CONCERNED

Helping

The September 11 terrorist attacks set in motion a chain of events—and emotions. Because almost everything about them was unprecedented, no one can say when we will return to “normal” or whether we’ll have to adjust, over and over again, to a “new normal.”

It’s in the American tradition to reach out immediately to help those in need. That is noble. But because of the deep psychological wounds caused by the terrorist attacks, it is equally important for us to look inside and see if we are suffering—in our eagerness to give help, we may need to pause and, first, get help.

We have, therefore, divided this section into Giving Help and Getting Help—and because we suspect that we can be most useful to others if we are in good mental health ourselves, we start with ways to get help.

GETTING HELP FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

More than 1,000 American Red Cross chapters nationwide are prepared to work with the needs of your family surrounding this unprecedented tragedy. For the latest information regarding the Red Cross response and services the organization is providing, please visit www.redcross.org.

Childhelp USA® Hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD, offers assistance to children, families, and individuals who need help coping with the terrorist attacks.

The National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology has pulled together a list of credentialed psychologists who have volunteered to offer healthcare services to the victims and their families. For the list, go to www.nationalregister.com/reliefservices.html.

The American Psychology Association gives advice on managing traumatic stress. Go to www.apa.org/psychnet/coverage.html.

The National Institute of Mental Health has a special section, Response to Terrorist Acts Against America. Go to www.nimh.nih.gov/outline/responseterrorism.cfm.

GriefNet has e-mail support groups and an area where kids can help each other deal with their emotions. Go to griefnet.org.

Beliefnet enables you to find a local house of worship and provides a faith-by-faith guide for dealing with death and an online prayer circle for the victims of the terrorist attack. Go to www.beliefnet.com.

GIVING HELP

If you want to give money, many charities are addressing the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. For a good overview, go to Helping.org or libertyunites.org.

The following is a short list of organizations and charities.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

America’s Second Harvest

America’s Second Harvest’s mission is to get food and water to hungry people. In the days after September 11, it was inundated with food and product donations. Now it needs cash donations to help move the disaster relief to the affected communities. For information about the America’s Second Harvest Disaster Relief, go to www.secondharvest.org/aboutash/disaster.html.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers, guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org.

AmeriCares

AmeriCares, the national and international disaster relief organization, has established a fund for the families of the New York City uniformed firefighters, police officers, and uniformed Port Authority employees who perished at the World Trade Center. For more information, visit www.americares.org/InTheNews/Article.asp?id=161.

Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund

The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund has been created to provide education assistance for postsecondary study to financially needy children and spouses of those killed or permanently disabled as a result of the terrorist attacks. For more information, go to www.familiesoffreedom.org.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army has been serving meals to emergency personnel each day of the rescue and recovery effort. Volunteers and supplies may again be needed. For more information, go to www.salvationarmy-usaeast.org/disaster/index.htm.

Save the Children

Save the Children trains counselors, teachers, parents, and volunteers to help children come to terms with these tragic events and to help communities to cope with traumas and crisis. For more information, visit www.savethechildren.org/us_tragedy/fund.htm.

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) provides services to those who have been affected by the death of a loved one serving in the Armed Forces. The Department of Defense has directed the respective services to ensure all surviving family members are referred to TAPS for follow-up care and assistance. For more information about TAPS, visit their official website, www.taps.org.

NEW YORK CITY RELIEF EFFORTS

New York State World Trade Center Relief Fund

Governor George E. Pataki has established the World Trade Center Relief Fund for the benefit of the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The purpose of the fund is to benefit all victims, both injured and deceased, and their families and dependants, including innocent civilians, firefighters, police officers, Port Authority police officers, emergency medical personnel and relief workers, and others impacted by the attacks. For more information go to www.state.ny.us.

September 11th Fund

The September 11th Fund was created by the United Way and The New York Community Trust to help with the immediate and longer-term needs of the victims and their families. For more information, go to september11fund.org/epledge/sept11.cfm.

Twin Towers Fund

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani has established the Twin Towers Fund to coordinate the outpouring of support for the families of members of the New York City Fire Department and its Emergency Medical Services Command, the New York City Police Department, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New York State Office of Court Administration, and other government offices who lost their lives or were injured at the World Trade Center. For information, go to www.nyc.gov/html/em/twintowersfund.html.

WASHINGTON, D.C., RELIEF EFFORTS

Survivors’ Fund of the National Capital Region

The Survivors’ Fund will focus on the long-term educational, health, income maintenance, and other needs of individual victims and their families in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., region. For more information, go to www.cfncr.org.

POLICE ORGANIZATION FUNDS

New York City Police Foundation Heroes Fund

The New York City Police Foundation has established a special fund for police officers injured or killed in the World Trade Center relief effort. For more information, go to www.nycpolicefoundation.kintera.org.

New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund

The New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund assists the families of fallen New York City firefighters and police officers. For more information, go to www.nypfwc.org.

FIREFIGHTERS’ FUNDS

New York Fire Fighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) will send financial assistance to the families of all fallen firefighters and EMS personnel. For more information, go to daily.iaff.org/fund.htm.

IF YOU WANT TO GIVE BLOOD

In this period of uncertainty, the American Red Cross has a responsibility to assure blood availability regardless of any contingency including additional terrorist attacks in this country or U.S. military action. Donors are encouraged to set up an appointment to make a blood donation by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or by visiting www.redcross.org.