When I decided to pursue training as a certified victim advocate, I knew I wanted to start with a solid foundation. That’s why I was thrilled to secure a spot in the OVC TTAC Pathways in the Victim Services Field training series—a comprehensive program designed specifically for newcomers like me who are considering entering this meaningful field.
Why This Training Caught My Eye
The Pathways program immediately stood out because it takes a holistic approach to victim services. Rather than focusing on just one area, it explores and builds skills within three distinct but interconnected paths:
- Advocacy – Learning to be a powerful advocate for others
- Public speaking – Crafting and delivering compelling messages that increase public awareness
- Activism – Influencing public policy and creating meaningful change
What I appreciated most is that this victim advocate training is explicitly designed for people who are new to victim services or still exploring whether this field is right for them. As someone just starting this journey from a legal background, that felt like exactly what I needed.
The Program Structure
The training runs for six weeks online, starting September 15, 2025. Each week (except the introductory week) includes a 75-minute facilitated webinar, plus recommended readings, videos, and written assignments that take about an hour to complete. The format is perfect for working around other commitments, and since all webinars are recorded, there’s flexibility if you can’t attend live.
One detail that really impressed me: this is part of the NVAA Effective Management Series, and like all OVC TTAC trainings, there’s absolutely no cost to attend. For someone exploring a career change, that removes a significant barrier.
Week 1: Exploring Opportunities in Victim Services
The first week focused on “Exploring Opportunities in the Victim Services Field,” and it was exactly the reality check I needed. The session didn’t just paint a rosy picture of helping others—it dove deep into the personal considerations that anyone entering this field should examine.
Self-Reflection for Aspiring Victim Advocates
One of the most valuable aspects was the emphasis on self-reflection, particularly for those of us who may have experienced trauma ourselves. The training addressed crucial questions:
- How has trauma impacted my life, and what would I want to teach others in similar situations?
- What’s the best way for me to help others who have been through the same experiences?
- How do I avoid re-traumatization while serving others?
The training also introduced us to the concept of post-traumatic growth—the idea that people can experience positive psychological change following trauma. We were given the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, a tool that measures growth across five areas: relating to others, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual change, and appreciation of life. Questions like “I have more compassion for others” and “I established a new path for my life” helped us recognize how our own experiences might actually be strengths we bring to victim services.
This wasn’t just theoretical—the instructors provided practical grounding and self-regulation techniques, emphasizing that self-care isn’t selfish in this field; it’s essential.
Deep Self-Reflection Through Structured Worksheets
What really set this training apart was the thoughtful use of supplemental worksheets that went beyond surface-level career exploration. We received several reflection tools that forced me to think deeply about my motivations and readiness for this field.
The “Examining Your Path” worksheet asked the hard questions, and working through them helped me articulate things I’d been feeling but hadn’t quite put into words:
What opportunities in victim services excite me? As a domestic violence survivor and attorney, I’m drawn to bridging the legal system and victim advocacy. I want to help survivors navigate legal processes without feeling lost or voiceless, and to make the legal field more trauma-informed. But I’m also passionate about campus advocacy—when I experienced violence as a college student, neither my peers nor professors knew how to help. I want to be there for young people during such a vulnerable time in their lives.
What does my ideal position look like? I envision working directly with victims, helping them feel safe and heard throughout legal proceedings, while empowering those who choose not to pursue legal action to know their private healing journey is equally valid. I’d love a role that involves variety—working with hospitals, police, courts, and various organizations.
What skills do I want to develop? I need to learn trauma-informed communication techniques and crisis intervention. I want to know how to calm someone experiencing trauma, panic, or shock, and how to explain difficult concepts gently but thoroughly.
The “Exploring Your Possibilities” worksheet used fill-in-the-blank prompts that revealed even deeper motivations:
- “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to do campus advocacy. It’s interesting to me because I want to support young people during their most vulnerable time, when they’re often away from home and family support for the first time.”
- “If I had the right education or skill set, I’d definitely try trauma-informed communication techniques in legal settings, because even experienced mediators sometimes ask questions that retraumatize victims.”
- “If I had a free Saturday that had to be spent ‘working’ on something, I’d choose building a community garden, because gardening is therapeutic—it reminds me that things grow and there’s beauty in the world, and I’d love to share that healing experience with other survivors.”
- “When I retire, I want to be known for my compassion, because I have a lot of love and empathy to share with the world, and I hope I get the opportunity to share that.”
These exercises might seem simple, but they helped me see how my legal background, personal experience, and natural empathy could create a unique approach to victim advocacy.
Taking Action: My Next Steps
The training encouraged us to move beyond reflection into action, and I’m already taking steps. I’ve reached out to the Center for Community Solutions (CCS) here in my very own San Diego County for volunteer opportunities. CCS has been serving our community since 1969, providing trauma-informed, wrap-around services including a 24/7 crisis hotline, domestic violence shelters, counseling, legal services, and prevention education.
I see my volunteer work with CCS as a way to better understand what direct victim services looks like in practice. My hope is that this experience will eventually open doors to paid employment in the field, where I can fully integrate my legal background with victim advocacy. I’m particularly excited about the possibility that victim advocacy will fulfill me emotionally in ways that traditional legal practice never has—my empathy, which isn’t always a strength in law, feels like it will be a valuable asset in this field.
The one concern I’m working through is vicarious trauma, but I’m hopeful the training will teach me how to manage those effects while building resilience for long-term work with trauma survivors.
The Road Ahead
Looking at the remaining weeks, I’m excited about what’s coming:
- Week 2: Exploring the Path to Victim Advocacy
- Week 3: Exploring the Path to Public Speaking
- Week 4: Exploring the Path to Activism
- Week 5: Navigating the Workplace in the Victim Services Field
Each week builds on the previous one, which gives the whole program a sense of progression and purpose.
Learning from Experienced Victim Advocates
One of the most reassuring aspects of this program is the caliber of the instructors leading it. Marcie Davis and Rebecca Balog bring a combined 55+ years of experience in victim services, and their credentials are impressive.
Marcie Davis is an internationally acclaimed victim assistance and disability advocate with over 30 years in the field. She’s held pivotal leadership roles, including chief of victim services for the Florida Attorney General’s Office and establishing the inaugural Victim Services division within the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General. As CEO of La Casa, Inc.—a comprehensive domestic violence organization on the US-Mexico border—and founder of Davis Innovations consulting firm, she works with both governmental and nonprofit entities on innovative program development and training. What I find particularly inspiring is that she founded Working Like Dogs, an organization dedicated to educating people about assistance dogs, and is accompanied by her service dog, Fenway—showing how personal experience informs professional advocacy.
Rebecca Balog brings more than 25 years of experience as a survivor advocate focused on ending violence and promoting healthy relationships. Her background spans direct services, program management, and specialized work with diverse communities. She’s worked with organizations like the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, and tribal coalitions addressing violence against Indigenous women. Her experience includes everything from hotline supervision and case management to grant compliance and leadership training. With a background in psychology and women’s studies, she brings both academic knowledge and lived expertise to the field.
Why This Victim Advocacy Training Matters
What strikes me most about this training is how thoughtfully it’s designed. Having instructors with this depth and breadth of experience means we’re not just learning theory—we’re getting insights from people who have worked at every level of victim services, from direct service to policy development to organizational leadership. Their approach feels both realistic and encouraging. They’re not just teaching skills; they’re helping us understand whether this field aligns with our values, circumstances, and long-term goals.
The worksheets alone were worth the price of admission (which, again, was free!). Having structured prompts to explore my deeper motivations helped me articulate things I’d been feeling but couldn’t quite put into words. The Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory was particularly eye-opening—it helped me reframe some of my own difficult experiences as potential sources of strength rather than just obstacles to overcome.
For anyone considering victim services, I can’t recommend exploring opportunities like this enough. The field needs passionate advocates, but it also needs people who understand the challenges and are prepared for them. This training is giving me both the skills and the self-awareness to determine if this path is truly right for me.
The application process was competitive—space is limited for these programs—but the investment of time is already paying dividends in clarity and direction. Sometimes the best way to explore a new career is to dive in with proper guidance, and that’s exactly what this program provides.
If you’re interested in victim services or advocacy work, I encourage you to look into OVC TTAC’s training offerings. The combination of professional development and personal reflection has been invaluable in helping me understand not just how to serve others, but how to do so sustainably and effectively.