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times & locations
VIPI is happy to announce our Summer support group series will be held at the St. Paul Police Headquarters. Pre registration is important even if you have attended in the past. Please register by leaving a message telling us who from your family will be attending. Pre registration allows us to have enough rooms, facilitators and chairs in your group space. It also determines which groups need the largest rooms.
If you are new to the groups, please tell us if you are registering for homicide, suicide or accident and leave a phone number where you can be reached should we need more information. If you are registering children, please give their names and ages. Driving directions are below.
When you come to the Police Department you need to park on the North side of Grove Street (the same side as the police department) or you may be towed. Enter the James Griffin Building (Police Department) at the west end of the lot. There is both a stairway and ramp.
Should you need childcare, you need to call in advance and make arrangements with us. We will do our best to accommodate you. Please be respectful and notify us if you will not be bringing your child; we pay for childcare.
Summer Group Information
Please call Karen Mueller at 651-266-5615 to register for current or future group sessions. Groups are free, and are held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m on Mondays.
Groups will be held on these dates:
June 2, 2008 - August 25, 2008
In addition, a new men's group is also offered on a once-a-month basis. These will take place on:
June 9, 2008
July 14, 2008
August 11, 2008
In the event of inclement weather, group cancellations will be announced via the Twin Cities media.
Directions to SPPD
From the West: Take 94 to the 7th Street exit 242C. Turn
left onto West 7th Street and follow to Lafayette Rd. N. Turn left and follow
Lafayette to Grove. Turn left onto Grove and right into the parking lot.
From the South: Take 35 E to 94 E. Exit on 7th Street and follow the above
directions or Highway 52 to West 7th, go straight across onto Lafayette Rd.
N and follow the above directions.
From the East: Take the Mounds Blvd exit 243 and follow to 7th St. E. Turn
left onto 7th Street and follow to Lafayette RD. N. Turn right onto Lafayette,
follow to Grove Street. Turn Left at Grove and right into the parking lot.
From the North: Take 35 E to University Ave. Exit 107C. Turn left onto University
and follow to Olive St. Turn right and follow to T at Grove Street. Turn left
on Grove to first parking lot on your left.
support groups purpose
Beyond the immediate and concrete things that need to be done, VIPI can connect survivors with individual and family counseling. VIPI offers weekly grief support groups led by trained facilitators for:
VIPI understands that each situation presents unique issues and that each person needs support for their individual issues as well.
a word for families
and friends
“Don’t avoid me. Tragedy is not contagious. If you are uncomfortable with me because you don’t know what to say, then give me a hug and tell me that you care. Be patient with my moods. Sometimes nothing you or anyone says or does will be the right thing, and I need the assurance that my grumpiness won’t keep you from continuing to try to support me. If you ask me how I am, be prepared to listen. When I am hurting, I have a great need to talk about my situation with someone who is truly willing to listen."
--Jayne Buckles in For Families and Friends: A guide for helping NICU parents, produced by Parents for Parents
hear how vipi has been able to help others
VIPI helps support and educate community service professionals as well as families and friends of victims of homicide, suicide and accidental death in a wide variety of ways.
Click here to read about how VIPI has been able to help others ...
survivor stories
Often it can make all the difference in the world to talk to or hear from someone who has been through what you are going through.