A support group for survivors of homicides held its first meeting in Yolo County last week. District Attorney Jeff Reisig and the Victim Services Program, together with the iCAN Crime Victims Assistance Network Foundation, planned and organized the local program.
They shared the following in a release this week:
Reisig stated that there is a great need for a homicide survivors group in Yolo County. “The number of survivors of homicide obtaining services from our victim advocates has remained steady for the past several years. When you add all those victims up - year after year, listen to their stories, see their strength and desire to persevere, it was abundantly clear to me that a support group like this was long over-due in our community,” stated Reisig.
Laura Valdes, the program manager of the District Attorney’s Victim Services Division helped spearhead the formation of the new Yolo County support group. “In the past, when the family and friends of a victim of homicide requested information on support groups, we had no choice but to refer them to neighboring counties. Now, we are prepared to help them right here at home,” stated Valdes. “The process of healing is different for survivors of a sudden, unexpected death of a loved one…most of all when it is at the hands of another human being,” continued Valdes.
The group is open to all survivors of homicide regardless of when the loss occurred, whether the death was prosecuted or if the incident occurred in another county or state. Meetings are scheduled for the first Wednesday of every month at the Woodland Police Department from 6:00-7:30pm. Due to the 4th of July weekend, the support group’s next meeting is scheduled for August 1.
For more information contact Laura Valdes at (530) 666-8187.
