V-STEP: ENGAGING THE BYSTANDER

TITLE: V-STEP: ENGAGING THE BYSTANDER

DATE and TIME:

Thursday November 13, 2025 ~ 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM EST

SUMMARY:Engaging the bystander is all about exploring ways in which people can endeavor to prevent harm to both individuals and communities in their day-to-day lives. It’s purely about people we deal with.

Whether it’s our family members, our colleagues, or the people we interact with day to day in the community. It’s about every one of us as individuals.

This training will look at the complexities of these issues and discuss ways they can be effectively addressed to enhance the safety and welfare of all involved.

And this development is going to fall on your individual agencies because you’re all unique in how you operate and interact with one another and your community.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Define whom the bystander is

2. Deliberate about the bystander effect

3. Discuss possible interventions before, during and after and event

4. Enhance the understanding of practicing the bystander approach

5. Strengthen individual capacities to intervene

PRESENTER: Dave Thomas

Dave Thomas is a Senior Law Enforcement Consultant primarily providing training and technical assistance in areas pertaining to intimate partner violence. Additionally, he addresses use of force, community/law enforcement engagement, the coordinated community response, and multidisciplinary teams, and hate crimes recognition and response. David R Thomas is going on his 35th year of providing training and technical assistance to law enforcement at the state, local, national, and international levels. He is a retired police officer who taught at Johns Hopkins University, served the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program as a Highly Qualified Expert before working in his present position as a Program Manager II, International Association of Chiefs Police.

V-STEP STAFF: Anne Milun, VASIII, Program Manager, 410-837-5055, alitecky@ubalt.edu; Cherie Peay, Program Coordinator at 443-600-1621, cpeay@ubalt.edu; and Nicole Feldhaus, Technician, 410-274-4655, nfeldhauslitecky@ubalt.edu

Certificate of Training, Social Work CEUs and Academic Credits:

RVAAM selected curriculum has been approved for specific professions (e.g. social work, law enforcement, corrections, probation/parole) Upon completion of an online evaluation form, participants are welcome to request a Certificate of Training; Social Work Category I Continuing Education Units (CEUs), and/or academic credits. All participants are eligible to receive a Certificate of Training (1 credit per training hour).

In order to receive a Certificate of Training, participants video cameras must remain on during all V-STEP Webinar trainings.

ROPER VICTIM ASSISTANCE ACADMEY OF MARYLAND

Victim Services Training Enhancement Program (V-STEP)…Bringing Crime Victim Training and Certification to Maryland Communities.

Victim Services Advanced Trainings (V-STEP) are held virtually and in 5 regional locations across Maryland. Roper Victim Assistance Academy of Maryland (RVAAM) provides basic training twice a year (40 hour curriculum). For more information, please contact Anne Milun, V-STEP Program Manager for information or to schedule a training for your agency or organization.