Basic Victims Crisis Assistance and Response Team (VCART) Training
May 18, 2026 - May 20, 2026
Winchester, VA
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services is pleased to announce the upcoming National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA) Basic Victims Crisis Assistance and Response Team (VCART) Training to be held Monday, May 18th through Wednesday, May 20th, 2026, in Winchester, VA. Attendees must complete an application to attend. The maximum number of attendees for this training is 30, so complete your application by Monday, April 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. If you are selected to attend the training, you will be notified by Friday, April 10, 2026. Click HERE to apply.
The registration fee is normally $300; however, there will be a reduced registration fee of $75 for this training event, which we will collect upon review and acceptance of applicants. Please be sure to complete all required application fields, as any incomplete applications will not be accepted.
The NOVA Basic VCART Training event will focus on techniques and protocols for providing crisis intervention and victim advocacy in response to a criminal, catastrophic, or mass casualty event.
We are specifically hoping to reach professionals in the fields of emergency management, healthcare, and education to add to our trained cadre of crisis responders in Virginia; however, anyone who has never been trained in crisis response in the past is eligible to attend. In addition, if you received the Basic VCART Training prior to May 2021, you are eligible to attend as well.
Upon successful completion of the Basic Training, we can help determine which regional crisis response team that you will be a part of to assist in the event of a mass casualty criminal victimization or high-profile crime.
Participants are responsible for their own lodging, travel, and meals. We are working to secure the state rate ($110+tax, based on FFY 2026 federal rates) for lodging at a local hotel for the nights of May 17th, 18th, and 19th. Hotel information will be forthcoming.
There are a limited number of lodging scholarships available. To apply for a scholarship, please indicate that on your application form and submit by Monday, April 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Please note that these scholarships do not cover the cost of any incidentals charged to the room.
For more information, contact Andrew Kinch, Victims Crisis Assistance and Response Team Program Specialist, DCJS, at Andrew.Kinch@dcjs.virginia.gov or 804-801-2622.