mentor. In just a little over six years since Alycia
was murdered by a drunk driver, Michael is now
beginning to turn his grief into something positive.
Supporting others like himself to deal with the
death of a family member or friend.
Unfortunatly, Michael discoverd there were
no support groups in his area offering help
to young adults who lost a family member or
friend to homicide.
"I didn't think it was fair that my Mom had a group to go and talk to and I didn't. I felt that kids needed to have a group they can talk to."
Michael knew that he was not alone and there were many other teens in the community who were hurting also and in desperate need of help.
" I want to be there for others and help them through the hard and bad times cause I know how it feels. We all need the support of each other in this group"
Before April 20, 1996, no one knew Alycia would be leaving this earth that day for a higher calling in Heaven. That day and many days to come, the lives of Alycia's family, her many friends and countless strangers would change forever.
Three such lives are those of Alycia's mother Denise, her brother Michael and her dear friend Andrew.
Alycia's death will never be in vain because of the tenacity and determination of these three people plus many others who work so very hard to keep the memory of Alycia alive.
Youth - Homicide - Bereavement - Support - Group
Directions to Victim's Service Center
YOU ARE NOT ALONE . .
Losing someone you knew to homicide changed your life forever. Words cannot express your overwhelming grief and anger.
"Where do I go from here?"
"How can I go on with all this pain?"
Come and meet other youth who have faced this ultimate tragedy and are learning to manage their grief and to go on with their lives.
YHBSG is not a therapy session, but a compassionate support group sharing practical ideas on how to live with the grief process.
Kay Page Sullivan, MA, LMHC leads the group. She is an International Traumatology Institute Certified Traumatologist.
This page was last updated on: June 28, 2004
A very special thanks goes out to Susan White - (Victim's Advocate of the Sarasota County Sherriff's Office) who I asked to help me make a group like this possible for us, and Kay Sullivan, MA LMHCfor all
the many things you do for us.
Michael Salerno
** ** **
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE
R. Rodgers and O. Hammerstein II
Andy Williams
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of a storm is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of a storm is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone
** **
These words are dedicted to all the families and friends who struggle each day to cope with the death of a loved one.
