Meets requirements for 1.5 hours of NACP and D-SAACP Sexual Assault Prevention
and Response (SAPR) Program Ethics Training
Mr. Charles Lay
Kentucky National Guard Victim Advocate Coordinator
502-607-1276
Professional Ethics for Victim Advocacy
NOTE: This training has been adapted from the NGB SAPR Ethics Training,
NOVA’s D-SAACP Ethics Training, and OVCTTAC Ethics Training,
DISCLAIMER
Objectives
1. To explain the role of ethics in providing advocacy services
2. To provide an in depth explanation of the ethical guidelines
governing victim advocates as outlined by the National Organization for
Victim Assistance
3. To ensure an understanding of how good ethics plays a role in
building trust between an advocate and their client, and builds trust in
an advocacy program
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Poll Questions
1. Advocates should never give a victim or survivor their personal cell
or home phone number.
2. Advocates may attend a victim or survivor’s graduation or other
special even if requested by the victim/survivor.
3. Advocates should never accept a gift from a victim or survivor.
4. It is never the advocate’s role to discuss religion or spirituality with
a victim/survivor.
5. Advocates should always disclose to the victim any conflicts of
interest, including prior relationships with the alleged perpetrator(s)
or other involved parties. 4
Ethics
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• Merriam-Webster Dictionary Definition:
– a set of moral principles
– a theory or system of moral values
– the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group
(professional ethics)
– a guiding philosophy
– a consciousness of moral importance
What are Ethics?
Ethics
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• Merriam-Webster Dictionary Definition:
– A set or rules about good and bad behavior
• Ethics and a Code of Ethics are not laws, but may be guided by laws,
regulations, policies, and other governing guidelines
• Purpose of a code of ethics:
– Safeguards the reputation of the profession
– Protects the public from exploitation
– Furthers competent and responsible practice
What is a Code of Ethics?
Ethics
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Imagine a world without Ethics; how would that look?
National Organization for Victim Assistance
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National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA)
http://www.trynova.org/overview
Founded in 1975, NOVA is the oldest national victim assistance
organization of its type in the United States as the recognized leader in
this noble cause. NOVA is a private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.
The Values of NOVA:
− Compassion: We care about and respond to the plight of
people and one another.
− Accountability: Excellence in our work and justice in our cause
means we honor our commitments.
− Collaboration: Teamwork at every level is crucial to the work
we do.
− Passion: We are driven by the hope that what we do makes a
difference.
National Advocate Credentialing Program
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• NOVA is recognized as the leading agency for providing a nationally
recognized credential (NACP) for those working 3in the field of victim
advocacy. NACP is designed to promote a minimum of forty hours of
pre-service training for advocates, recognizes the advocate’s years of
experience, whether volunteer or paid, and requires continuing
education for all advocates credentialed under the program.
• 4 levels offered (depending on the training requirements)
– Provisional
– Basic
– Intermediate
– Advanced
• NOVA adopted their current Code of Professional Ethics for Victim
Assistance providers as part of their NACP credentialing process on
April 22, 1995.
National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP)
DoD Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program
• Signed into law by the President on 31 December 2011
• Section 582
– “This section would also require the Secretary of Defense to establish a training and certification program for Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Sexual Assault Victim Advocates.”
• Required all military Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocates and Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) to be certified by FY 2014 (1 October 2013
• NOVA was selected to administer the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP) based on their experience with the NACP
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Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA)
National Victim Assistance Standards Consortium (NVASC)
• Created in 2000 by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
• Purpose: To create model program, competency, and ethical standards
• Result: Standards for Victim Assistance Programs and Providers
• Ethics in Victim Services – book base on the NVASC model
• Covers four categories:
– Scope of Services – Professional Activities
– Coordinating with the Community - Collaboration
– Direct Services - Relationships
– Administration and Evaluation – Monitors activities and relationships 11
NVASC
Military Regulatory Requirements
Regulatory Requirements for Military SARCs and VAs
• DoDI 6495.03 – D-SAACP – Change 1 – 20170407
• AFI 90-6001 - SAPR Program - 20150521 - Change 1 - 20160318 -
memo revision dated 20171012
• Deputy Chief of Staff Army G-1 Memo - SHARP D-SAACP,
Screening, Training and ASI Procedures – 20170119
• CNGBM 1300.01 – National Guard Implementation of the D-SAACP
– 20160921
• There are multiple other regulatory requirements for screening and
credentialing of those serving in military roles as SARCs and VA12
NACP and D-SAACP
Code Of
Professional Ethics
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SARC/SAPR VA Code of Professional Ethics
Professional Ethics for Victim Assistance Providers
The Victim Assistance Provider shall:
• Recognize victim’s interests are PRIMARY
• Protect civil and legal rights of victim
• Protect/Respect privacy and confidentiality
• Provide compassionate and personalized victim services
• Always believe, without reservation or judgment
• NEVER blame the victim regardless of victim’s conduct
• Empower victims, foster maximum self-determination
15
Working with Victims/Clients
The Victim Assistance Provider shall:
• Provide services as a victim advocate when asked or assigned
and operate within policies, guidelines, and laws
• Avoid conflicts of one victim over another when providing
services; if need be, refer one client to another victim assistance
provider
• Maintain appropriate boundaries and professional relationships
with victims
• Refer victims to appropriate resources or services only in the
victim’s best interest; avoid conflicts of interest in the process
• Provide opportunities for colleagues to seek appropriate services
when traumatized by a criminal event or a client16
Working with Victims
Working With Other Professionals
The Victim Assistance Provider shall:
• Promote mutual respect among all professional colleagues, to
include other victim service agencies and first responders
• Only make statements critical of colleagues only if they are
verifiable and constructive in purpose
• Conduct relationships with allied professionals to give them
equal respect and dignity
• Do not engage in gossip about colleagues and work to quell
insubstantial rumors and other professionals
• Share knowledge and encourage proficiency among colleagues
• Support newly appointed personnel to promote consistent quality
and professionalism 17
Working With Other Professionals
The Victim Assistance Provider shall:
• Ensure volunteers have access to training, supervision,
resources, and support to assist victims
• Promote crime and violence prevention as a public service
• Respect laws, regulations, and policies while working to change
those that may be unjust or discriminatory
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Victim Assistance Provider’s Personal Conduct
The Victim Assistance Provider shall:
• Maintain high personal and professional standards
• Seek and maintain proficiency in delivery of services to victims
• Do not discriminate against any victim or anyone
• Respect the privacy of victim information before, during, and
after the professional relationship; do not disclose identifying
information without clear permission or legal requirement to do
so
• In public statements clearly separate personal views and
organizational views
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Victim Assistance Provider’s Personal Conduct
The Victim Assistance Provider shall:
• Do not use your role to secure gifts, money, or special privileges
• Notify appropriate authorities of unprofessional conduct by a
colleague or allied professional that constitutes mistreatment of a
client or that brings the profession into disrepute
• Identify, acknowledge, and address any conflicts of interest for
yourself or a colleague in providing victim services to a client, or
working with an allied professional or colleague
• The military requires all SARCs and SAPR VAs to notify
competent authority immediately if charged, arrested, and/or
convicted of any criminal activity
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Scenarios
For the following scenarios:
• Identify the relevant ethical code
• How would you respond to the situation?
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Scenario #1
Advocate Jones has been assigned to a case and
the victim has elected to make a restricted report.
She is very afraid of reprisals. Advocate Jones
knows the alleged offender, who is in a leadership
role.
Advocate Jones tells the victim that she has a
responsibility to go unrestricted to protect others.
Advocate Jones notifies command and law
enforcement of the report.
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Scenario #2
Advocate Marshall has been assigned a case where
the victim is 19 and was drinking at the time of rape.
The advocate’s supervisor is talking to Advocate
Marshall about the case and the advocate says:
“I get so angry with these young girls today. The
clothes they wear are so short and revealing and
they go out drinking until they are falling down
drunk. Seriously, what do they expect? And in the
process they ruin the life of some poor young man.”
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Scenario #3
Advocate Jane is incredibly dedicated to the
program and proud of her role as an advocate. She
is assigned a case and works with the victim to
define goals and a course of action.
Jane calls agencies for the victim, scheduling
appointments and does all the leg work for
resources. Jane even calls the victim the night
before appointments and provides transportation,
even though the victim has his own transportation.
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Scenario #4
Advocate Bob is assigned a report where the victim
does not want to notify law enforcement. The
alleged offender is someone Bob is dating. Bob
recognizes the conflict of interest, but doesn’t want
to disclose his sexual orientation to his supervisor.
He can’t believe his boyfriend could commit such a
crime, especially against a woman, and he feels he
can still be effective as an advocate.
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Scenario #5
Karen has worked with Cheryl since her case was first
reported to the police. As an advocate, Karen has been
with Cheryl through each step from her hospitalization to
the trial of her abuser. Karen has spent a great deal of time
with Cheryl and Karen knows that but for her professional
role, the two would be very good friends. Cheryl and her
daughter are going to Florida to relax after all the stress
they have endured and have asked Karen to join them to
decompress, too. Karen has several weeks of vacation and
doesn’t see any harm in going along if she pays her own
airfare. She knows she would enjoy their company and
thinks it might be okay to go since the case is now officially
over. Should Cheryl accept the invitation?26
Recognizing Biases and Personal Issues
• Everyone has their own unique set of values and experiences that
influence their perception of events
• To be effect, the Victim Advocate must be aware of his or her
personal biases
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Scenario #6
The program supervisor of the advocate keeps all
cases and provides victim advocacy.
The program supervisor feels that the advocates are
too new and will not provide the same level of
advocacy as the supervisor is able to, because the
supervisor has been doing this longer and
understands the program and what services are
available better than the advocates do.
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Scenario #7
Sara SARC is attending a screening of The Invisible
War and is a panel member for the discussion after
the film.
During the panel discussion Sara says “Everyone is
slamming the military when half the reports we
receive are false. I’m a ANG SARC, so I should
know!”
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Scenario #8
The advocate comes to their supervisor with some concerns.
The advocate and the victim work within the same large
organization, though not in the same section and did not know
each other previously. The advocate has been assigned to a
case and the victim’s managers are supporting the alleged
offender. The managers are actively trying to force the victim
out of the organization and have threatened to block the
advocates upcoming promotion because of the police report
the victim filed against the alleged offender.
The advocate has been working hard for this promotion and
wants to be removed from the case. The advocates also wants
to protect the victim, but is too afraid of reprisals.30
Scenario #9
An advocate comes to you about a case they were
just assigned. The advocate is complaining because
the victim is not religious.
The advocate says “You know I’m a (fill in religion of
your choice). It’s really hard for me to believe what
she is telling me. Everyone knows non-(religion) lie
about things all the time.”
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Ethical Violations Impact the Program
• Impacts program image and trust in the program
– Victims stop seeking advocacy assistance
• Diminishes community relations
• Rumors and innuendos
• Loss of personnel
• Less collaboration with local stakeholders
• Decreases the ability to work as a team
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Victim Assistance Standards
Competency Standards
• Communication
• Response to Victimization
• Crisis Support
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Victim Assistance Standards
Communication – Victim assistance personnel
communicate effectively with victims by:
• Recognize and understand the basic principles of effective
communication
• Listening attentively to the victims
• Using effective communication
• Monitor verbal and nonverbal reactions when communicating
with the victim
• Educating and explaining your role
• Understanding and describing to victims the variety of resources
available 34
Victim Assistance Standards
Response to Victimization – Victim assistance personnel
help victims deal with their individual responses to
victimization by:
• Recognizing the range of reactions to victimization
• Recognizing the impact of trauma on victims
• Understanding the relationship dynamics and environmental
stressors
• Recognizing the importance of victim self care
• Understanding the impact of crime
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Victim Assistance Standards
Crisis Support – Victim Assistance personnel provide
support when confronted with a crisis situation by:
• Understanding specific program policies and procedures
• Listening attentively
• Understanding and facilitating victim safety
• Recognizing exceptions to restricted reporting
• Addressing foreseeable crisis situations
• Helping victims identify and prepare for potential stressors
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Conclusion
• Professional ethics are important in your role providing
victim advocacy services
• Always remember the critical role played by victim
advocates
• Adhering to a Professional Code of Conduct protects victims
and makes programs stronger
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Questions?
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