This week's announcement that the Medical Examiner is re-opening the identification and notification process may be troubling for some families. As the Medical Examiner stated when the notification process was suspended last April, his office would be proactive in continuing their effort to identify the remaining unidentified remains as new DNA technology becomes available. 
We are distributing the letter from Dr. Charles Hirsch in this week's E-Newsletter as well as a form for family members to register with his office. You also should have recieved a special email from VOICES yesterday about the announcement. Please feel free to forward the information to other family members who may not be on our distribution list. On the notification form, families can indicate whether or not they want to be notified of new identifications. We encourage you to consult with your family and file the completed form with the ME's office soon to ensure your wishes are known. 
All of us at VOICES commend Dr. Hirsch and his dedicated staff for the compassion and continued commitment to our families. The 9/11 families and New York City are fortunate to have such a remarkable individual and staff working on our behalf. 
We are adding a special teleconference group on Friday, January 27th for 9/11 family members who wish to speak with a mental health professional about the difficult issues involved with identification and notification. Please read more about Friday's teleconference below. 
If Friday's group does not work for you or you wish to speak with someone privately, please contact the VOICES office if our staff be of any assistance as we continue though the notification process. You can reach us by calling our office at (866) 505-3911 or sending us an e-mail.