National Training Conference

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION BOARDS Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice

Portland, OR September 11-13

Crime Victim Compensation

VOCA

National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards P.O. Box 16003 o Alexandria, Virginia 22302 o (703) 780-3200 o www.nacvcb.org

Conference Information

The Association's 2013 NATIONAL TRAINING CONFERENCE will be held at the

Portland Hilton in Portland, Oregon, September 11-13, 2013. Our agenda is designed to

meet the information and training needs of managers, claims examiners, Board members,

and other personnel working in victim compensation programs. You'll have an opportu-

nity to explore the most current and pressing issues with your colleagues in a variety of

settings, with an emphasis on small-group discussions.

Here's the information you need to make plans:

WHO: Compensation program managers, staff, Board members.

WHAT: Three days of valuable and to-the-point workshops and presentations, covering a

full range of important topics for improving your compensation program's operation. (See

the list at the bottom of this e-mail.) Three tracks are planned: Current Challenges, explor-

ing new policy and strategic issues; Program Management, covering operational concerns;

and Foundational, addressing educational and informational training needs.

WHEN: After arrival on September 10, our conference begins at 8 a.m. on Wednesday

morning, September 11, and runs two full days and a half, adjourning at 10:30 a.m. on

September 13.

WHERE: Portland, Oregon, a beautiful and vibrant city in the heart of the Pacific North-

west -- with great weather that time of year!

WHY: Your colleagues from across the country will be eager to discuss and share the lat-

est strategies for improving performance, and to explore current challenges facing all pro-

grams, such as implementation of the Affordable Care Act, VOCA grant funding, claims

processing, decision making, and managing staff effectively. (VOCA grant conditions

require program representation at this conference.)

HOW: You can make hotel reservations at our special conference rate of $113 + 14.5%

tax (the federal rate for Portland) at the downtown Portland Hilton (921 SW Sixth

Ave.) by using this special link:

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/P/PDXPHHH-CVC-20130910/

index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG, or by calling 1-800-HILTONS (800-445-8667) and asking

for "CVC Conference" rates.

You'll want to reserve for 3 nights, beginning September 10, to attend all conference ses-

sions (Opening Session at 8:30 a.m. on September 11; adjournment on September 13 at

10:30 a.m..) A limited number of rooms for other nights may be available at conference

rates, based on hotel availability.

There is no registration fee. No meals will be provided during the conference.

You can register yourself and anyone else attending from your program by simply e-

mailing dan.eddy@nacvcb.org your name, state, and title; and if you are registering any-

one else from your program, provide that information as well. You also can log on as a

member to the www.nacvcb.org Website, click on the Members Only/National Conference

2013 flyout tab, and follow the registration process there. Contact us at 703-780-3200 if

you have any questions.

Agenda Tuesday, September 10

3:00—5:00 p.m. Registration (continues Wednesday morning, beginning at 7:00 a.m. 5:00—6:00 p.m. Pre-conference – Informal meet and greet (hotel lobby)

As representatives from compensation programs from across the country gather for their annual conference, please join us in the lobby for an informal “meet and greet.” Colleagues will leave from the lobby for dinner on their own.

Wednesday, September 11

7:00—8:30 a.m. Registration 8:30 – 8:50 a.m. Welcomes and Introductions

Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum (invited) OVC Director Joye Frost

NACVCB President Gene McCleskey

8:50 – 10:00 a.m. General Session: Vision 21

Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services" is a major initiative by the Office for Victims of Crime to expand the vision and impact of the crime victim services field by designing a philosophical and strategic framework to define the role of the field in the country’s response to crime and move the field forward in the future. OVC Director Joye Frost will present an overview of the Final Report, its recommendations and plans for its implementation.

Joye Frost, Director, Office for Victims of Crime

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Break 10:30 – noon: Workshops Preparing and Implementing a Plan for Mass-Violence Response

Every compensation program needs to be prepared to respond to a mass-casualty crime. This workshop focuses on practical steps compensation managers can take to engage in the planning process with emergency-response officials, and provides recommendations for how to respond when the crime happens. The session draws on the experience of a number of compensation pro-grams that have been heavily involved in major mass-casualty crimes, ranging from terrorist bombings to school shootings.

Mary Vail Ware, Director, Virginia Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund Claims-Management Software: New Options and Improvements

Experience a demonstration of a 100% paperless system, developed for compensation programs in Colorado, and explained to us by two users of the software. It’s clear that going paperless is the next step for all compensation programs, and this demonstration will convince anyone of the ad-vantages and ease of use that a paperless system can provide. A discussion will ensue of other paperless systems and software vendors that program managers may consider as they move for-ward in making their claims processing more efficient.

Gene McCleskey, Director, Crime Victim Assistance Division, Texas Attorney General Jeff Wagaman, Director, Crime Victim Compensation Board, Kansas Attorney General Johnna Alig, District Compensation Administrator, Colorado Karol Patch, District Compensation Administrator, Colorado

.Illiteracy, Decision Making, and Trauma: Three Hurdles to Accessing Compensation Did you know that in the U.S., one in five people is reading below a fifth grade level. For adults and 65 and older, and for those living in poverty, the rate is two in five. Those with low literacy skills have difficulty understanding simple written instructions, like directions on a bottle of aspi-rin. Learning how to use a new tool or form can take up so much mental capacity that there is not enough left to perform the task. And if a font is hard to read, people conclude the task is hard to do. When people are not familiar with something, they think others don’t use it. You can learn ways to reduce these hurdles to compensation, and this workshop will explore how.

B.J. Horn, Visiting Fellow, Office for Victims of Crime Intimate Partner Violence

Understanding intimate partner violence is crucial for anyone working within a compensation pro-gram. Claims from victims of domestic violence are increasing, and program management and staff need to know what these victims experience, and what their needs may be. An expert in this subject area shares her experience and insight, and suggests ways that compensation personnel can communicate and respond appropriately to victims of intimate partner violence.

Jayne Downing, Executive Director, Mid-Valley Women’s Crisis Services, Salem, Oregon

Noon – 1:30 p.m. Lunch on your own 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Workshops An Evidence-Based Approach to Managing Mental Health Claims

Maximizing effective treatment for victims while minimizing wasteful expenditures are the goals of South Carolina’s approach to managing counseling claims. South Carolina’s compensation pro-gram creates and enforces an expectation that only evidence-based treatment will be supported, first by limiting initially approved sessions to 15, and then by carefully examining requests for fur-ther treatment. The program also collaborates with nationally recognized experts and trainers in the mental health field to promote better trauma-focused education for therapists. It’s a win-win: Victims get the best proven treatment, and South Carolina manages its funds wisely. Two experts share their expertise and experience in this session: Dr. Dean Kilpatrick to explain what evidence-based treatment for crime victims is; and Dr. Larry Barker, to discuss how his program implements this approach.

Dr. Larry Barker, Director, South Carolina State Office of Victim Assistance Dr. Dean Kilpatrick, Medical University of South Carolina

Claims-Management Software: New Options and Improvements (repeat session)

Experience a demonstration of a 100% paperless system, developed for compensation programs in Colorado, and explained to us by two users of the software. It’s clear that going paperless is the next step for all compensation programs, and this demonstration will convince anyone of the ad-vantages and ease of use that a paperless system can provide. A discussion will ensue of other paperless systems and software vendors that program managers may consider as they move for-ward in making their claims processing more efficient.

Johnna Alig, District Compensation Administrator, Colorado Karol Patch, District Compensation Administrator, Colorado

Wednesday, September 11 (continued)

Management Techniques to Analyze and Modernize Your Program This discussion for managers begins by focusing on innovative approaches to improving the effi-ciency of operations. These analytic strategies – used by consultants to help businesses and gov-ernment programs – provide managers with concrete tools and techniques to get to the heart of program operations, and make necessary changes. Managers that have experience with these approaches will share how they implemented them in their own programs, and what improve-ments resulted.

Cletus Nnanabu, Director, Washington Crime Victim Compensation Program Gary Scheller, Director, Utah Office for Victims of Crime

Trauma and Crisis

Crime victims react to trauma and crisis in ways that people who work with them should under-stand. This workshop aims to improve communication and response skills, through a detailed explanation of what victims go through in the aftermath of crime. An essential education in building a professional foundation for compensation staff.

Dr. Lisa Christiansen, Psy.D., School of Professional Psychology, Pacific University, Hills-boro, Oregon

3:00—3:30 p.m. Break 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Workshops - Managers’ Roundtables

Engaging with other compensation managers on the key strategic and policy challenges of the day is the goal for each participant in this session. Program directors and managers will divide into groups based on shared interests and concerns. While the discussions are free-form, they will be facilitated so that participants make the most of their time with their colleagues who have the same responsibilities in helming programs and managing staff.

Resiliency and Self Care

Vicarious traumatization is a well-known concern for anyone working in the crime victims field – including compensation managers and staff. Knowing how to recognize the signs of stress, both at work and at home, and learning how to care for self in healthy and healing ways, are essential for those who may be at risk because of their proximity to the effects of criminal violence.

Dr. Lisa Christiansen, Psy.D., School of Professional Psychology, Pacific University, Hills-boro, Oregon

Thursday, April 10 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. General Session Human Trafficking: Understanding the Victims and the Dynamics

This powerful presentation provides an in-depth and nuanced account of how domestic trafficking works, based on the expertise and experience of two police specialists. They will detail the key components within the “trade,” which literally involves the selling or commercial exploitation of human beings, many of whom are very young and vulnerable. Where victims come from; how they are recruited, groomed, broken and maintained; and how their interactions with their ex-ploiters invariably lead to them suffering serious violence will be explained. Implications for com-pensation programs who may be asked to respond in these cases will be explored.

Officers Mike Gallagher and Todd Christensen, Portland Police Bureau, Prostitution Coor-dination Team

Wednesday, September 11 (continued)

10:00—10:30 a.m. Break 10:30 –noon Workshops .The Role of Advocacy in a Compensation Program

Providing victims with support and guidance through the compensation process, and referring them to other sources of help when additional needs are identified, is an important feature of a number of compensation programs. It’s a win-win for programs and victims, since the process goes smoother for everyone involved, and the victim may find resources outside compensation programs that are equally valuable. We’ll explore how to establish an advocacy capability within your program; whether to rely on trained specialists or train everyone to be an advocate; how to sustain this part of your program; and what the benefits are to having it.

Robin Brassie, Executive Director, New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission Ann Meola, Director, Victim Compensation and Assistance Division, Office of the Attorney General, Massachusetts Ethel Ford, Senior Manager for Community Victim Services, State Office of Victim Assis-tance, South Carolina

How to Manage a New Workforce for Optimal Performance

Managers face distinct challenges in getting the most out of today’s workforce, particularly with regard to differences among generations. Social interaction has changed because of new tech-nologies, and generational attitudes and expectations may be different as well. Unless managers can adapt their supervisorial strategies to these changing realities, they may be unable to moti-vate employees and achieve program goals. This session focuses on what the new realities are, and what managers can do to overcome these kinds of challenges.

Herman Millholland, Consultant Decision-Making Discussion

Making decisions in a rational way, according to statute and rule, and keeping them consistent over time and among different decision makers, isn’t always easy. Too often, emotion and per-sonal values may cloud the issues, and friction and misunderstanding may arise among decision making personnel. This workshop looks at the common scenarios that face programs in interpret-ing requirements, such as contributory conduct, reporting and cooperation, and timely filing, and explores how programs can get everyone on the same page, despite inevitable disagreements.

Dan Eddy, Executive Director, NACVCB

Noon—1:30 p.m. Lunch on your own 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Workshops Managing Change Under the Affordable Care Act

The nation’s new health insurance law – the Affordable Care Act – may have a substantial impact on the operations and the fiscal status of state crime victim compensation programs. This impact will vary among various states, depending on whether they expand Medicaid and how they imple-ment mandated insurance exchanges. But every program will feel some effects, and how manag-ers and policy makers react to ACA change and adapt their programs to new realities may deter-mine their future. Learn more about how the ACA works and what its potential impact may be, and discuss with your colleagues what changes are being considered in program benefits and re-quirements.

Discussion facilitated by Dan Eddy, Executive Director, NACVCB

Thursday, September 12 (continued)

How to Manage a New Workforce for Optimal Performance (repeat session) Managers face distinct challenges in getting the most out of today’s workforce, particularly with regard to differences among generations. Social interaction has changed because of new tech-nologies, and generational attitudes and expectations may be different as well. Unless managers can adapt their supervisorial strategies to these changing realities, they may be unable to moti-vate employees and achieve program goals. This session focuses on what the new realities are, and what managers can do to overcome these kinds of challenges.

Herman Millholland, Consultant Advances in Restitution Recovery

Compensation programs are making significant progress In holding offenders accountable for the harm they’ve done, and thus recouping money spent in awards to victims. This workshop details effective ways to recover greater sums and boost your resources, working with partners in crimi-nal justice, courts and corrections. Specific challenges, such as testifying at restitution hearings, and taking direct action to get offenders to pay, are also on the agenda. [Note: this session will be followed by a roundtable discussion to enable a full discussion of how to set up an effective resti-tution-recovery program.

Facilitators: Rebecca Shaw, Revenue Section Manager, Oregon Crime Victim Compensa-tion Program; and George Gutierrez, Bureau Chief, Idaho Crime Victim Compensation Presenters: Deputy District Attorney Jeff Rhoades, Collection Agent Frances Hlawatsch, Multinomah County

Victims Rights in Law and in the Courts

The nation’s leading expert in how victims rights are being legislated and litigated will share where the country’s laws and courts are on important issues today. Meg Garvin will tell us how efforts to enforce victims rights in the courts are faring; what new frontiers remain in moving vic-tims rights forward; and what laws and cases may have the most impact on victim compensation programs. A must for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the victims field.

Meg Garvin, Executive Director and Clinical Professor of Law, National Crime Victim Law Institute

3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Break 3:30—5:00 p.m. Workshops Quality Assurance

Whether you have a small or large staff, maintaining the quality and consistency of processing work and decision making are paramount programmatic goals. We’ll focus on strategies and ap-proaches in several states and facilitate a discussion on challenges in assuring that every claim is evaluated fairly and in line with program law, policy, and precedent. The use of policy and proce-dure manuals, group discussions of claims decisions, and other means will be examined.

Janelle Melohn, Director, and Anne Thomas, Compensation and Sexual Assault Exam Ad-ministrator, Victim Assistance Division, Iowa Attorney General’s Office Susan Sudduth, Director, Crime Victim Compensation Program, Missouri Angela Buckhanan, Assistant Bureau Chief, Crime Victim Compensation Bureau, Florida Attorney General’s Office

Thursday, September 12 (continued)

Restitution Recovery: Basic and Advanced (continuation) This session affords program managers and restitution-recovery specialists an opportuniy to ex-change ideas and share successful strategies, both in creating basic recovery efforts within com-pensation programs and in introducing more advanced means to maximize return.

Rebecca Shaw, Restitution Manager, Oregon Crime Victim Compensation Program George Gutierrez, Bureau Chief, Idaho Crime Victim Compensation Bureau

Forensic-Claim Roundtable

Current issues in administering a special procedure for payment of forensic exams in sexual as-saults are up for discussion in this roundtable. Bring any challenges you want to explore with your colleagues who also administer these programs. Paying expeditiously for HIV; cross-border exams (rape in your state, exam in another, or vice versa); caps on costs; and facilitating entry into the regular compensation processs are among the items on the agenda.

Facilitator: Dan Eddy, Executive Director, NACVCB Cross-Cultural Communication

The country’s changing demographics make a capability to communicate across cultural differ-ences increasingly important for government programs. This workshop focuses on what cultural distinctions may be important in outreach and in interaction with victims from diverse back-grounds.

Maria-Chavez-Haroldson, Associate Director, Center for Latino Studies and Engage-ment, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon

Friday, September 13 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. Closing Discussion

Victim Compensation: State of the Art Compensation: State of the Art

Our closing plenary finds us looking at the past, present, and future of crime victim compensation, in light of the many changes and challenges facing us today. Learn where programs are, in terms of the latest in outreach, processing, decision making, requirements, benefits, and funding. We’ll make this a lively and entertaining discussion to send you on your way back home.

Dan Eddy, Executive Director, NACVCB Closing Roundtables At the conclusion of our plenary session, roundtables will be formed on important issues, based on the needs expressed by those participating. Outreach, funding, eligibility requirements, benefits, program management, and decision making will be among the roundtables expected to form.

10:30 a.m. Adjournment

Thursday, September 12 (continued)