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ETHICAL STANDARDS

Section II: Coordinating Within the Community

ETHICAL STANDARD 2.1: The victim assistance provider conducts relationships with colleagues and other professionals in a way that promotes mutual respect, public confidence, and improvement of service.

ETHICAL STANDARD 2.2: The victim assistance provider shares knowledge and encourages proficiency in victim assistance among colleagues and other professionals.

Commentary: Victim assistance providers should be willing to transmit their knowledge and skills to others, including paid and volunteer victim assistance providers. This includes efforts to ensure that volunteers have access to the training, supervision, resources, and support required to serve victims/survivors of crime.

Victim assistance providers are to view their roles and responsibilities as part of an overall team effort by justice and service personnel, with knowledge-sharing directed to the delivery of quality victim services. Providers should interact effectively and sensitively with all members of the team. This includes using group skills, such as cooperation, leadership, and listening; respecting team members' cultural and religious differences; managing conflict in the workplace by considering others' points of view; and respecting the philosophies and practices of various disciplines.

ETHICAL STANDARD 2.3: The victim assistance provider serves the public interest by contributing to the improvement of systems that impact victims and survivors of crime.

Commentary: Victim assistance providers are expected to participate in professional activities and to assume community responsibilities when these are necessary to meeting program goals. They should be sensitive to the service needs of the public and promote the development of programs that address such needs. As allowed under agency policy and by funding sources, victim assistance providers should participate in community efforts to prevent victimization, improve the criminal justice and victim services systems, and improve access to these systems. Victim assistance providers are also encouraged to work toward change in policies, laws, and systems that are unjust, discriminatory, or ineffective.

computer iconVAT Online is a free Web-based victim assistance training program that includes training modules on the topics of “Assessing Victim’s Needs,” “Referrals,” and “Collaboration.”