Application Process

In order to be eligible for selection, candidates must submit an application form. There is no fee to attend the Michigan Victim Assistance Academy, as the Academy is funded through a grant from the Crime Victim Services Commission, Michigan Department of Community Health.

Completed applications must be received by MVAA no later than May 1, 2009. Candidates will be notified of their selection status by May 8, 2009.

Three undergraduate or graduate credits can be earned. If you are interested in more information on how to register for these credits (tuition of these are paid directly to Michigan State University). Qualified candidates who successfully complete all credit requirements will have their tuition refunded

Candidate Selection Criteria

Class size is limited to 40 candidates. Each year we receive more applications than we can accommodate from very qualified individuals. The task of narrowing it to 40 candidates is very difficult. All of the information on the application form is important to the decision making process – to ensure that class makeup represents a wide range of geographic, racial, cultural, and professional groups.

The over-arching goal of the Academy is to build social capital. One of the strategies is to encourage participation of teams of victim service providers from various disciplines within a local area. For instance, a team might consist of a domestic violence shelter case worker, a victim advocate from the county prosecutor’s office, and someone who handles domestic violence cases from the sheriff’s office. Health care professionals, courts, juvenile justice, probation, and parole participation are also strongly encouraged.

The curriculum assumes a basic knowledge level of Academy participants. An introductory course in victim service provision is strongly recommended prior to attending this Academy. In addition, applicants should have at least one year of experience in working with victims of crime and should demonstrate a commitment of service to crime victims.

Many factors are taken into consideration to ensure that the academy class represents a wide range of geographic, racial, cultural, and professional groups.