On Friday, April 3, Voices of September 11th (VOICES) will host its annual Resiliency Symposium, "Promoting Resiliency in Communities Impacted by Trauma: Identification and Treatment of Long-Term Needs." The event runs from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and will be held at Rutgers University Livingston Campus Student Center in Piscataway, NJ.

"This year's Symposium promises to be an insightful day featuring presentations and interactive educational experiences led by accomplished clinicians, authors, and researchers," said VOICES Founding Director Mary Fetchet.   "The VOICES Resilience Center initiative is pleased to bring together this group of professionals with expertise in the fields of psychology, research, occupational health, and medicine."

"Opportunities like the VOICES 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," explained Ms. Fetchet. "It is heartwarming to reconnect with people we've known for many years, and to meet new people for the first time."

The day-long event includes presentations by clinicians and professionals who have provided support services for children, families, responders and survivors impacted by 9/11. The Symposium is intended to inform the 9/11 community, as well as mental health professionals, emergency managers, and other community stakeholders working in the field of the trauma.

The day's presentations include:

•     Long-Term Needs of Victims' Families, Responders and Survivors
•     The Journey from Trauma to Hope and Healing
•     Identifying Challenges and Promoting Resiliency in Children, Families and Responders
•     Enhancing Your Resiliency Through Experience
•     Case Studies: Providing Group Therapy and Peer-to-Peer Support
•     Persisting Patterns and Emerging Trends in Physical and Mental Health 13 Years After 9/11
•     Health Care Workers and Disasters: Perceptions and Observations
•     Promoting Healing Through Mind and Body Exercise

"Throughout the planning process for this year's event, we've had the opportunity to learn more about our presenters' work," added Ms. Fetchet. "We are impressed by their dedication to helping families and communities, and their focus on promoting hope and healing in the lives of those they work with."

The Resiliency Symposium is co-sponsored by the Rutgers School of Social Work, the World Trade Center Health Program, and the United Way of Central Jersey. There is no charge for 9/11 family members, responders and survivors and their families, as well as those who lived, worked or volunteered in the aftermath of the event.  This includes the media who reported on the event.   The fee for professionals is $75, and 5 CEU credits are available for $25.

To register online visit www.voicesofseptember11.org. For more information, email symposium@voicesofsept11.org. 

About Voices of September 11th

Founded in 2001, Voices of September 11th (VOICES) is internationally recognized for its innovative approach to providing a wide range of support services that promote resiliency for thousands of 9/11 families, first responders and survivors. VOICES 9/11 Living Memorial, an extensive collection of over 70,000 photographs and personal keepsakes that commemorates the lives of the nearly 3,000 lost on 9/11, is a core component of the In Memoriam exhibition at the 9/11 Museum in New York City. A strong advocate for national preparedness, VOICES promotes reforms to make the country safer and shares best practices to heal families and communities after tragedy.

Recent acts of mass violence and natural disasters have underscored the need for communities to be better prepared. In the fall of 2014, VOICES launched a comprehensive Resource Kit to assist communities in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from incidents of mass violence. Recommendations are based on extensive research and interviews conducted with hundreds of service providers who responded to the September 11th attacks, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the shootings at Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University and Tucson, Arizona.

In 2014, VOICES Center for Excellence for Community Resilience was launched, as part of the organization's commitment to helping families and communities heal after other tragedies. VOICES Center acts as a clearinghouse of information, sharing over a decade of expertise and research findings that address the long-term needs of victims' families and survivors. The initiative has expanded through partnerships with subject matter experts, government agencies, organizations, and universities.

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