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Communities

In the years since 9/11, acts of terrorism, mass violence and natural disasters are occurring at an alarming rate in the United States and abroad. Most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities around the globe, causing an increase in mental health conditions for the foreseeable future. Whether a community is impacted by a global pandemic or a terrorist attack, our research findings and longstanding expertise in working with victims’ families, survivors, and responders, indicate a need for consistent long-term support.

Contrary to this, support systems and services remain primarily focused on short-term needs. Over the years, VOICES has been a leading proponent and source for long-term support, helping to promote healing and build resilience in communities in crisis. This is an essential gap in needed services that we are addressing. Healing from tragedy and building resilience takes time and requires access to resources for long-term recovery.

VOICES continues to support communities in crisis through a myriad of services, including providing guidance on commemoration and memorial planning; outreach support to an expanding number of communities impacted by tragedy including Charleston, SC, Newtown, CT, Orlando, FL, Parkland, FL, Paris, France, and London, UK.

To augment these outreach activities, VOICES creates digital resources and guides to share best practices in both short-term and long-term recovery. Given the increased risk that mass violence poses on communities, VOICES created an e-book as a resource for those who will create plans directed at short-term response and long-term recovery. The eBook was reviewed by the Office for Victims of Crime and is now available to download here. The principles discussed in the eBook focus on how to assist communities in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from acts of mass violence.

If you are a member of a community in crisis in need of support, please email us at info@voicescenter.org.