FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 6, 2009

Media Contact:

Yvonne Bokhour
(203) 966-3911

Voices of September 11th Adds Child and Family Therapist

NEW CANAAN, Conn. 6 April 2009 – More than seven years after 9/11, families who lost loved ones are still suffering trauma, with mental health issues continuing to emerge, especially among families with children who were very young at the time of the tragedy. That is why VOICES of September 11th is pleased to announce that Monica Rosado, LCSW has joined its staff to focus specifically on the mental health needs of families and children. Ms. Rosado, a clinical social worker, will provide case management services, facilitate support groups, and develop programs and educational materials.

Ms. Rosado has worked as both a therapist counseling individual clients and an advocate developing programs and outreach initiatives for a wide range of populations. She has extensive experience working in clinical settings with families and children facing major life challenges. Her expertise in critical incident stress management--helping communities cope with the collective experience of a traumatic event—will be especially relevant to 9/11 families.

Rosado’s considerable skills also include the management of Employee Assistance contracts, which provide both out-patient and in-house consultation to corporations and not-for-profit agencies. Additionally, Ms. Rosado has designed and facilitated individual and group creative expressive therapies for both adults and youngsters, developed partnerships to provide psych-educational programs to middle and high school health centers, and created an educational on-site counseling center for college students.

Ms. Rosado’s addition to the VOICES of September 11th team will expand the organization’s mental health offerings for families and children of those affected by 9/11, which currently includes teleconference support groups, case management services and annual commemorative events. In addition, Rosado will be available during 9/11 Living Memorial workshops to provide assistance to families as they create tributes to their loved ones lost on 9/11.

The 9/11 Living Memorial, currently online at www.911livingmemorial.org is a digital archive that commemorates the lives of those who died and the stories of those who survived the September 11th attacks. VOICES is committed to providing professional support to those who participate in the 9/11 Living Memorial Project, an empowering process that contributes to personal healing and creates a meaningful historical record.  

            About VOICES of September 11th
           
Voices of September 11th was co-founded by 9/11 family members Mary Fetchet and Beverly Eckert immediately following the attacks on September 11th. The organization provides information and resources to over 7,000 9/11 families, rescue workers and survivors. VOICES services include teleconference support groups, case management services, an e-newsletter and an annual September 10th Information Forum and September 11th Commemorative Luncheon in New York City. VOICES supported the creation of the 9/11 Commission and legislation based on its recommendations, with a focus on promoting preparedness on the local, state and federal level.  

            About the 9/11 Living Memorial Project
 
In 2006 VOICES launched the 9/11 Living Memorial Project, a digital archive currently online at www.911livingmemorial.org, which commemorates the lives lost and documents firsthand accounts of rescue workers and survivors. The 9/11 Living Memorial will include extensive collections of photographs, written tributes and personal keepsakes as well as documentation of memorials and memorial foundations that were created in memory of those who perished.  A family tribute page has been created for each of the nearly 3,000 victims along with a personal guestbook in which family, friends and co-workers can share their reflections. The archive will expand over time to include audio and video.  For more info, visit www.voicesofsept11.org or contact the VOICES office at (203) 966-3911.  

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