Survivors of Homicide, Inc.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Survivors of Homicide, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that exists to provide counseling, support, and advocacy for loved ones and friends of homicide victims. It is based in Wethersfield, Connecticut, and was founded in 1983 by co-victims of homicide who sought "to support each other and to share information about an unfamiliar criminal justice system that existed not to provide support to grieving families, but to prosecute offenders."

The organization is funded through the federal Victims of Crime Act, the Connecticut Office of Victim Services, and members, ensuring that services to survivors are free. Services offered by Survivors of Homicide include

individual counseling and access to monthly support groups across the state with other survivors;
advisement on available resources and what to expect while navigating the criminal justice system;
and personal advocacy of victim rights within law enforcement and the community, as well as court advocacy throughout the judicial process.

Self-proclaimed as "the club no one wants to belong to," Survivors of Homicide promotes the unique emotional support that can only be experienced by connecting with others who have endured the same type of loss. Group sessions with fellow survivors provide a safe place to share feelings and frustrations, where they can find comfort in others who have experienced the same emotions and struggles. As assessed by a 2015 national study of homicide survivor support programs which examined Survivors of Homicide, Inc. and 19 other organizations, Survivors of Homicide offers a near-comprehensive model of support, including crisis intervention and long-term support, victim advocacy and access to resources, an informative website, and connection with a community of survivors.

Sources:

- Asaro, M. Regina. "Working With Adult Homicide Survivors, Part II: Helping Family Members Cope With Murder." Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, vol. 37, no. 4, 2001, pp. 115-124., doi:10.1111/j.1744-6163.2001.tb00643.x.

- Survivors of Homicide, Inc. Survivors of Homicide, www.survivorsofhomicide.com/.

- Vincent, Neil, et al. "A Comprehensive Conceptual Program Model for Supporting Families Surviving a Homicide Victim." Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, vol. 32, no. 1, 2015, pp. 57-64., doi:10.1007/s10560-014-0362-4.