WWU students attend Missouri Victims Services Academy

9/26/2011 Mary Ann Beahon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (573) 592-1127

 

Eight William Woods University seniors and two social work professors recently attended the Missouri Victims Services Academy at Lake Ozark. MVSA is a statewide victim advocate education program designed and implemented by victim service professionals throughout Missouri.
 
The three-day conference involved training sessions provided by various presenters, including WWU professors George Garner and Dr. Elizabeth Wilson.  Other presenters included representatives of the FBI, Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Missouri Department of Corrections, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Columbia chapter of Parents of Murdered Children.
 
William Woods University has been an academic partner with MVSA since 2007.  Other partners are the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services.
 
Training offered at the academy included:
  • Victims in the courtroom
  • Human trafficking
  • Mental health and victims of crime
  • Elder abuse
  • Crisis intervention
  • Victims of distracted driving
  • Cyber bullying and social networks
 
While the WWU professors gave presentations at the academy, the students had the chance to experience their career field outside the classroom. 
 
“[MVSA] provided networking for the students and helped them see professionals from different disciplines and allowed them to see different career paths,” Wilson said.
 
Devin Bain of St. Peters, Mo., attended the academy and said, “It really opened my eyes to career opportunities and it made me aware of social conditions I didn’t know about before.”  She also agreed that the conference provided her and the other students with good connections.
 
Wilson hopes that “William Woods will continue to be an academic partner” at future academies.  She also serves on a committee that surveys victim advocates across the state, and she hopes to receive more feedback for future academies. 
 
Bain recommends this program for other social work majors because it was helpful “to see the diversity of the social work field.”