Voices of September 11th Receives CDC Contract to Assist 9/11 Survivors in Accessing Medical and Mental Health Care. Over 400,000 Individuals May Be Eligible for Treatment through the World Trade Center Health Program.

New Canaan, CT/November 21, 2016 - VOICES of September 11th (VOICES) was awarded a contract from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to promote awareness about the World Trade Center Health Program. The Program provides treatment for medical and mental health conditions experienced by those who were in the NYC disaster area in the days and months following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Under the contract, VOICES will focus their outreach efforts on survivors. This group includes anyone - workers, residents, children, or visitors -who were present in the New York City disaster area on or after 9/11. The disaster area encompasses Lower Manhattan south of Houston Street and the northwest corner of Brooklyn.

"Many survivors are not aware that they may be eligible for treatment through the World Trade Center Health Program," explained VOICES Founding Director Mary Fetchet. "It is estimated that over 400,000 people were in the NYC Disaster Area on 9/11 and in the months following the attacks. Working with our collaborative partners, we want to ensure that survivors and responders have access to the treatment they deserve."

Since 2012, VOICES has provided a variety of services to assist responders and survivors in the process of applying to the World Trade Center Health Program for medical and psychological treatment. VOICES builds awareness through outreach efforts, annual conferences, psychoeducational programs, and a dedicated helpline. VOICES website provides comprehensive information about the Program, including eligibility requirements and covered conditions. This is VOICES third award from the CDC to work on the project.

"Fifteen years after the attacks, many survivors may be experiencing symptoms of the same life-threatening medical and psychological conditions as the responders who worked in the recovery effort," added Stephanie Landau, VOICES Project Director. "Some may have health insurance through their employers. Others may not have insurance due to retirement or unemployment. If eligible, enrolling in the Program ensures they will have access to treatment for 9/11 related illnesses, with no out-of-pocket costs."

The World Trade Center Health Program was established by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, and the bill was reauthorized in December 2015 to provide benefits through 2090. The Program provides health screenings to evaluate 9/11-related mental health and medical conditions, including most cancers, for certified eligible survivors and responders. If a condition is certified as being caused or aggravated by exposure to the 9/11 attacks, all medical and mental health treatment is available at no out-of-pocket cost, including tests, doctor visits, surgery and prescription medication. This care is provided through several Clinical Centers of Excellence in the NYC metro area, as well as a Nationwide Provider Network of clinics across the country.

For more information about the World Trade Center Health Program, visit www.voicesofseptember11.org. Ms. Landau can be reached by phone at 203-966-3911, at the WTC Health Program Help Line at 855-709-0100, or by email at slandau@voicescenter.org.

About Voices of September 11th

Voices of September 11th was co-founded in 2001 by Mary Fetchet, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose 24 year old son Brad perished on 9/11, and Beverly Eckert, whose husband Sean Rooney died in the attacks. The organization provides a wide range of support services for all those impacted by 9/11, commemorates the lives lost and promotes national preparedness. More recently, the organization launched VOICES Center of Excellence for Community Resilience, to assist communities in preparing for and responding to acts of terrorism, mass violence and natural disasters, both in the United States and abroad. The Center promotes best practices in addressing the long-term needs of victims' families, survivors and responders through educational forums, training programs, and scholarly research.

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