A Kansas City Non- Profit Organization
Mission To restore love, faith, and hope to parentless children; and to conquer adversaries by providing resources and a community of support.
Vision To impact, support, and introduce children of homicide victims to healing and violence prevention in aim to tackle mental health issues and decrease the generational cycles of violence in our communities.
Kansas City's People Choice Awards
2020 Best Non-Profit Organization
About COHV
The Children Of Homicide Victims (COHV) Support Group is a non-profit organization whose core values are faith, hope, love, and community.
THE STORY BEHIND IT ALL
Children of Homicide Victims (COHV) began its journey as "Children of Lost Souls" in 2013, founded by Sunnie Carney after the tragic loss of her father to homicide in Kansas City when she was just 16. Struggling with profound grief, Sunnie faced numerous challenges including alcohol abuse, depression, anger, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts. In 2017, the organization was renamed "Children of Homicide Victims" to reflect Sunnie’s transformation from a "lost soul" to a guiding light for others.
Sunnie's father, Vernon Ray Carney Jr., was Kansas City's 9th homicide victim of 2012. Two days before her 16th birthday, her world was irreversibly altered.
"When I lost my father, my mother was left to raise and try to heal a broken child with no support. At 16, I was just becoming a young woman, which made it even harder for both of us. I had feelings that my mother couldn’t understand and I couldn't explain. This created resentment and isolation. There wasn't an organization like COHV to help me. I sought love and attention in the wrong places to fill the void left by my father. I was sad and angry, which made me violent and lacking in self-confidence. I hosted nightlife parties for older crowds, drank excessively, and blacked out frequently. Despite the attention I received, my pain remained. I wanted to end my life and often thought about overdosing, drowning, or crashing my car."
Sunnie's path to healing was paved by her faith. She credits God's love, grace, and mercy for saving her. Through consistent church attendance, she found solace and a father figure in Jesus Christ. Her testimony and passion for youth became her purpose. Using tools developed from her own journey, she now advocates against violence and supports grieving children, just as she once was.
Understanding the struggles of losing a parent, Sunnie aimed to provide the support she once lacked. COHV was incorporated in August 2018 and achieved 501(c)(3) status. Since its inception, COHV has served over 300 children of homicide victims in the Kansas City Metro area, offering a beacon of hope and a path to healing for families facing unimaginable loss.