CELEBRATING 24 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
Roper Victim Assistance Academy of Maryland Winter & Summer Virtual Sessions February 22-26 & May 24-28 2027 Questions: Anne at alitecky@ubalt.edu or 410.837.5055
2026 V-STEP ADVANCED TRAININGS
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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.eduor another staff member (not from
- Delivered virtually Eventbrite)
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TO REGISTER: Click on any “Register Here!” link below. You will be redirected to Eventbrite, where you can view training information and complete your registration. Please avoid submitting duplicate registrations.
THE IMPACT OF ADDICTIONS AND TRAUMA ON FAMILY HEALTH (4 Part Series) NEW! ~attend one or all ~
presented by Dr. Michael F. Barnes, MAC, LPC
Join Dr. Michael Barnes for an insightful presentation on the impact of chronic diseases on individuals and family systems. Participants will learn to define chronic diseases, including addiction, trauma, and various forms of mental illness, and understand their long-term effects. The session will cover Roland’s Phases of Family Adaptation to Chronic Illness, helping attendees assess where families are in this process. Dr. Barnes will describe how chronic diseases influence family dynamics, focusing on the 5 Rs: Rules, Roles, Routines, Rituals, and Relationships/Boundaries.
Session 1: THE IMPACT OF ADDICTION AND TRAUMA ON FAMILY SYSTEM HEALTH
Friday, October 9 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Session 2: FAMILY SYSTEM RESPONSE TO CHRONIC DISEASE
Friday, October 16 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Session 3: THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS FOR FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION AND TRAUMA
Friday, October 23 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Session 4: BUILDING LONG-TERM RECOVERY IN FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION AND TRAUMA
Friday, October 30 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
ETHICS IN VICTIM SERVICES Revised 2025
presented by Debbie Bradley, C.A., VSPIII
November 10 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM EST
BASICS OF INVESTIGATIONS: CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
presented by David Betz, DBA
Tuesday October 27 ~ 9:00AM - 1:00PM EST
BASICS OF INVESTIGATIONS: PHYSICAL ABUSE AND ABUSIVE HEAD TRAUMA NEW!
presented by David Betz, DBA
Tuesday November 3 ~ 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST
BEYOND THE VEIL: INVESTIGATING DRUG-FACILITATED SEXUAL ASSAULT NEW!
Wednesday, November 4 ~ 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST
Register Here!
RELATIONSHIP FRAUD AND ROMANCE SCAMS: THE NEW FACE OF FINANCIAL VICTIMIZATION NEW!
presented by David Betz, DBA
Monday November 9 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON THE DEVELOPING CHILD
presented by Dave Thomas
Thursday, November 12 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Register Here!
ENGAGING THE BYSTANDER
presented by Dave Thomas
Tuesday, November 17 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Register Here!
THE MYTH OF FALSE REPORTS
presented by Dave Thomas
Thursday, November 19 ~ 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Registration Coming Soon
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, November 18 ~ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
LEADERSHIP FOR PROFESSIONALS IN VICTIM SERVICES: 3 Part Presentation coming again in 2027
presented by Dr. Michael F. Barnes, MAC, LPC
This three-part series (3 hours per session) is designed for leaders in mental health, victim assistance, addiction treatment, and other high-exposure service settings. The curriculum frames compassion fatigue as an organizational risk variable and a leadership responsibility, and it equips leaders with practical tools to interrupt burnout and secondary trauma loops, strengthen team functioning, and build a measurable 90-day plan.
~ Presentation 1: Compassion Fatigue from a Leadership Perspective: Understanding the Leadership Problem
~ Presentation 2: Leadership vs. Management Under Chronic Stress: Why Teams Don’t Do What Leaders Ask (and How Stories Drive Culture)
~ Presentation 3: Assessing Compassion Fatigue Risk and Building a 90-Day Measurable Leadership Plan
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