Anniversaries (Cont.)

Appleseed, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit,
says that most displaced families have already
moved from the cities to which they were
evacuated. Houston and Atlanta are the
exceptions, for different reasons. While Atlanta
has a very high number of middle- and upper-
income families who could afford to relocate themselves, and have stayed, Houston has a very high number of low-income displaced families, who are not able to find employment.

In the aftermath of these hurricanes, the NCTSN DePelchin Children’s Center in Houston, has been
a strong community leader in helping families deal with the losses they have experienced and their psychological trauma. In addition to their ongoing work with evacuees in schools, community
shelters, and residential treatment facilities, the DePelchin staff has created a booklet called “Psychological Hurricane Readiness: A Survival Guide for Families,” promoting the idea that preparedness also bolsters resilience and healing.

The NCTSN and the National Center for PTSD
have just released the second edition of the acute response guidebook, Psychological First Aid
(PFA) Field Operations Guide. PFA materials were first developed and distributed to hurricane
survivors and first responders in 2005. The U.S. Medical Reserve Corps has recently adapted and
distributed the PFA materials to its members, and
a separate adaptation is currently being made for members of the clergy and other groups. (See related story)

The NCTSN also has developed and delivered
“enhanced services,” trauma-focused interventions implemented through Project Liberty in New York City, one-year after the 9/11 attacks. FEMA continued to support enhance services in Florida one year after the 2004 hurricanes.

Although FEMA will not support enhanced services for the Gulf Coast survivors, the NCCTS and many NCTSN members are working with businesses
and private foundations to gather funds to help thousands of children and families still suffering
from the aftereffects of the disasters in the Gulf.

Since the 9/11 attacks in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, NCTSN researchers and clinicians have further enhanced treatments for traumatic
grief that may develop when a child suddenly loses a close family member or loved one under severely traumatic circumstances. NCTSN members conducted trainings on the treatment of traumatic grief in the months following 9/11, and are continuing to use this expertise with survivors of other severely traumatic events, including mass disasters, homicides, and traumatic accidents or illnesses.

On October 4, 2006, Bob Abramovitz of the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, an
NCTSN Center in New York City, will speak at an event for caregivers who have continued to help respond to the terrorist attacks. Many survivors of the attacks have been involved in long-term support of loved ones or patients. Abramovitz’s talk will focus on the needs of the caregivers and offer support and guidelines for self-care and reducing their own stress and grief.

Although FEMA will not support enhanced
services for the Gulf Coast survivors, the NCCTS and many NCTSN members are working with businesses and private foundations to gather funds to help thousands of children and families still suffering from the aftereffects of the disasters in
the Gulf.

NCTSN is helping to promote September as National Preparedness Month. Materials for family and school preparedness are available at www.NCTSN.org.