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Toward the Road to Recovery

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Michael Shoemaker
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  "I'm a bit of an idealist. I wish people would stop hurting one another," said Tech. Sgt. Ollen Johnson, a victim advocate. "So I looked at this program as an ability to help victims pick up the pieces and deal with the aftermath."

The Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification is a victim advocate certification program that was established in January 2012. It set the standard for the victim advocacy program throughout all branches of the DoD. It is a civilian equivalent victim advocate certification.

"The Air Force advocates have a 40-hour training when they initially start with the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program," said, Tracey Spencer, 49th Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. "This certification will ensure all those who work with clients will have continued to uphold their level of training and education."

The certification of all DoD SARCs and SAPR victim advocates is meant to improve the quality of support victims receive.

For all current victim advocates to keep their level of certification within their respective branches, they must all apply for and be awarded the D-SAACP certification by Oct. 1, 2013.

"The D-SAACP Program is a great change in the victim advocate system for the Department of Defense," said Spencer. "The SAPR program is in every branch of service, and this program will help to ensure all advocates have the highest skills necessary to serve their clients."