The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office is the host of ‘Camp Hope’, a week-long sleep away camp experience for kids to work out their trauma and build a bond with each other and the sheriff’s office.
Mom, Stephanie Curtis says being away from home has helped her kids heal from a heartbreaking experience.
“It was a domestic violence situation with their father and we ended up getting a divorce, and the girls were going through a very hard time so I ended up putting them through counseling and I was told us they had a camp for them,” explained Curtis.
Curtis says it’s transformed her kids from that trauma.
“It was miraculous for them as far as facing their fears, anxiety
or just meeting new people as well as being in an environment without mommy,” said Curtis.
In 2021, the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office teamed up with the city’s family justice center to create the camp. At the time it was the first one in the country, lead by a sheriff’s office.
The camp is geared towards kids who have personally experienced trauma, primary and or secondary abuse.