education, training and consultation

When a group loses a member, the whole group suffers. VIPI provides consultation and education to organizations who lose fellow employees, students or church members. VIPI helps members understand their grief and teaches them how they can offer support to the victim's loved ones. For professionals working with survivors of traumatic death, VIPI provides training for:

• Clergy
• medical personnel
• law enforcement
• mental health professionals
• educators
• victim service providers
• the community

This training focuses on the unique issues of grief as they relate to a violent death. Training content and length is tailored to the needs of the organization requesting the training.

issues of traumatic death

The death of a loved one is always traumatic, but when the loss is the result of murder, suicide or accident, the impact is . . . well, profoundly different.

It may be so different that a survivor experiencing it might not understand what they are going through or feeling. This misunderstanding can lead to even greater problems including chemical use, domestic violence, absenteeism from work or school, family breakdown, or loss of health. Post-traumatic stress disorder is no an uncommon result.

Not many people can deal with police, courts and news media while suffering from the shock of the traumatic loss of a loved one.

VIPI is committed to serving families of St. Paul, Minneapolis, Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, but never refuses support to anyone in need. The Victim Intervention Program, Inc. offers immediate practical help, resource referral and emotional support to the survivors of homicide, suicide and accidental death. Appropriate intervention soon after a traumatic loss helps survivors face trauma and address grief.

 

VIPI services

The Victim Intervention Program, Inc. offers the following services to those in need:

Immediate Crisis Support

First, VIPI advocates for and supports families with immediate problems, which can be many and varied, such as:

• Support during the viewing of the body
• Explaining autopsy procedures
• Help in notifying others who need to
  be told
• Special help in telling children about
  the death
• Crime scene cleaning resources

The VIPI director is a link between the police and the survivors for the exchange of information.

VIPI locates services and helps with needs such as:

• Debriefing or processing the events surrounding the death
• Assisting families in dealing with the media
• Arranging for families to meet with police investigator to learn facts about the case
• Filling out forms for the Crime Victim Reparations Board
• Helping with resources and referrals as needed

continuing grief support

Beyond the immediate and concrete things that need to be done, VIPI can connect survivors with individual and family counseling. VIPI also offers weekly grief support groups led by trained facilitators for:

• Adult survivors of suicide
• Adult survivors of homicide
• Groups for Children
• Groups for Teens

VIPI understands that each situation presents unique issues and that each person needs support for their individual issues as well.

<Support Groups>

spiritual support

VIPI leads remembrance ceremonies twice each year to continue to recognize and support survivors' grief and honor their loved ones.

Volunteer police chaplains assist law enforcement with death notification and will stay with families to help in practical ways and offer emotional and spiritual support. They can:

• Facilitate exchange of information with law enforcement
• Connect survivors with their personal spiritual resources, clergy or community
• Assist with memorial services when requested