationally approved comprehensive online and in-person training of its kind offered in the state of Ohio.

We are overjoyed that Dana will continue to be a member of the Summit Victim Assistance Academy (SVAA), as she strategically works towards her retirement. Her love and passion for teaching others is unparalleled in empowering and enhancing the skills of crisis workers. Through her leadership, she has helped establish the foundation for and further facilitated the focus of the academy. She has led SVAA to provide best-practice, culturally aware, and trauma-informed education to staff and volunteers within VAP, as well as hundreds of allied professionals across the nation.

As Dana makes this transition, we are enthusiastic about VAP’s future and new opportunities that will bring about growth and continue to build our ability to equip the community. New opportunities include the expansion of the Essentials curriculum to meet the needs of the corporate world and beyond.

A NEW SEASON OF LEADERSHIP

Victim Assistance Program is proud to announce the appointment of a new Director of Education, Evey Williams (MEd, PhD, CA) who will lead SVAA in these expansion initiatives. Dr. Williams is excited to collaborate with the community in this new role. She is being promoted from her current position at VAP as Summit County Services Manager and brings deep experience with professional education, crisis response, and victim advocacy. Previously founding and directing a public health focused nonprofit, Evey has exhibited excellent leadership and vision which will greatly impact Summit Victim Assistance Academy and its students.

We are confident about the commitment and collaboration between Evey, the new Director of Educational Services, and Dana, the new Essentials Coordinator. Together, they will further build upon our unique educational service to greatly impact our staff, educate allied professionals, and empower the global community, as we all work to assist victims in navigating the aftermath of trauma.

Here’s to continued awareness, partnership, and learning!

Take $50 Off Today!

To celebrate our big changes, we're offering $50 off any "Essentials of Victim Advocacy" course through the end of the year!

Enter "Flourishing50" when checking out to get $50 off registration!

48th NOVA Convention!

Next week, Dana Zedak & VAP's Director of Services, Rebecca Cool, will also be presenting to advocates from across the nation at the 48th Annual National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA) in Denver, CO. 4 additional staff will be joining them to keep our services in step with industry best practices.

Dana and Becky will be presenting to several hundred professionals on the topic of "Complex Trauma in Children." The timing is perfectly aligned as we ramp up to launch our NEW "Children Who Witness Violence" Drop-In Center this September!