Survivor Support

 

What is Survivor Support?

With each homicide, many lives are forever changed. 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). We use the term ‘survivor’ to honor this reality, recognizing the thousands of parents, children, cousins, spouses, and friends in our city whose lives are deeply impacted. Survivors play a vital role in our peacemaking work with youth, helping to transform their own pain into purpose and guide young people on the same journey. We also offer specialized support for young survivors of violence, empowering them to heal and turn their pain into a force for peace in our community.

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 Survivor Support 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 Survivor Support 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

  • Events throughout the year, such as our “Sip n’ Paints,” and our Annual Day of Remembrance Vigil

  • 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!