Co-Victim Care

 

What is Co-Victim Care?

With each homicide there are many victims. As Deborah Spungen notes, “conceptually, it is essential to understand that the family and friends of the murder victim have also been victimized by the crime and have had to assume new and permanent identities” (Homicide: The Hidden Victims, 9). Along with Spungen and others, we affirm that the term “co-victim” gives voice to this dynamic as there are literally thousands of parents, children, cousins, spouses and friends in our city whose lives will never be the same. We are particularly passionate about youth, who face a lifetime of serious adverse effects without proper support to help them heal. Research has shown that unresolved trauma is a major contributor to never-ending cycles of violence (see chart below). As a community, we cannot allow children and youth co-victims to fall through the cracks.

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*Our staff is trained in the STAR curriculum out of Eastern Mennonite University and draw upon this model in our trainings and work with families.

*Our staff is trained in the STAR curriculum out of Eastern Mennonite University and draw upon this model in our trainings and work with families.

Breaking the Cycle

There is good news. Human beings, and especially children, are extraordinarily resilient when they have supportive relationships and appropriate services to help them process and heal from their trauma. As the model below illustrates, breaking cycles of violence and building resilience is a long journey, rooted deep in a network of safety and support.

*Our staff is trained in the STAR curriculum out of Eastern Mennonite University and draw upon this model in our trainings and work with families.

*Our staff is trained in the STAR curriculum out of Eastern Mennonite University and draw upon this model in our trainings and work with families.

What we do

The Harvard Center for the Developing Child has identified supporting responsive relationships, strengthening core life skills, and reducing sources of stress as the three interdependent principles that are most critical for improving outcomes for children and families who’ve experienced trauma. With these principles as our guide, our Co-Victim Care program provides spiritual support to families, while facilitating supportive relationships, strengthening core life skills as needed, and connecting them with resources in the community.

The following is a list of the Co-Victim Care services we currently provide:

  • Funeral and repast services for homicide victims at no cost to family

  • Pastoral counseling and support

  • Monthly support group gathering (in partnership with Mother to Mother) for Co-Victims of homicide

  • Family needs assessment and development of support plan, including connections with other agencies (Erin’s House for Grieving Children, Courageous Healing, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Visiting Nurse, and others)

  • Limited financial support (as funding is available) for bills and other basic needs

  • Christmas gifts program (in partnership with Taylor Chapel UMC) for children and youth affected by homicide

If you or a family you know is in need of support, please reach out to us. We are already praying for you and are looking forward to connecting with your family!