Denver coroner’s office establishes family advocate program

By JOHN INGOLD
The Colorado Sun

DENVER (AP) — The Denver coroner’s office has created a first-in-the-state family advocate program to provide support from trained victims’ advocates to the loved ones of the deceased. The Colorado Sun reports that before the office was created, the families of those who died by suicide or drug overdose and all manner of other sudden deaths didn’t have access to victims’ services through the police department or the district attorney’s office because there was no criminal investigation or prosecution. It became clear that the office needed someone who could do more than provide a sympathetic ear. It needed someone skilled in helping families navigate grief.