CELEBRATING 23 YEARS!
ACADEMY FACULTY & STAFF
Dr. Debra L. Stanley
Executive Director
Anne Marie Milun
Program Manager
alitecky@ubalt.edu
Cherie Peay
Program Coordinator
Nicole Feldhaus
Technician
nfeldhauslitecky@ubalt.edu
Linda Dionne
Program Coordinator
ldionne@ubalt.edu
Debbie Bradley
Certification Coordinator
dbradley@ubalt.edu
Faculty:
David R. Thomas
Dr. Gabriela Wasileski
gwasileski@ubalt.edu
Dr. Melvin de la Cruz
mdelacruz@ubalt.edu
Contact Us
410.837.5055
2026 Roper Victim Assistance Academy Summer Session Virtual (June 1 - 5)
Applications Due May 4!
Questions: contact Anne Milun at alitecky@ubalt.edu or 410.837.5055
I 2026 V-STEP ADVANCED TRAININGS
(scroll down)
TRAININGS are EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
✅ Our Trainings: 📄 Additional Information:
- Address current topics in the field of crime victim services - Training descriptions and presenter biographies are posted
- Provide Certificates of Training online
- Offer Social Work Category I CEUs (for therapists and - Zoom Link: Registrants will receive their training Zoom link
counselors) & Academic Credits (1 credit per training hour) on the morning of the event directly from Cherie Peay at
- Are always free of charge cpeay@ubalt.edu (not from Eventbrite!)
- Delivered virtually
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TO REGISTER: Click on any “Register Here!” link below. You will be redirected to Eventbrite, where you can view training details and complete your registration. Please avoid submitting duplicate registrations.
V-STEP: LISA FERENTZ - TRAUMA TRAINING - 4 PART SERIES ~ attend one or all!
presented by Lisa Ferentz
SESSION I: TRAUMA INFORMED ASSESSMENT
Thursday, January 22 ~ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM EST
SESSION II: UNDERSTANDING DISSOCIATION IN TRAUMATIZED CLIENTS
Tuesday February 17 ~ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM EST
SESSION III: TREATING ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS IN TRAUMATIZED CLIENTS
Monday March 23, ~ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
SESSION IV: MOVING FROM POST -TRAUMATIC STRESS TO POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH
Monday, April 13 ~ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM EST
TRAUMA SERIES - 4 PART SERIES ~ attend one or all!
presented by Dr. Michael Barnes
SESSION I: NEUROBIOLOGY, MEMORY & SYMPTOMS of PTSD
Friday, March 6 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
SESSION II: UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSE & SYMPTOMS OF DEVELOPMENTAL/COMPLEX TRAUMA
Friday, March 13 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
SESSION III: SECONDARY TRAUMA AND IT'S IMPACT ON INDIVIDUAL FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE ENTIRE FAMILY SYSTEM
Friday, March 20 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
SESSION IV: COMPASSION FATIGUE AND THE COST OF CARING
Friday, March 27 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Register Here!
RESPONDING TO HOMICIDE CASES: BEST PRACTICES FOR VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS NEW!
presented by Debbie Bradley, C.A., VSPIII
Tuesday, March 24 ~ 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST
PHYSICAL ABUSE AND SHAKEN BABY INVESTIGATIONS
presented by David A. Betz
Wednesday, March 25 ~ 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST
TRAUMA INTEGRATED ADDICTION, AND COMPASSION FATIGUE & SELF CARE - 4 PART SERIES ~ NEW! ~ attend one or all!
presented by Dr. Michael Barnes
SESSION I: This presentation will delve into the Mesolimbic Dopamine Reward Pathway and its critical role in the development and maintenance of addictive behaviors.
Friday, April 3 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Register Here!
SESSION II: The session will explore the biology of trauma, highlighting its impact on memory, behavior, and addiction treatment.
Friday, April 10 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Register Here!
SESSION III: This session will provide a comprehensive presentation on effective treatment strategies for adolescent and young adult clients.
Friday, April 17 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Register Here!
SESSION IV: An insightful presentation on the challenges faced by helping professionals in trauma-informed care. The session will differentiate between empathy and compassion, highlighting their distinct consequences.
Friday, April 24 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Register Here!
Tuesday, April 7 ~ 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK: UNLOCKING THE SECRETS TO COLLABORATION AND SUCCESS NEW!
presented by David A. Betz
Wednesday, April 8 ~ 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST
Register Here!
UNMASKING THE ABUSER
presented by Dave Thomas
Thursday, April 9 ~ 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM EST
ALCOHOL/DRUG FACILITATED SEXUAL ASSAULT
presented by Dave Thomas
Tuesday, April 14 ~ 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM EST
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN MISCONDUCT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
presented by Dave Thomas
Thursday, April 16 ~ 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM EST
Register Here!
ETHICS IN VICTIM SERVICES Revised 2025!
presented by Debbie Bradley, C.A., VSPIII
Tuesday, April 21 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM EST
Monday, May 18 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM EST
DE-ESCALATION: RESTORATIVE APPROACHES
presented by Dave Thomas
Monday, April 20 ~ 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM EST
BEHIND THE VEIL: UNDERSTANDING DRUG-FACILITATED SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ITS IMPACT NEW!
co-presented by Dave Betz & Captain (Ret) Carl Brooks
Wednesday, April 22 ~ 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST
IMMIGRANT VICTIMS OF CRIME: Best Practices and Remedies
presented by Dr. Gabriela Wasileski
Tuesday, May 12 ~ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
FROM ANXIETY TO AUTHORITY: PRESENTIG WITH CONFIDENCE NEW!
presented by David A. Betz
Wednesday, May 13 ~ 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST
MARYLAND VICTIM ASSISTANCE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (Informational Session)
This one hour informational workshop will provide a brief introduction of the basic steps to becoming a certified victim assistance professional in Maryland, and answer questions...
presented by Debbie Bradley, C.A., VSPIII, MD Certification Coordinator
Wednesday, April 15 ~ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Wednesday, May 6 ~ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Please contact us to schedule a training specific to the needs of your organization.
Anne Milun, Program Manager (410) 837-5055 or alitecky@ubalt.edu
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RVAAM curriculum has been approved for selected professions (e.g. law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole) Participants will receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs), and are welcome to ask for academic credits.
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MARYLAND VICTIM ASSISTANCE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (MVSCP)
Debbie Bradley, C.A., VASIII
MD Certification Coordinator
What does it mean to be a Certified Victim Assistance Professional in Maryland?
This brief introduction will provide the basic steps to becoming a certified victim assistant professional. Learn how service providers in other states are using certification to their benefit. Becoming certified is easy!
Certification Processing
Certification application assistance
Qualification preparation
Information gathering
Qualification Processing
Time and space for filling out certification application
Refer to CERTIFICATION TAB for further details.
Register to attend an informational workshop: MARYLAND VICTIM ASSISTANCE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM