September 11 Anniversary
09/2011
The anniversary of a traumatic event, whether a national tragedy or a personal loss, can serve as a powerful reminder of earlier reactions to the tragedy, and can trigger renewed feelings of anxiety, sorrow, and concerns about the future. These reactions can then interfere with daily functioning at home, work, or school.
For the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the National Child Traumatic Network (NCTSN) has compiled a directory of resources for families, youth, educators, disaster response workers, medical personnel, and mental health professionals to help them deal both with recurring reactions and with current stresses and adversities.
Page Contents
Featured NCTSN Resources
Parenting in a Challenging World (2005) (PDF) 
Offers help for parents and caregivers of children who have experienced a traumatic event. These pages address some of their questions―such as What does a family do to heal after a child has experienced a traumatic event? Will my child recover? How have other people coped?―and other concerns with the help of scenes from the documentary film Surviving September 11th: The Story of One New York Family.
September 11th Anniversary Speaker Series
―Sponsored by the NCTSN Terrorism & Disaster Network Committee, Schools Committee, and Child Traumatic Grief Committee, the Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma is offering 4 webinars on the subject of September 11th Anniversary.
Strategies to Manage Challenges for EMS Families Guide (2008) (PDF)
An Emergency Medical Services (EMS) guide that discusses some of the many challenges for parents who work in the EMS field. Describes strategies for dealing with each of the challenges outlined, addressing the unique set of stressors experienced by EMS workers, their significant others, and their children. Created by the North Shore–Long Island Jewish Health System Adolescent Trauma Treatment Development Center in conjunction with the Center for Emergency Medical Services.
Tips for Families on Anticipating Anniversary Reactions to Traumatic Events (2002) (PDF)
>En Español:Sugerencias para la familia que anticipa reacciones adversas al aproximarse el aniversario de un acontecimiento traumático
Advice on how to deal with the feelings that arise with anniversaries of tragic events―including renewal of early reactions and feelings, and increasing worries about something similar happening again. As the anniversary of a public tragedy approaches, there is increased media attention, which may be accompanied by warnings, rumors, myths, and misconceptions that can easily add to families’ worries. Tips include information on what to look for, who might need special support, and how you can help. Includes links to other resources.
Traumatic Grief
Overview of normal grief and grieving processes, and how they differ from traumatic grief. Childhood traumatic grief may occur following a death of someone important to the child when the child perceives the experience as traumatic. NCTSN resources include videos, training curricula, and educational materials for parents, educators, pediatricians, media, and other providers.
For Educators
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
Resources to support parents, educators, and other caregivers to help children deal with the tenth anniversary of September 11. Includes advice on teaching children to process their reactions in a healthy way, fostering resilience and coping skills, and much more. Tip sheets are available in English and Spanish.
National Center for Child Traumatic Stress
- Coping in Hard Times: Fact Sheet for School Staff (2011) (PDF)
Practical ways to help youth address their problems, stay connected, network, and cope better during economic downturns. Explains how challenging financial circumstances can affect school personnel, teachers, and their students' sense of safety, ability to calm, self- and community efficacy, connectedness, and hope. - Self Care for Educators (2008) (PDF)
Tips to help educators who experience secondary traumatic stress through working directly with traumatized children and adolescents. Information includes how to recognize the signs of compassion fatigue, find support, and care for themselves.
Project Rebirth
An organization that recognizes “the unique preparedness needs of first responders as the frontline of disaster recovery.” Seeks to “chronicle living history and honor 9/11 victims and first responders, and to advance educational initiatives committed to pre-trauma resiliency building for first responders.”
- 9/11 Materials for Teachers
A website presents a set of resource materials focused on the anniversary of 9/11. The resources can be used by teachers in carrying out classroom activities to commemorate the 10th anniversary. Also, links are provided to a number of other updated federal agencies that offer access to educational resources focused on the anniversary of 9/11.
For Families and Youth
9-11 Healing and Remembrance Program
Offers support and information to the 9/11 community to foster healing. Services include a toll-free 24/7 hotline with mental health support and information about 9/11 10th Anniversary events, Family Support Centers near commemorative events, and assistance with travel and lodging.
American Psychological Association
- 9/11 Anniversary
A webpage that provides links to news releases, resources, guides, as well as information on resilience for the anniversary of September 11th. - Road to Resilience
A brochure offering information to help readers take their own road to resilience by developing and using their own personal strategy. Includes some factors that can affect how people deal with hardship. - Resilience Guide for Parents & Teachers
A brochure to help parents and teachers learn to assist children (preschool through high school) in building resilience. Includes practical steps for managing stress, anxiety, and uncertainty.
Families of September 11®
A nonprofit organization that was founded in October 2001 by families of those who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Provides support to families and children including updated resources, information, and advocacy on the effects of terrorism and public trauma; reaches out to terror victims worldwide. An affiliated program―Children of September 11™―helps parents, caregivers, and professionals who support children impacted by 9/11 and other traumas. Offers resources, advocacy, and information.
National Center for Child Traumatic Stress
- Coping in Hard Times for Youth High School and College Age (2011) (PDF)
A factsheet that discusses how challenging financial circumstances can affect a young person’s sense of safety, ability to calm, self- and community efficacy, connectedness, and hope. Includes specific and practical ways for youth to address problems, stay connected, network, and cope better during economic downturns. - Effective Treatments for Youth (PDF)
For those that are still experiencing distress due to 9/11, it is never too late to get help. This information helps identify which treatments are most effective for youth.
- PTSD Coach App
A free download app that offers information and advice on PTSD and how to manage symptoms that commonly occur after trauma. Designed for current and veteran service members who have or may have PTSD. Includes information on PTSD and treatments that work, a PTSD self-assessment, tools for screening and tracking PTSD symptoms, skills for handling stress symptoms, and links to other resources for getting professional support and help. Available from iTunes and Android Market.
Voices of September 11th
Provides information and resources for 9/11 families, rescue workers, and survivors. Includes support programs; mental health and educational services to promote resiliency; up-to-date information through the website, newsletter, and direct mailings; and commemorative events to honor the lives and stories of September 11th. Also promotes public policy reform on prevention of, preparedness for, and response to terrorism; works to build bridges between international communities that have been changed by terrorism; and much more.
For Service Providers/Agencies
National Center for Child Traumatic Stress
- NCTSN Empirically Supported Treatments and Promising Practices
Factsheets that describe some of the clinical treatment and trauma-informed service approaches implemented by NCTSN centers, with the common goal of reducing the impact of exposure to traumatic events on children and adolescents. The documents were produced in close consultation with the developer of each treatment or service approach.
- Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC)
Resilience and Stress Management: Introduction
A collection of national and professional sources on resilience, understanding stress, and stress management includes tip sheets, and extensive annotated bibliography, and resource links.
Stay Connected
