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For Immediate Release - April 25, 2006

Community Hospice and Duval County Medical Examiner's Office Form Homicide Survivor's Pilot Project

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – Community Hospice of Northeast Florida has been awarded a $70,203 Victims of Crime Act grant in support of the Homicide Survivor's Program, a pilot project to be conducted at the Duval County Medical Examiner's Office that will provide grief and loss services to survivors of homicide who reside in the 4th Judicial Circuit (Duval, Nassau and Clay counties).

The goal of this project is to assist homicide survivors as they confront the unique difficulties following the murder of a loved one. The project, funded through the Office of the Attorney General, will provide a Community Hospice crisis services specialist to the Duval County Medical Examiner's Office, located at 2100 Jefferson Street, who will:

• prepare and accompany survivors to body identification and provide emotional support;
• assist with filing for Victim Compensation (financial assistant for victims of crime and their survivors);
• provide on-site crisis grief counseling;
• maintain contact with survivors for a minimum of 13 months post-death;
• offer individual and group therapy;
• assist with anticipatory grief for families who arrive at the hospital when the crime victim is not expected to live; and
• encourage participation of children ages 6 to 16 in homicide survivor camps through Community Hospice's Camp Healing Powers.

Last year, 125 homicides occurred within the 4th Judicial Circuit, adversely affecting many family members.

"Death is difficult for most of us to deal with when it is expected. The suddenness of homicide coupled with its violent nature can further challenge family and friends in their ability to cope and may lead to complicated grief." said Lee Ann Summersgill, community grief and loss manager for Community Hospice. "Through this project, Community Hospice will help minimize the long-term effects of complicated grief suffered by homicide survivors."

Maria Difato, LCSW, has been named the crisis services specialist for the Homicide Survivor's Program. Difato received her bachelor's and master's degrees in social work from Florida State University. She has experience working in child abuse/neglect cases, crisis counseling, advocacy and working with law enforcement agencies.

"Surviving friends and family of homicide victims often struggle on a daily basis to cope with their loss," said Attorney General Charlie Crist. "This program will be invaluable in providing these individuals with the support necessary to carry on with their lives."

Established in 1979 as the first hospice program in northeast Florida, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida provides compassionate care to nearly 1,000 patients daily in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties, through the support of more than 700 employees and 1,100 volunteers. The nonprofit organization has served more than 38,000 children and adults – at home, in long-term care facilities, hospitals and through its two inpatient facilities in Jacksonville. Community Hospice Foundation generates philanthropic and community support for unfunded and under-funded programs, including indigent hospice care, programs and services through the Charles M. Neviaser Educational Institute, and Community PedsCare, a pediatric palliative and hospice program. Care is available to all patients who need it, regardless of their ability to pay.

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Contact:

Doreen O'Toole, Community Hospice, 904.407.6137
JoAnn Carrin, Office of the Attorney General, 850.245.0150

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