Network+of+Victim+Assistance+(NOVA)

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Mission Statement
Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) supports, counsels and empowers victims of sexual assault and other serious crimes in Bucks County and works to prevent and eliminate violence in society through advocacy, training, community education and prevention programs. Founded in 1974, NOVA is a non-profit 501 (c) (3), community-based organization. Services are made possible through the financial support of federal, state, and local government grants and contracts, United Way of Bucks County, corporations, foundations, and private donations. All contributions are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.

NOVA Values
We believe that all individuals should be empowered to make decisions about their lives, to be secure from violation of their bodies and personal space, and to live in a society free from violence. We further believe that society has a responsibility to educate and support individuals with regard to these rights. Therefore, NOVA will serve the Bucks County community by providing direct support to victims of sexual assault and other personal violations and advancing the rights of victims through advocacy and prevention education programs. In these efforts, NOVA will strive to develop programs and services which empower individuals and promote respect for the privacy, uniqueness and dignity of all people.

**NOVA Vision**
NOVA envisions a society free of violence, one that empowers individuals and promotes respect for the privacy, diversity and dignity of all people.

=Victim Services= The Network of Victim Assistance offers a range of support and services to help victims exercise their rights in the criminal justice system and recover from the physical, emotional and financial trauma of victimization. Our comprehensive victim services include 24-hour victim support hotline, hospital and court accompaniment, counseling, legal support, and community crisis response.

[[image:http://www.novabucks.org/images/icon-gethelp.jpg width="88" height="92"]][|Get Help Now]
If you are a Bucks County resident and you, a family member or friend are [|in need of assistance], please call our 24-hour toll-free hotline or send us an email. NOVA staff and a dedicated group of trained volunteers are available to respond to victims 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

[[image:http://www.novabucks.org/images/icon-accompaniment.jpg width="88" height="92"]][|Accompaniment]
NOVA staff and trained volunteers will [|accompany victims of crime] to the Emergency Room in any of Bucks County’s seven hospitals. NOVA legal advocates provide on-going support for the victim throughout the entire criminal justice process.

[[image:http://www.novabucks.org/images/icon-counseling.jpg width="88" height="92"]][|Counseling]
Many victims experience such emotions as shock, denial, fear and anxiety following an assault or other crime. [|NOVA’s licensed professional counselors] offer individual and group counseling to help victims understand these normal reactions and find ways to cope.

__Additional Counseling Programs__:

 * Trauma Support Program:** The Trauma Support Program provides evidence based trauma treatment for children that are victims of crime who have barriers with coming into a traditional office setting for counseling. This program also supports the child’s family, including caregivers and siblings in relation to the child’s trauma.

At Neil Armstrong Middle School, you can also contact Karla Davis Jones, Eighth Grade School Counselor at 267-599-2274 or karla.jones@bristoltwpsd.org or Steve Pierce, Seventh Grade School Counselor at 267-599-2272 or steve.pierce@bristoltwpsd.org.
 * Mobile School Counseling Program:** NOVA staff have found that not all children have the transportation options needed to receive services in one of our three offices, or the caregiver involvement needed for our in office or in home TF-CBT program. While working in tandem with a caregiver at home or in an office setting is considered best practice, we decided to start a mobile counseling program in area schools to provide counseling services to children who cannot participate in those services. Please call the NOVA hotline and speak to a counselor to determine if you or your child qualify for Mobile School Counseling services.


 * Restoring Families Program:** The Restoring Families Program is a comprehensive, evidence program that works with children that are identified to have problematic sexual behavior. Children 7-14 and their caregivers work through a group curriculum to address the problematic sexual behavior.

[[image:http://www.novabucks.org/images/icon-legal.jpg width="88" height="92"]][|Legal Support]
NOVA is an [|advocate for victims and victims’ rights]. NOVA provides support and accompaniment to all criminal justice proceedings. We speak in support of victims and victims’ rights on the local, state and national level.

[[image:http://www.novabucks.org/images/icon-communitycrisis.jpg width="88" height="92"]][|Community Crisis Response]
The Keystone Crisis Intervention Team and Bucks County Crisis Response Team provide support to NOVA by offering [|crisis intervention services] to crime victims in the aftermath of a traumatic event in Bucks County.

[|Resources & Crime Information]
[|Additional resources] to provide easy access to the information and services victims, their families, and friends need. NOVA helps victims of all types of crime, including: [|Acquaintance rape], [|assault], [|bullying], [|campus crime], [|child abuse], [|child sexual abuse], [|date rape drugs], [|DUI], [|dating violence], [|elder abuse], [|hate crimes], [|homicide], [|human trafficking], [|incest], [| juvenile crime], [|male sexual assault], [|rape / sexual assault], [|sexual assault in the military], [|sexual harassment], and [|stalking].

=Prevention Education and Training=

Education Programs for All Ages, Groups and Professions
The Network of Victim Assistance is dedicated to reducing the incidence of crime through prevention education programs for Bucks County schools, community groups and professional groups. Our classes and training seminars are tailored to the audience, whether they are elementary school or college students, teachers or parents, professionals working in healthcare or law enforcement industries, or groups of seniors in the local community center.

Secondary Education Programs:

All right reserved. No part of this webpage may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of Karla M. Jones, M.Ed. Copyright 2013.