VOICES NJ Resiliency Symposium | 2015

VOICES Center of Excellence for Community Resilience
New Jersey Symposium
Promoting Resiliency in Communities Impacted by Trauma:
Identification and Treatment of Long-Term Needs
Friday, April 3rd, 2015
Rutgers University | Livingston Campus Student Center
Click here to view a photo gallery of the Symposium.
On Friday, April 3, 2015, VOICES hosted its annual Resiliency Symposium, "Promoting Resiliency in Communities Impacted by Trauma: Identification and Treatment of Long-Term Needs." This year's Symposium was an insightful day that featured presentations, panel discussions and interactive educational speakers led by accomplished clinicians, authors, and researchers. We were pleased to bring together this group of professionals with expertise in the fields of psychology, research, occupational health, and medicine.
The event was supported by our generous co-sponsors The World Trade Center Health Program, the United Way of Central Jersey, and the Rutgers School of Social Work.
The day-long event included presentations by subject matter experts who have provided support services for children, families, responders and survivors impacted by 9/11. The Symposium also offered information to mental health professionals, emergency managers, students, and other community stakeholders working in the field of trauma. Among the day's highlights are the following:

Mary Fetchet, LCSW, VOICES Founding Director spoke about the long-term needs of victims' families, responders, survivors and their families. She defined the impacted community well beyond those who were directly impacted. "We recognize that 9/11 was a defining moment in the history of our country, a national tragedy with international scope." She also noted that, individuals don't "get over it", they learn to live with it, and create new meaning in their lives.

During their panel discussion, Mickie Brown, RN; Craig Haen, Ph.D.; and Maureen Underwood, MSW, LCSW discussed ways to promote resiliency in children, families, and responders. They identified the challenges in doing so, as well as the long term implications for families who have experienced trauma.

Also participating in the Symposium were Dr. Alex Kehayan and Dr. Joseph Napoli, authors of Resiliency in the Face of Disaster and Terrorism: 10 Things to Do to Survive. Dr. Kehayan and Dr. Napoli identified the 12 assets of resilient individuals, how experience can enhance resilience, and five themes for fostering resilience. Our attendees put these principles into practice through a collaborative experiential learning exercise.

"Events like the Symposium provide us with the chance to come together as a community, and to share our lessons learned with those providing services to victims' families, responders and survivors," noted Ms. Fetchet. "We were impressed by our presenters' dedication to helping families and communities, and their focus on promoting hope and healing in the lives of those they work with."
The Symposium is an initiative of VOICES Center of Excellence for Community Resilience, as part of the organization's commitment to helping families and communities heal after other tragedies. The Center of Excellence is a collaborative effort to work with public/private partnerships to advance research, discourse and dialogue on issues that impact the long-term recovery of victims' families, responders, and survivors.
Annual Symposium Agenda
Friday, April 3, 2015
9:00am - 3:00pm
Rutgers University
Livingston Campus Student Center
84 Joyce Kilmer Avenue
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Opening Remarks
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Chancellor, Rutgers - New Brunswick
Professor, Rutgers School of Social Work
Chancellor, Rutgers - New Brunswick
Professor, Rutgers School of Social Work
Long-Term Needs of Victims' Families, Responders and Survivors
The Journey from Trauma to Hope and Healing
Adjunct Full Professor of Clinical Psychology, Long Island University; Faculty, Suffolk Institute for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy; Fellow, Board Member and Co-Chair of Community Outreach of the American Group Psychotherapy Association
Identifying Challenges and Promoting Resiliency in Children, Families, and Responders
Private Practice, White Plains, NY; Adjunct Faculty, New York University; Adjunct Faculty, Lesley University; Fellow and Co-Chair of Community Outreach, American Group Psychotherapy Association
Afternoon Introduction
Professor of Professional Practice
School of Social Work, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey
School of Social Work, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey
Case Studies: Providing Group Therapy and Peer-to-Peer Support
Lunch Keynote: Enhancing Your Resiliency through Experience
Clinical Psychologist and Co-Director, Resiliency LLC
Co-Author of Resiliency in the Face of Disaster and Terrorism
Co-Author of Resiliency in the Face of Disaster and Terrorism
Psychiatrist and Co-Director, Resiliency LLC
Co-author of Resiliency in the Face of Disaster and Terrorism
Co-author of Resiliency in the Face of Disaster and Terrorism
Persisting Patterns and Emerging Trends in Physical and Mental Health 13 Years after 9/11
Research Director, The World Trade Center Health Registry; New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Professor of Clinical Epidemiology; Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
Professor of Environmental and Occupational Medicine; Medical Director, EOHSI Clinical Center; Clinical Research and Occupational Medicine Division; EOHSI, Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Health Care Workers and Disasters: Perceptions and Observations
Director, Institute for Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Promoting Healing Through Mind and Body Exercise
Annual Symposium Invitation

Healing Families & Communities After Tragedy
VOICES Center of Excellence
for Community Resilience Symposium
Promoting Resiliency in Communities Impacted by Trauma:
Identification and Treatment of Long-Term Needs
Friday, April 3rd, 2015
Registration 8:30am
9:00am - 3:00pm
Rutgers University
Livingston Campus Student Center
84 Joyce Kilmer Avenue | Piscataway, NJ
9/11 Families, Survivors and Responders: No Charge
Symposium Fee for Professionals: $75 | 5 CEU Credits: $25
Exhibitor Table Fee: $100
9/11 families, responders and survivors are invited guests.
Mental health and public health providers, emergency managers
and law enforcement professionals working with victims' families,
responders and survivors are encouraged to attend.
Continental breakfast and lunch included
Questions? Contact us at 203-966-3911 or info [at] voicesofsept11.org (info[at]voicesofsept11[dot]org)
Thanks to our Co-Sponsors:


