Professionalizing the Field of Military Victim Advocacy
The DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program
NOVA administers the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program in partnership with the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (DoD SAPRO).
D-SAACP recognizes the critical support Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocates (SAPR VAs) provide to victims of sexual assault. SARCs, PMs, and VAs certified through D-SAACP join a growing field of certified civilian victim advocates who are trained and committed to upholding the highest standards of victim care and privacy.
Application and Deadlines
Deadlines and Board Review Dates:
APPLICATION WINDOW
11/11/23 – 1/12/24
1/13/24 – 2/23/24
2/24/24 – 4/5/24
4/6/24 – 5/17/24
5/18/24 – 6/28/24
6/29/24 – 8/9/24
8/10/24 – 9/20/24
9/21/24 – 11/8/24
DEADLINE
- Jan 12, 2024
- Feb 23, 2024
- April 5, 2024
- May 17, 2024
- June 28, 2024
- Aug 9, 2024
- Sept 20, 2024
- Nov 8, 2024
2024 BOARDS
- Jan 30-31, 2024
- Mar 12-13, 2024
- April 23-24, 2024
- June 4-5, 2024
- July 16-17, 2024
- Aug 27-28, 2024
- Oct 8-9, 2024
- Dec 3-4, 2024
Download the DD Form 2950 (new) or 2950-1 (renewal):
New applicants: Download the DD Form 2950
Renewal applicants: Download the DD Form 2950-1
Please note, that these forms are secure documents and the content will not be displayed in the preview until it has been downloaded onto your computer and opened.
via email: [email protected] (This email box is not monitored)
via fax: 703-535-5500
via mail: 510 King Street, Ste 220, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone assistance: 703-535-6621
Monday-Friday, 0900-1700 Eastern Time (GMT -5)
You will receive an email notification from [email protected] confirming receipt of your application within one week of your submission. If you do not receive a confirmation email in that timeframe, please contact us at [email protected]
Any questions or application corrections, should be sent to: [email protected]
Visit the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office website: www.sapr.mil
Frequently Asked Questions
APPLICATION DEADLINE
- January 12, 2024
- February 23, 2024
- April 5, 2024
- May 17, 2024
- June 28, 2024
- August 8, 2024
- September 20, 2024
- November 8, 2024
Applications will only be reviewed during the period leading up to expiration.
Please send updated/corrected documents to: [email protected]
If you miss 1-7 deadlines, submit the DD Form 2950-1, along with documentation of 32 CEU’s.
If you miss 8 or more deadlines, submit the DD Form 2950-1 and documentation of the initial SAPR training taken within the past year.
Keep scrolling to see CEU resources and training options on this page.
If you have comments, compliments, or complaints about the services on your installation/base or provided by a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), victim advocate or other military staff or personnel, please use this feedback form. You can submit the form anonymously if you prefer. Information you provide on this form will be forwarded to the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) and they will follow up with you if you wish.
Please see here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.
Contact [email protected] with additional questions.
VALIANT
DoD SAPRO is excited to announce the launch of VALIANT: Victim Advocates Learning, Innovating, and Networking Together, a new Department of Defense-wide online community of practice for Sexual Assault Response Workforce personnel.
What is VALIANT?
Hosted on APAN (All Partners Access Network), VALIANT is home for the DoD and Services to share resources, encourage networking, and foster the collaborative effort to respond to sexual assault in the military. VALIANT features include a Discussion Board, Resource Library, a Learn Collection with webinar recordings and self-paced courses, and more!
Who can join?
VALIANT is open to military Victim Advocates, SARCs, Program Managers, and other SAPR/SHARP response personnel. Members must have a .mil email address.
How do I join?
Follow the directions in the Account Creation Instructions document HERE!
Who do I contact with questions?
Email the VALIANT inbox at [email protected].
Continuing Education: Promoting continuous improvement of advocacy skills and knowledge.
The Continuing Education requirement provides the opportunity for you to advance your advocacy skills and keep your knowledge current. Continuing education should be spread out over your two years of certification and go beyond the basics.
Formal guidance for Continuing Education can be found on the SAPRO website or on this Fact Sheet released by SAPRO.
32 hours of continuing education (CEUs) are required for renewal.
- The preferred method of CEU documentation is a signed page 14 of the DD Form 2950-1 or a signed DSAID printout. This is the only way to document in cases where certificates are not available.
- If training certificates are provided, they must clearly state your name, training date, number of hours, and include a physical or verified digital signature. If the certificate is missing any of these requirements, please use page 14 or DSAID.
- A minimum of 2 hours of victim advocacy ethics must be documented (general professional ethics nor HIPPA training do not meet the victim advocacy ethics requirement).
- Safe Helpline 101 or 102 is required for all renewals(can be online or in-person).
- 8 hours of “in-person” training. DoD SAPRO requires that 8 hours are “in-person” (the “in-person” training requirements may be met by attending live webinars but not by watching recordings.
- If you are a renewing applicant, you cannot repeat the same CEUs you completed for your prior renewal(s). If you take a training that has been updated, please be sure this is indicated in the documentation.
- You are not limited to sexual assault advocacy training – advocates should seek training in emerging issues in victim-focused, trauma-informed care relevant to your particular environment. However, no more than 12 hours can be from peripheral topics (such as suicide prevention). Although these topics are important, most of your CEUs should be more closely related to victim advocacy.
- Any training that is over 8 hours requires a training outline/agenda to be submitted with the application (ensure your name is written on the agenda so the documentation can be correctly assigned to your packet).
Although live, in-person training is encouraged, it is understood that virtual training is sometimes necessary. Below are some organizations that provide virtual training.
- The Battered Women’s Justice Project offers webinars related to gender-based violence.
- End Violence Against Women Online Training Institute (Please note EVAWI’s course titled Laboratory Analysis of Biological Evidence and the Role of DNA in Sexual Assault Investigations will count towards a maximum of 12 CEUs as it is a peripheral topic.)
- The National Center on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault has a listing of upcoming training around the country, including webinars.
- The National Criminal Justice Training Center offers webinar recordings.
- The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) has listings of online training and webinars.
- The NOVA Victim Assistance Academy
- NOVA Membership: Become a NOVA Premier Member ($80 – military members discounted rate) to gain access to NOVA’s Live Monthly Webinars and earn up to 24 CEUs a year.
- Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center
- Office for Victims of Crime offers an online advanced victim advocacy training course (AMSAAT), open only to DSAACP certified personnel, please contact OVC for access at [email protected] or 866-682-8822.
- The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape & National Sexual Violence Resource Center offers online modules of varying topics related to the field of victim advocacy. Document completion of the course by listing it on page 14 or DSAID and having your SARC/Supervisor sign off on that document.
- The Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs offers online modules of varying topics related to the field of victim advocacy. If a certificate of completion is not provided, document completion of the course by listing it on page 14 or DSAID and having your SARC/Supervisor sign off on that document.
Contact your state sexual assault coalition. They may offer online training or may be able to connect you to local resources. To find your state coalition, refer to RAINN’s website.
Connect with local crisis centers or hospitals –they may offer training or be able to come speak at your installation.
NOVA also offers customized in-person and virtual training.
The Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center offers a 1-hour on-line Confidentiality and a .75-hour Ethics training module that counts towards the D-SAACP Victim Advocacy Ethics CEU requirement (as part of their VAT Online Core Competency & Skills catalog). Please note the Ethics training module is only .75 CEUs, it cannot be rounded up.
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape & National Sexual Violence Resource Center offers a 1-hour on-line Ethical Practice and a 1-hour on-line Confidentiality training module that count towards the D-SAACP Victim Advocacy Ethics CEU requirement. Document completion of the course by listing it on page 14 or DSAID and having your SARC/Supervisor sign off on that document.
Texas Victim Assistance Training Online offers a 1-hour on-line ethics training that counts towards the D-SAACP Victim Advocacy Ethics CEU requirement. If you do not have time to wait for the certificate, document completion of the course by listing it on page 14 or DSAID and having your SARC/Supervisor sign off on that document.
The Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs offers a 1-hour online Ethics of Confidentiality training that counts towards the D-SAACP Victim Advocacy Ethics CEU requirement. Document completion of the course by listing it on page 14 or DSAID and having your SARC/Supervisor sign off on that document.
Facilitator Information: Office of Victims of Crime Ethics in Victim Services is a trainer’s toolkit and is only acceptable if it is presented as an in person training. It is not acceptable to review the materials on your own and generate your own certificate.