(Oakton, Va., July 1, 2005) Individuals directly affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon will be able to address their continuing recovery needs through a new series of free workshops and support groups offered by Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS).
“These workshops and support groups are a crucial step in helping survivors and first responders of the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon to rebuild their lives. Studies have shown that survivors of traumatic events are often in great need of support in the time period from three to five years after a tragedy,” said NVFS president and CEO Mary Agee.
The series of workshops and support groups will strengthen children and youth who lost a parent or caregiver; families and caregivers of the physically and emotionally injured; and the emotionally injured Pentagon evacuees. The program will also provide outreach and group services to Pentagon first responders, active duty military personnel, contractors and others who were deployed to the disaster site for rescue and recovery work.
The initial two workshops will address issues of money management. The first workshop, called Personal Budget Management, is designed for adult survivors, first responders and evacuees of the Pentagon attack. It will take place Saturday, July 16, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at NVFS’ office in Oakton. Highlights of the program include learning or reviewing how to create a budget plan, taking steps to become and remain financially organized and more.
The second workshop, called Managing My Money, is the first in the Getting Real series for young adults (age 17 and up). This is for children of families directly affected by the Pentagon attack. Managing My Money will be held Saturday, Aug. 6, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at NVFS’ office in Oakton. It will help young adults set specific financial goals, create a budget, save money, plan for the future and more. For more information or to register, eligible participants should call 703.219.3920.
NVFS has been providing long-term support to the victims and families affected by the terrorist attack at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and helping survivors and families receive the services they need through the Survivors’ Fund Project (SFP) since shortly after Sept. 11. The Survivors’ Fund was established by the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region and is the largest charity in the country set up exclusively to support the long-term needs of individuals and families affected by the terrorist attack at the Pentagon. To date, SFP has worked with more than 1,100 people through individual and family case management, and is currently serving more than 650 people.
This new project is supported by a Sept. 11 recovery grant from the American Red Cross Liberty Disaster Relief Fund. This grant program supports nonprofit organizations throughout the United States that address a wide variety of longer-term recovery needs related to Sept. 11, including health, mental health and wellness, community recovery, children and youth needs, ensuring access to Sept. 11 services and more.