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2008 VOCA
National Training Conference

National Association of VOCA
Assistance Administrators

September 17 - 19, 2008
Hyatt Regency Buffalo
Two Fountain Plaza
Buffalo, NY 14202

Who Should Attend?
State VOCA Victim Assistance managers and staff who would like up-to-date information to improve the effectiveness and results of their programs. The conference will focus primarily on the knowledge, experience and strategies helpful to improve program performance to better serve victims of crime.

The conference is restricted to administrators, managers, and staff of the 56 state-level agencies designated to administer VOCA victim assistance formula grants. This conference is NOT open to VOCA subgrantees, other direct service providers, trainers, educators or others not directly responsible for state administration of VOCA victim assistance formula grants.

Conference attendees need to:

2. Make their hotel room reservations
(see important information below)

Conference Registration Information
Thanks to the generous support from the Office for Victims of Crime there is no registration fee for VOCA assistance administrators and staff attending the conference.

The conference will formally begin on the morning of Wednesday, September 17 and end at noon on Friday, September 19. Participants should plan to arrive on Tuesday, September 16 and depart on the afternoon of Friday, September 19.

Hotel Reservation Information
The Conference will be held at Hyatt Regency Buffalo at a special conference rate of $86.00/night (plus 13.75% local tax) for single or double occupancy.

Hyatt Regency Buffalo
Two Fountain Plaza
Buffalo, New York 14202
Tel: 716-856-1234
Fax: 716-856-6157

Web site: http://buffalo.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

For Reservations, call 1-800-233-1234 (ask for the "VOCA Conference" group rate).
or click here for VOCA Conference Hotel Reservation Web site.*
The cut-off date for hotel room reservations is August 16, 2008

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Please make your hotel room reservation and conference registration as early as possible. We cannot guarantee the availability of hotel rooms at the conference rate once our reservation block is filled (even if that occurs before the cut-off date) or after the cut-off date.

*The hotel will honor our conference room rate for several days prior to and after the conference depending on room availability. You will have to use the phone reservation system for these nights as the web site will not accept shoulder night reservations.

Niagara Falls Tour
Conference participants are invited to join their colleagues on a special guided tour of fabulous Niagara Falls.  The 5-hour evening tour will take place after conference workshops on Wednesday, September 17. Reservations must be made by August 1, 2008. 
  • Click here for more information about the trip.

  • For online credit card payment, click here.

NAVAA Membership Meeting/Lunch
NAVAA will conduct its annual membership meeting during a provided lunch on Wednesday, Septermber 17.  The lunch is complimentary for staff of NAVAA member agencies "in good standing."  Others are invited to attend but must pay for the cost of the lunch ($40/person); click here for online credit card payment or send check made out to NAVAA to: NAVAA Lunch, 5702 Old Sauk Road, Madison, WI 53705.

Please check back for additional Conference Information.


Proposed Workshop Topics - Tentative

• Allowable VOCA Costs
• Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence
• Best Practices to Reach the Underserved
• Child Indian Sexual Abuse
• Developing Obtainable Outcomes
• Ethics in Victim Services
• Evaluating Child Advocacy Centers
• Faith-based Initiatives
• Funding Challenges: Making Tough Decisions
• Funding Strategies
• Holistic treatment for crime victims
• Identity Theft
Immigration Issues in Victim Services
• Measuring Cultural Competency

• Mental Health/Substance Abuse Issues
• OCFO Financial Management
• OJP Grant Management System (GMS)
• Program Standards
• Research on Rural Victimization
Serving Victims with Limited/No English Proficiency
• State Technology Demonstrations
• Subgrant monitoring
• Subgrantee Sustainability
• Victimization and Spirituality
• Victims Rights Compliance
• VOCA Grant Solicitation, Review and Selection