The Premier Victim Advocacy and Crisis Response Conference
Connect | Learn | Engage | Grow
NOVA’s Annual Training Event provides the victim assistance community of advocates, crisis responders, and other allied professionals with an opportunity to connect and gain best emerging practices for serving survivors of crime. Offered both in-person and virtually each year, attendees choose from an extensive list of workshop topics and hear from inspiring keynote speakers!
Through NOVA’s Annual Training Event, you will engage and network with your colleagues and a community who gets what it means to do this work. NOVA keeps your health and wellbeing in mind with self-care offerings throughout this four day conference. These events are intended to provide you with an opportunity to invest in yourself so our amazing field of victim services can continue to prosper and grow.
Why We Advocate: Celebrating Community
NOVA’s 51st Annual Training Event will be held in San Francisco on July 22-25, 2025. Our theme is Why We Advocate: Celebrating Community! Join us for this unique event for survivor services professionals across the globe.
Registration will open before the end of January. Keep checking back for more information on this event or sign up for our email list to stay in the know on registration, keynote announcements and more!
Hotel and Event Site
The 51st Annual Training Event will be held at the Hilton San Fransisco Union Square. NOVA has secured a room block at the government rate of $259/night (plus tax). A link to reserve a room at this rate is provided in your confirmation email after registering.
Address: 333 O’Farrell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Keynote Speakers
Tarana Burke
We are thrilled to announce that Tarana J. Burke, the trailblazing activist, advocate, and founder of the groundbreaking ‘Me Too.’ Movement will be joining us as a keynote speaker for NOVA’s 51st Annual Training Event in San Francisco! For over 25 years, Tarana has been a champion for survivors, a voice for marginalized communities, and a driving force behind a global reckoning with sexual violence and systemic inequities. Her profound work at the intersection of racial justice, gender equity, and anti-violence advocacy has inspired millions and continues to empower survivors worldwide.
Through her New York Times bestsellers Unbound and You Are Your Best Thing, Tarana has illuminated the transformative power of healing, storytelling, and empathy. Her message—centered on survivor-led solutions and the importance of community—perfectly aligns with this year’s theme: Why We Advocate: Celebrating Community. This is your opportunity to hear from a visionary leader whose resilience and compassion have redefined advocacy on a global scale. Join us in San Francisco to hear Tarana and fellow keynote speakers share insights and their vision for building a world where justice and healing are accessible to all.
Stay tuned! More exciting announcements to come...
Registration Rates
Member Rates
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Early Bird Registration $550
NOVA members rate for in-person conference between January – March 31, 2025
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Standard Registration $625
Registration rates between April 1 – June 30, 2025
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Final Rate $675
Registration rates between July 1 – July 11, 2025
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Virtual Conference $550
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Student $150
For current students who do not already have a job in the victim assistance field.
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Group Rate $25 off per registration
Groups of 5 or more registering under one payment (automatically applied)
Non-Member Rates
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Early Bird Registration $650
Non-members rate for in-person conference between January – March 31, 2025
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Standard Registration $725
Registration rates between April 1 – June 30, 2025
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Final Rate $775
Registration rates between July 1 – July 11, 2025
-
Virtual Conference $550
-
Student $150
For current students who do not already have a job in the victim assistance field.
-
Group Rate $25 off per registration
Groups of 5 or more registering under one payment (automatically applied)
OVW Grantees and using grant funding
OVW grantees interested in using OVW grant funding to cover the costs of attending this event must submit a Grant Award Modification (GAM) to the DOJ JustGrants system for approval. OVW program specialist approval is required prior to completing registration and booking travel.
Pre-Training Institutes (NEW in 2025!)
NOVA will offer four pre-institute sessions the day prior to the start of the full training event on Monday July 21, 2025. These full day, intensive sessions will offer attendees the opportunity to receive additional continuing education units (CEUS). Take a look at the amazing institutes lined up for 2025!
Pre-Institute Descriptions
The Silent Crime of Stalking
Stalking impacts 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men. Stalking often goes unreported and victims unserved until the crime escalates to physical harm. This institute will help advocates understand the complexities of stalking, intersections with gender-based violence, and trauma-informed practices to serve victims of stalking.
In this pre-conference on stalking, attendees will have the opportunity to go from beginners in the stalking field to trauma-informed responders. Leading experts will educate attendees from basic stalking knowledge to in-depth research. During this training, two uniquely different stalking case studies will be presented, with the victim/survivors presenting, to provide personal testimony and education.
You will learn from the national leading experts on stalking, walk away with a new tool kit to not only respond to stalking, and also how to serve all victims of gender-based violence.
Fighting Childhood Victimization
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) will offer a child advocacy pre-institute for Mental Health Providers, Victim Assistance Advocates, and Crisis Services Professionals working to support victims and families of missing and exploited children.
Participants attending this pre-institute will:
- Build awareness of strategies that support victims and families by exploring how cases can impact advocates and build support
- Discuss online victimization and the impact this crime has on the past, present, and future
- Analyze a case study on the impact of extended family members and the importance of help for siblings
- Learn strategies for age appropriate and survivor-centered prevention programs to share with schools and community organizations
Youth Engagement
NOVA’s Youth Engagement Pre-Institute is an opportunity for youth ages 16 – 24 and adults working at youth-led or youth-serving organizations to engage in active discussion around the ethics of youth engagement, the future of youth advocacy, and re-defining youth service within the field of victim advocacy.
The Youth Engagement Pre-Institute is designed to be a collaborative community space for youth-advocates and youth empowerment professionals to think creatively and strategically about youth engagement in victim services.
Leadership and Management
Over the last 20 years, organizational goals and workplace dynamics have become more challenging. The pace of change, financial uncertainties, workforce diversity, and technological advances and an assortment of risks are just a few of the ingredients that place enormous pressure on today’s organizational leaders and managers.
This session will review 5 key areas of leadership and management that are crucial to success with your team and organization. Using an integrated learning model, participants will learn about key leadership and management topics and have the chance to apply their learning in live case-study simulations.
- Module 1: Recognizing your Leadership Capacity
- Module 2: Talent Management: Building and Managing a High Performing Team
- Module 3: Execution: How to Get Things Done
- Module 4: Financial Management for the Non-Financial Manager
- Module 5: Communication Essentials
Registration to attend pre-institutes on Monday July 21, 2025 is required and is not included in the registration to attend NOVA’s Annual Training Event from July 22 – July 25, 2025. Attendees can select to add on pre-institute registration to their Annual Training Event registration or select to attend only the day of the pre-institute.
Registration costs cover attendance to the institute only, they do not include any meals, boarding or travel costs associated with attending the pre-institute.
Pre-Institute Training Session: Pricing Details
- NOVA Member Add-on to Event Registration: $150
- Non-Member Add-on to Event Registration: $175
- Pre-Institute Only: $200 (does not include registration for NOVA’s 51st Annual Training Event)
- Student Rate: $50
Teen Track: BLOOM365
Know a passionate teen advocate? The BLOOM365 Teen Track at the NOVA 51st Annual Training Event is a highly engaging four-day Peer Advocate training for teens with a common goal to uproot abuse in a generation.
Click here to download the information packet and learn more!
The 2025 Virtual Training Event
What is the virtual alternative to the in-person event?
NOVA’s Virtual Training Event is a great option for those that can’t attend the in-person conference or are looking for a little more flexibility!
Each September following the in-person Annual Training Event, NOVA offers a virtual option to remain more accessible to the field. Virtual attendees enjoy live online workshops and access quality recordings of some of our Keynote sessions from the in-person event. It is a great option if you need a little flexibility because attendees have access to recordings for up to 90 days. Both events provide the opportunity to earn up to 19 CEUs! Take advantage of a bundle registration deal to attend both events, and earn up to 32 CEUs. Learn more about our last Virtual Training Event!
Workshop Proposals
Thank you to all who submitted Proposals for our 51st Annual Training Event!
For the past 50 years NOVA has hosted a professional training event across the U.S. bringing together over 60,000 advocates and victim service professionals. NOVA anticipates attendance of 2,000+ attendees at the upcoming training event, the majority of whom will include, but not be limited to, victims of crime, victim advocates, student advocates, first responders, sexual assault and domestic violence advocates, prosecutors, judges, social workers, and other allied professionals working in both military and civilian agencies worldwide. Learn more…
Deadline to submit a workshop proposal has passed: October 31st, 2024 5:00PM EST. Thank you to all who submitted!
Sponsorship & Exhibiting
Registration coming soon!
Registration to be a #NOVA51 Sponsor or Exhibitor will open this winter. We hope you will join us in San Francisco! Check back for more or sign up for our e-mailing list.
Got Questions? We have answers!
Because of the varying needs and costs associated, NOVA is not able to provide continuing education (CEUs) for every discipline, however, NOVA is able to provide NACP and D-SAACP CEUs for the event. This does not mean that you may not be able to utilize the conference for CEUs for your discipline, however, you would need to contact your organization to find out how to use your CEU report to obtain the continuing education credit you are seeking.
You can quickly and easily access an invoice through our registration portal.
The attendee (or cardholder) can begin the process by clicking the appropriate registration (Member, Non-Member or Group) and creating an account in the registration portal. Follow the prompts provided. Click the “Purchase” button after selecting your desired registration and add-ons.
On the registration details page, you can add another ‘Registrant’ or proceed to your payment method. Select to pay by: “Invoice.” An invoice for the selected registration will be sent to you and additional email addresses can be added to receive a confirmation email at the bottom of the page.
Once the invoice is approved by the organization, if a credit card payment would like to be made instead, the account is available for future access via sign-in on the online portal. If the organization would rather pay by check, mail a copy of the confirmation email to NOVA along with the check to:
NOVA
Attn: NOVA Conference Registration
510 King Street, STE 220
Alexandria, VA 22314
No. NOVA must receive full payment (or checks must be posted) by the appropriate cutoff date to receive the associated registration rate. An invoice is NOT considered payment or a hold to lock in the early bird rate. An invoice must be paid in full by the appropriate cutoff date to qualify for that rate.
OVW Grantees from the Performance, Assessment, Research and Evaluation (PARE) program do not have to submit a GAM or obtain permission from their program manager. OVW Grantees from the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV), Justice for Families (JFF), Culturally Specific Services (CSSP), Transitional Housing (TH), and Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program (SAS CSP) programs are required to submit a GAM to get approval specific to their awards.
For all other grant programs, grantees must contact their program specialist directly to obtain approval on a case-by-case basis.
The registration fee covers attendance of the 4-day event, to include access to 99 different workshops, dynamic keynote sessions, as well as the Opening and Closing, NOVA 51st Anniversary Reception and other networking opportunities. Meals, transportation, and airfare are all separate from the registration fee and not provided by NOVA in your registration fee. All registration fees must be paid in full by July 3, 2025 to avoid cancellation.
In-Person:
For all paid registrations, a refund, less a $90 cancellation charge, is available if a cancellation request is received via mail, fax or email at the NOVA office by 5:00PM, ET June 6, 2025. Refund requests must be emailed to: [email protected]. No refunds are available, for any reason, after June 6, 2025, 5:00PM, ET.
NOVA is unable to refund only the virtual or in-person component of a bundled deal. Your total registration cost is subject to the same cancellation policy above.
Paid registrations for the in-person 51st Annual Training Event may not be transferred to NOVA’s 2025 Virtual Conference after June 6, 2025, 5:00 PM ET.
Virtual:
For all paid registrations, a refund, less a $90 cancellation charge, is available if a cancellation request is received via mail, fax or email at the NOVA office by 5:00PM, ET August 15, 2025. Refund requests must be emailed to: [email protected]. No refunds are available, for any reason, after August 15, 2025, 5:00PM, ET.
NOVA is unable to refund only the virtual or in-person component of a bundled deal. Your total registration cost is subject to the same cancellation policy above.
Paid registrations for the in-person 51st Annual Training Event may not be transferred to NOVA’s 2025 Virtual Conference after June 6, 2025, 5:00PM ET.
All requests must be made via email by contacting [email protected]. Requests cannot be made over the phone.
Transfer to Virtual (ONLY BEFORE JUNE 6, 2025):
Prior to June 6, 2025 you may transfer your registration to the virtual training event. Paid registrations for the in-person 51st Annual Training Event may NOT be transferred to NOVA’s 2025 Virtual Conference after June 6, 2025, 5:00 PM ET.
Transfer your Registration to a Colleague (ONLY BEFORE JUNE 30):
If you are registered for the in-person event only, and are no longer interested in attending, NOVA will allow a one-time switch to a different person within your organization until June 30, 2025. Registration transfer requests can be made by the attendee, or organization, by putting the request in writing via email: [email protected] to let us know which attendee is no longer able to attend and the person who is taking their place.
FOR VIRTUAL ATTENDEES:
If you have a paid registration for the virtual conference and are no longer able to attend, you may contact [email protected] before 5pm ET on Friday, September 12th to request your registration be transferred to another individual. Please include the individual’s first and last name and email address when requesting the transfer.
The Virtual Bundle rate is only available to those who attended NOVA’s 51st Annual Training Event in-person in San Francisco. The Virtual Bundle cannot be transferred to another person.
Your registration may not be adjusted for any reason after Friday, September 12th.
All requests must be made via email by contacting [email protected]. Requests cannot be made over the phone.
In-Person:
NOVA loves to give back to our community! In 2025, we will be giving Five (5) Need-Based Scholarships for NOVA’s 51st Annual Training Event!
Scholarships will cover the conference registration fee and 4 nights at the conference hotel.
Eligibility
- Victim Advocates in the U.S. and its territories
- Advocates over the age of 18
- Advocates with who can convey a financial need or organization restrictions to securing funding to attend NOVA’s annual training even
Requirements
- Letter of support from your agency’s supervisors
- Completed Application submitted by 8pm ET on February 28, 2025
- Resume
- Short Bio
Application form will open with registration and applications will be reviewed by NOVA. Scholarship recipients will be contacted no later than March 15, 2024.
Virtual:
Current college students looking to attend NOVA’s Annual Training Event qualify for an exclusive student rate of $150 to attend.
Student Rate Discount Eligibility
- Students in the U.S. and its territories
- Full-time College Student or Recent Grad (within past year)
- Student displays an interest in entering the field of victim advocacy
- Student not already employed by a community organization or victim service agency
Student Rate Discount Requirements
- Complete the online student rate request form
- NOVA will review each request, confirm eligibility requirements, and contact applicants via email to provide the student rate discount code
For questions regarding the student rate please email [email protected]
Yes! You will be able to track the CEUs you earn during each event by using the NOVA Training Event App. You will need to take a survey and enter a check in code for each session you attend in order to track what you’ve attended. At the end of the event, your CEU transcript will be emailed to you.
Nope! While many attendees may work as advocates, the event is open to anyone who works with or serves survivors/victims of crime. This includes crisis responders, law enforcement, etc.
If the staff member (attendee) has already requested an invoice and has an online account, please have them provide you with their log-in details to access their account. You will then be able to go to the “View Orders” page and pay the pending amount to finish their registration
If the attendee has not yet created an account, you as the cardholder may go online and register the attendee by filling in their relevant information and completing the payment. On the final confirmation page, you will also be able to send the payment confirmation email to yourself.
No. Please be sure to use the correct, authorized credit card to register for this event. Once processed, your payment is final and cannot be exchanged using a different credit card.
NOVA is offering multiple options for this year’s conference.
By registering for both the in-person and virtual event, you have the opportunity to earn up to 32 CEUs (please note that all CEUs must come from new learning. You will not be able to receive CEUs for attending the same workshop/keynote/plenary session twice). The In-Person Conference will be taking place in San Francisco, CA July 22 – July 25, 2025 . The Virtual Conference will be taking place live online from September 22 – 26th, 2025 and the recorded content will be available for up to 90 days.
All workshops are first-come, first-serve. We encourage attendees to identify a minimum of first and second choice workshops in the conference app to ensure that if your first-choice workshop room is filled, you know where to head for your second choice. But selecting your favorites in the app is not a reservation of space. Once capacity has been reached for a workshop session, that room will be closed and no longer available for attendees to enter.
NOVA will be recording the Keynote(s), and Closing Town Hall sessions which will all be available for the virtual attendees to view. NOVA will have 9 virtual sessions selected from our most popular workshops at the in-person event to cover a variety of topics across the field of advocacy.
NOVA is committed to accessibility and inclusion in all our trainings. Inclusive of providing reasonable accommodations for all participants with disabilities to meet their access needs. Please contact NOVA ([email protected]) for more information or to request an accommodation no later than June 20, 2025.
Yes. NOVA’s Annual Training Event is a service animal friendly space. The hotel is also welcoming of all emotional support pets and service animals. Pet relief areas will be marked in NOVA’s conference app.
The member rate, where specified, is offered to current members only. Individual memberships are non-transferable and non-refundable. The rate will be automatically applied by entering your email at the beginning of the registration process. Be sure to use the same email associated with your NOVA Membership.
NOTE: NOVA Membership and being a Credentialed Advocate (NACP or D-SAACP) are not the same.
The Training Event hotel has a parking garage for hotel guests, and attendees of NOVA’s Training Event. More information about parking will be provided soon.
Registration will close by July 3, 2025 or when capacity is reached. Registration is first come, first serve and your registration is not confirmed until payment is received.
No. NOVA typically reaches capacity prior to the event start date, and therefore does not offer on-site registration. We recommend registering online and completing your payment before July 3, 2025. The deadline to register and pay for the virtual event is September 8, 2025.
Unfortunately, personal guests are not permitted at any of the conference activities. If you are traveling with a Personal Care Attendant, please submit an accommodation request to NOVA via email [email protected] so we can support your access needs.
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