The Department of Human Services’ Criminal Victims Compensation, Kidscope Inc. and the Boys & Girls Club of the Virgin Islands hosted the children of homicide victims at the first bereavement camp on St. Croix. The Safe Haven Bereavement Camp assists children who have suffered the loss of a loved one due to an act of violence. The camp was held on Friday, Jan. 8 through Sunday, Jan. 10, at Northside Valley.
Counseling and support were provided for 12 children ages 6-13 from St. Thomas and St. Croix who are grieving or have been traumatized from witnessing a violent crime against their loved one. The three day-long camp included journaling, trust building, therapeutic board games, hiking and other outdoor recreational activities. The bereavement camp was made possible by a three-year grant funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), awarded to Human Services. Follow up visits, including family group sessions with the children, will start next week and will be conducted quarterly. Hosting a camp annually for each island is also under consideration.
The U.S. Virgin Islands Criminal Victims Compensation Commission (CVCC), which operates within the Department of Human Services, provides financial assistance to innocent victims of crime. The commission may compensate victims who suffer physical injury by helping with medical expenses. In cases of homicide, it may assist with funeral expenses and lost support for the victim’s eligible dependents as well as psychological counseling.
