AME Church

Services

Mother Emanuel Empowerment Center (MEEC)

MEEC is a collaborative effort of comprehensive care between Mother Emanuel AME Church, the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVC) in the department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), and Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center (CDMHC). The Mother Emanuel AME church hosts the location of the empowerment center on the grounds of the church campus to serve as a central resource hub to connect those impacted by the Mother Emanuel AME church massacre to advocacy, grief support, and/or mental health counseling. Staff will offer a wide range of services designed to assist families, survivors, and church members in their recovery and to provide a gathering place that facilitates their connection to each other. The MEEC staff will assist in developing resiliency by building programming and retreat events for adults and children to foster long-term recovery and to bolster connection and support.

Traumatic Grief Support Group
Adult survivors and family members of Emanuel 9 victims and survivors
Every Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m.

It Takes a Village Support Group
Adults who were impacted by the Emanuel AME tragedy
First and third Friday of each month, 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Chat and Chew
Adult males who were impacted by the Emanuel AME tragedy
Every second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

I Matter Adolescent Group
Adolescents ages 10 to 14
Second Saturday of each month, 12 to 2 p.m.

I Matter Teen Group
Teens ages 15 to 18
Second Saturday of each month, 12 to 2 p.m.

Women with a Purpose
Adult women only who were impacted by the Emanuel AME tragedy
TBD – stay tuned for details

Individual, Family and Group TherapyCurrently available for Children and Adults

Services can be conducted in any environment. Please contact us at 843-724-9035.

Case Management

Often loss by homicide can impact a number of areas of life in addition to the emotional health. Case management and victim navigation will be provided to individuals impacted by the tragedy to identify holistic needs including 1) basic needs such as safety, housing, food and clothes, 2) positive social support, and 3) coping strategies. Those impacted will then be connected to resources and ongoing follow-up care. Special attention will be provided to help in “negotiating through the system” and to offer hands-on assistance to families, including scheduling appointments with other providers and/or accompanying victims and survivors to appointments, support group, or court proceedings. Case management/victim navigation services will be provided by several partnering agencies.

Victim Witness Support Services

The Ninth Circuit Court Solicitor’s Office and the US Attorney’s Office -South Carolina District will offer victim advocacy in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies including the Charleston City Police Department and Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. Witness services include notification about court hearings and proceedings, accompaniment of victims at these hearings and proceedings, facilitating consultation with prosecutors, and assisting victims with preparation of victim impact statements. Travel funds may also be available to help victims attend proceedings. The Charleston County Clerk of Court will also assist with coordinating these services.

Mental Health and Support Services

Given that traumatic loss can have a long-term emotional impact on victims and survivors resulting in a broad spectrum of grief response, a variety of mental health and support services will be offered.Interventions may include education about grief and loss to understand the unique aspects of traumatic loss, support group services to facilitate connection and healing, and evidence-based mental health treatment for trauma and/or complicated grief responses. Services will be provided on sight at a number of community partnering agencies (NCVC, CDMHC, Berkeley Community Mental Health Center [BCMHC]-Goose Creek High School) as well as at the MEEC and via community based outreach in homes, churches, or schools. Telehealth approaches can be offered for those impacted who do not reside in the Charleston area.