VALU helps families cope with homicides

The University of Cincinnati School of Social Work’s partnership with the Cincinnati Police Homicide Unit is going strong three years into its establishment.

The partnership, Victims Assistance Liaison Unit (VALU) is a program brought to Cincinnati by Thomas H. Streicher Jr., police chief at district 5 of the Cincinnati Police Department.

The program is designed to provide services to the grief-stricken family members of homicide victims, funded by a grant through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

The program fills a gap in services to the community, said Susan Carlson, director of
field studies for the School of Social Work.

“VALU really looks at the secondary victims of these crimes,” Carlson said. “The police need to focus on investigating homicides, so when families request assistance VALU
steps in.”

VALU helps in a variety of ways by providing assistance in funeral planning and organizing group therapy sessions for family members.

Monica Middleton is a graduate student in the School of Social Work and a member of the VALU team. She said the experience she is gaining is invaluable.

“I am experiencing a mix of working with law enforcement and social services,” Middleton said. On working with the homicide unit they work well together but forming solid working relationships take time, she said.

“Initially, we slowly had to build trust with each other,” Middleton said.

The job has many rewards, but Middleton said it can be difficult at times because of the extreme emotional pain people are experiencing.

“You can provide basic services for these families, but in the end you cannot do anything for the grief they feel,” Middleton said.

Requests for the services have increased since the program began, according
to VALU.

“I am excited that I am watching and helping the program grow,” Middleton said.
Carlson also has high hopes for the program in the future.

“Of course we would like to see the program grow,” Carlson said. “Eventually, we hope for the Cincinnati Police Department to absorb it and establish it as a permanent program.”

Streicher was unavailable for comment as of press time.