October Newsletter
Online September 11th Assistance Guide
For people affected by the World Trade Center attacks – help is still available.
9/11 United Services Group is pleased to announce the launch of The September 11th Assistance Guide (www.sept11help.org) - a comprehensive online directory of over 160 services, programs and agencies that are still available to individuals affected in various ways by the events of September 11th. Click on the link http://www.sept11help.org to access this valuable resource.
Workers Compensation Benefits
The benefits received under Connecticut Workers' Compensation would not be subject to offset by any benefits received under the federal Victim Compensation Fund. Mr. John A. Mastropietro, Chairman of Connecticut's Workers' Compensation Commission made this point of clarification following inquiries from the Voices of September 11th. According to Mr. Mastropietro, under existing Connecticut law there is no provision which would allow for a workers' compensation payer to assert a lien against workers' compensation benefits.
This question was raised because New York state law was changed to assure that workers' compensation benefits would not be offset from the Victim Compensation Fund. Click here (PDF 103KB) to see Chairman Mastropietro's letter on the subject.
List of Scholarship Funds Created for Families of Victims of Terrorist Attack
A number of companies, organizations, and postsecondary institutions have announced scholarship funds for the children of those who died in the September 11 terrorist attacks. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) has taken the initiative to prepare a comprehensive list of scholarship funds to help families and others who were touched by the September 11 tragedies. While the primary purpose of this list is to provide financial aid professionals with the information they need to help students who may be eligible for assistance from these funds, it may also be a useful resource to September 11 families as well. NASFAA participates in the September 11 Scholarship Alliance, an organization established by leading scholarship providers and associated organizations to simplify the scholarship application process for postsecondary education for the families of those who died or were permanently disabled in the attacks. For more information on financial aid aspects of the September 11 tragedies, please visit NASFAA's Attack on America Resource Page at http://www.nasfaa.org/linklists/terroristattackpage.asp
Survivors Need Help
Do you know someone who survived the attacks on the World Trade Center or Pentagon? If so, you may be in a position to help. Many survivors are experiencing post traumatic stress, depression or anxiety as a result of their near miss with death.
According to the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, "an estimated 20 to 30 percent of those who survived the attack...will suffer from PTSD." Still, many of these survivors who are extremely distressed may feel ashamed of their own suffering and refuse help that is offered.
The period of greatest danger after a traumatic incident is from the six -month anniversary to the one-year mark and beyond. This is the season when survivors may show increased signs of stress such as: sleeplessness, feeling on edge or angry, difficulty concentrating, problems in getting along with family and friends, and increased substance abuse.
Help is available. Call Connecticut's Infoline at 2-1-1 for additional information about the help available in your area.
FREE GRIEF COUNSELING
Connecticut families who lost loved ones on September 11th are entitled to free grief counseling through the Office of Victim Services, Connecticut Judicial Branch.
Each family may receive up to 10 free sessions from an experienced counselor trained in trauma support. Families needing more than 10 sessions may apply for compensation for continued counseling through the appropriate state crime victim compensation agency (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,Massachusetts, etc).
These free counseling services are located in the towns of: Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, New Haven, New London, Norwalk, Stamford and Waterbury.
Call Linda Johnston or Ron Manzione of the Connecticut Office of Victim Services at 1-800-822-8428 for more information and referral to the counseling services in your area.
