Virginia Victim Assistance Network

In 1983, Virginia was selected by the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) to be one of twelve states to initiate a statewide network to assist victim/witness programs. This 501c3 non-profit organization has been around for 35 years and has grown from a network of 10 to 200 allied criminal justice professionals. Services are made possible from funding from grants through the Victims of Crime Act funding, member dues and registrations from its annual training conference.

2018 is the start of a new chapter for our organization as we will now have full time staff members and an office located in Henrico County. Our goal is to fill the current gap in services for victims of other crimes against persons, in particular families of murdered victims, primary and secondary victims of armed robbery, and assault or malicious wounding, and mass casualty victims.

Mission: The Virginia Victim Assistance Network (VVAN) strives to be a voice for crime victims and those who serve them in Virginia by:

• Diagnosing, assessing, and advocating for the needs of victims and their families.
• Promoting policies and legislation to protect the rights of the victims of human tragedy.
• Producing professional development and encouraging collaboration to ensure the continued growth of our members.
• Fostering accountability through the criminal justice system.

Vision

VVAN envisions a society free of violence that empowers individuals and promotes respect for the dignity of all people.

Values

Inherent in VVAN’s core values and principles is a commitment to:

• a victim-centered philosophy and practices that are driven by the needs, strengths and voices of victims; 
• promoting positive, respectful, and professional relationships, partnerships and collaborations;
• supporting trust, shared commitment and collective action, resulting in high quality outcomes for victims