9-11 one year later: parks and recreation ares will meet vital needs on the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks. What should you consider when planning commemorations?It's not surprising that, since Sept. 11, 2001, Americans have felt increased stress. Nor is it surprising that many have turned to pharmaceuticals to help them cope. The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) is an agency of the United States government under the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). reported in February that more Americans with substance abuse problems were seeking treatment. In New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. and Washington, D.C., substance abuse treatment has risen substantially since Sept. 11, as has the demand for anti-anxiety, anti-depressant and sleeping medications. It's also not surprising--but it is more heartening--that park and recreation officials have reported increased numbers of visitors since last fall's terrorist attacks. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) A disorder that occurs among survivors of severe environmental stress such as a tornado, an airplane crash, or military combat. Symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, flashbacks, and nightmares. , the recovery of individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental disorder that follows an occurrence of extreme psychological stress, such as that encountered in war or resulting from violence, childhood abuse, sexual abuse, or serious accident. is related to the environments they are exposed to after the traumatic event A traumatic event is an event that is or may be a cause of trauma. The term may refer to one of the followiong:
Parks and recreation areas will play a vital role when the one-year anniversary of the attacks is marked this fall. As they did in the aftermath of Sept. 11, Americans will congregate in sites they view as oases of community for candlelight vigils, flag ceremonies, fundraisers and other events to honor those who died. Helping Healing Anniversary events can help individuals and communities to heal from trauma. But the same events can unintentionally trigger traumatic memories to reemerge and can worsen symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Father James Hayes James or Jim Hayes is the name of:
Bereavement refers to the period of mourning and grief following the death of a beloved person or animal. The English word bereavement Services and Outreach at the New York University New York University, mainly in New York City; coeducational; chartered 1831, opened 1832 as the Univ. of the City of New York, renamed 1896. It comprises 13 schools and colleges, maintaining 4 main centers (including the Medical Center) in the city, as well as the Child Study Center, agrees. "Anniversaries can mean different things to different people," she says. "For some families [an anniversary] is difficult and they don't want to be around it." According to Sara Thompson, LCSW-C LCSW-C Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical , director of Adult Mental Health Services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract at the National Mental Health Association, it's important to individualize in·di·vid·u·al·ize tr.v. in·di·vid·u·al·ized, in·di·vid·u·al·iz·ing, in·di·vid·u·al·iz·es 1. To give individuality to. 2. To consider or treat individually; particularize. 3. commemoration activities for people in the community, especially those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. "You need to have multiple options," she states. "Some people may want to be with family members, some people will want to be alone, some people will want to go to a religious service. It really is up to the individual." She advises park and recreation agencies to first ask individuals in the community what, if anything, they want to do to commemorate Sept. 11. It will be especially important for adults to reassure children that adults are trying to take care of them and keep them safe. Kathy Hoganbruen, Ph.D., senior director of prevention at the National Mental Health Association, says, "Adults can be really helpful for providing a space and environment where kids feel safe to express their feelings. A lot of kids were experiencing emotions that they had never experienced before on Sept. 11." Judy Mee, executive director and licensed professional counselor Licensed Professional Counselor ("LPC") is a licensure for mental health professionals. The exact title varies by state. Licensed Professional Counselors are one of the six types of licensed mental health professionals who provide psychotherapy in the United States. for the Calm Waters Center for Children and Families in Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (1990 pop. 444,719), state capital, and seat of Oklahoma co., central Okla., on the North Canadian River; inc. 1890. The state's largest city, it is an important livestock market, a wholesale, distribution, industrial, and financial center, and a farm , Okla., facilitated grief support groups for children and parents after the Oklahoma City bombing See Terrorism "The Oklahoma City Bombing" (Sidebar); Venue "Venue and the Oklahoma City Bombing Case" (Sidebar). in 1995. As part of the "Project Heartland" response to the bombing, her center continues to provide affected children with age-appropriate activities that encourage self-expression, including arts and crafts arts and crafts, term for that general field of applied design in which hand fabrication is dominant. The term was coined in England in the late 19th cent. as a label for the then-current movement directed toward the revivifying of the decorative arts. exercises, music and creative writing. "We give them a way to name their fears and address those fears so they can be dealt with," Mee says. "We suggest that they make pictures or write a story or poem about their experiences, emphasizing that we're in a different place today." Dr. Hoganbruen emphasizes that children should choose the activities they would like to do around the Sept. 11 anniversary. Possible activities include writing in journals, using arts and puppets to express emotions, doing a fundraiser based on their ideas and commemorating death with something life-giving, such as planting a tree. Dr. Goodman points out, "Doing something constructive can make people feel better." She recommends the following activities for children: opportunities for them to be helpful to each other, opportunities for them to understand other cultures and kinds of people, helping neighbors, helping to clean up a park and donating money and time. Similar ideas have already been implemented in the areas most affected by the attacks. The after-school programs at 35 recreation centers in New York City provide children throughout the city with artistic outlets to express their feelings. The Alexandria (Va.) Community Services Board collaborates with the City of Alexandria's Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities Department to provide an outreach coordinator at recreation centers to help affected individuals, especially youth, access mental health resources. Likewise, the Department of Parks and Recreation in the District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). conducts special trainings for their youth services personnel to identify and provide services to affected children and adolescents. Young and Old Alike Commemoration activities, of course, aren't only for children. All people engaged in community service can see firsthand how they can make a difference for others in their community Thus, park and recreation agencies could provide opportunities for all ages to do community service, such as gardening in parks. Some individuals may prefer gathering at community vigils for support. Others may want to dedicate a monument or public space to help the community feel connected to other communities nationwide. The important thing for park and recreation officials is to be open to a variety of wishes. Park and recreation agencies should consider consulting with therapeutic recreation specialists and departments of mental health, especially in localities directly affected by the Sept. 11 attacks. In addition, a public anniversary event could provide local mental health professionals with a means to conduct outreach to people in need of services. The Community Resilience Project in Arlington County, Va., for example, distributes brochures to residents, employees and businesses in the community. The brochures describe symptoms of stress responses (to the Sept. 11 attacks) for adults and children, give suggestions for healing and provide phone numbers for mental health services. Suggestions for the Field Below are some general ideas for how parks and recreation areas can help their communities with commemorations: * Provide opportunities for people of all ages to do a community service project. Service projects can be coordinated with local service and conservation corps. * Offer public parks as places for individuals to gather and support one another. Ask community members and local community and faith-based organizations to suggest ideas or coordinate an event. * Dedicate a monument, park, garden or other public space to help the community honor victims of Sept. 11 and to feel connected to other communities nationwide. * Consult with therapeutic recreation specialists and departments of mental health, especially in localities directly affected by the Sept. 11 attacks. Local mental health professionals could distribute brochures or fliers describing symptoms of stress responses for adults and children, and include phone numbers for mental health services. * As a general consideration, bear in mind that media coverage of your event is likely The Washington, D.C. Mental Health Community Response Coalition notes, "[I]t is important to protect the privacy of victims, their families and their stories. Please make every effort to keep media distant from victims and their families, so as not to cause them further suffering." Safe Havens Safe Havens is a comic strip drawn by cartoonist Bill Holbrook and syndicated by King Features Syndicate. Started in 1988, the strip is currently published in more than 50 newspapers. Public park and recreation agencies are also instrumental in helping to reassure people of public safety. The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Historic preservation is the act of maintaining and repairing existing historic materials and the retention of a property's form as it has evolved over time. When considering the United States Department of Interior's interpretation: "Preservation calls for the existing form, plays a significant role in security throughout New York with the help of the state park police, an armed police force. These police patrol Canadian borders, the Hudson River Hudson River River, New York, U.S. Originating in the Adirondack Mountains and flowing for about 315 mi (507 km) to New York City, it was named for Henry Hudson, who explored it in 1609. Dutch settlement of the Hudson valley began in 1629. and water reservoirs. The agency now uses dogs trained in sniffing explosives and park rangers to look for suspicious activities and vehicles in state parks. Similarly, at Liberty State Park in New Jersey, visitors are now searched before they can visit the Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty great symbolic structure in New York harbor. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : America Statue of Liberty perhaps the most famous monument to independence. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : Freedom or Ellis Island Ellis Island, island, c.27 acres (10.9 hectares), in Upper New York Bay, SW of Manhattan island. Government-controlled since 1808, it was long the site of an arsenal and a fort, but most famously served (1892–1954) as the chief immigration station of the United . In cooperation with the National Park Service, Liberty State Park has altered its facilities to include security checkpoints. According to Steve Ellis, superintendent of the park, rangers are more aware of cars parked in places for long periods of time or other suspicious activities in vehicles. Other park and recreation agencies are currently involved in local emergency disaster preparedness activities. In Hartford, Conn., two of the city's recreation centers are designated as emergency shelters where individuals and families can stay during and after disasters. Penny Leto, a recreation manager in Hartford who is on the city's emergency management team, reports that after disasters--even smaller disasters such as apartment fires--recreation personnel oversee the emergency shelters and provide a myriad of activities for affected children. In Hartford, the Recreation and Youth Service Division partners with the Board of Education to ensure that children continue to attend classes and to keep routine and normalcy nor·mal·cy n. Normality. Noun 1. normalcy - being within certain limits that define the range of normal functioning normality in children's lives. The city also provides one-stop shopping by sending representatives of city and state human service agencies to the centers to help the victims with housing, advocacy, and counseling on site. An event commemorating Sept. 11 could also be a time for local governments to share emergency plans with residents. For example, the emergency preparedness team could let community members know of evacuation routes, emergency shelters and future exercises or drills. Sharing this information can be reassuring to the public that people are working to keep them safe. The commemorations of Sept. 11 will provide communities nationwide with a means to reflect on the events of that day and the new norms since they occurred. By supporting communities during this important time, park and recreation agencies can again serve the public with unity, hope and healing. RELATED ARTICLE: Signs of stress. Park and recreation staff who work with children should be aware of signs of distress among children and reassure them that they are safe and that people are working to protect them. If any child displays the behavioral problems listed below during activities on or around the anniversary, their parents/caregivers should be notified. Consider referring parents to local departments of mental health. According to the National Institute of Mental Health The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is part of the federal government of the United States and the largest research organization in the world specializing in mental illness. , be on the lookout for in search of; looking for. See also: Lookout : * Excessive clinging (in young children) * Regressive behaviors (acting younger than they are) * Persistent nightmares or flashbacks * Avoiding reminders of or displaying obsessive behavior about the traumatic event * Difficulty concentrating * Persistently sad or irritable moods * Lack of interest in or withdrawal from activities once enjoyed * Marked increases or decreases in appetite and/or body weight * Marked depreciation or elevation in energy level * Statements of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt * Symptoms of physical illness without causes (e.g., stomach aches) * Substance abuse RELATED ARTICLE: Resources for remembrance. * The Participate America Foundation is offering grants of up to $1,500 to local agencies that organize and coordinate local events between Sept. 11-17. For more information, contact Pam Fielding at 202-955-3001 or pam@e-advocates.com. * Youth Service America Youth Service America, or YSA, is a resource center that partners with thousands of organizations committed to increasing the quality and quantity of volunteer opportunities for young people, ages 5-25, to serve locally, nationally, and globally. links volunteers to community service opportunities via its Web site, www.servenet.org. * The Calm Waters Center for Children and Families in Oklahoma City, Okla., has a resource guide of special activities for children. Write to info@calmwaters.org. * The America the Beautiful America the Beautiful patriotic song by Katherine Bates glorifying national ideals (1893). [Am. Music: Scholes, 30] See : Song, Patriotic Fund, a non-profit organization A non-profit organization (abbreviated "NPO", also "non-profit" or "not-for-profit") is a legally constituted organization whose primary objective is to support or to actively engage in activities of public or private interest without any commercial or monetary profit purposes. , is providing seed packets to communities nationwide to plant "Freedom Gardens" in response to the events of Sept. 11. Go to www.freeseeds.org or call 800-522-3557. * Service projects can be coordinated with local service and conservation corps. To find a corps near you, go to the Web site of the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. Please help [ improve the introduction] to meet Wikipedia's layout standards. You can discuss the issue on the talk page. (www.nascc.org) or call 202-737-6272. * The National Crime Prevention Council has a "Helping Children Feel and Be Safe" kit that includes activities, games, ideas for projects and posters. Each kit is $12, plus shipping and handling. Call the National Crime Prevention Council Fulfillment Center at 800-627-2911. * Annette La Greca, Ph.D., in collaboration with 7-Dippity, Inc., has published a workbook, "Helping America Cope," with activities for children and adults to do together. The workbook can be downloaded for free at www.7-dippity.com. * A directory of mental health agencies is available at the Center for Mental Health Services For the California public school, see . The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is a unit of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) witin the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. US government-supported group. Web site (www.mentalhealth.org/databases/default.asp). The National Mental Health Association has a toll-free number for accessing mental health resources at 800-969-NMHA (6642). The NMHA NMHA National Mental Health Association NMHA Normal Mode Helical Antenna NMHA Nevada Manufactured Housing Association NMHA Nebraska Manufactured Housing Association Web site (www.nmha.org/infoctr/index.cfm) includes information on PTSD PTSD posttraumatic stress disorder. PTSD abbr. posttraumatic stress disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. * The American Psychological Association The American Psychological Association (APA) is a professional organization representing psychology in the US. Description and history The association has around 150,000 members and an annual budget of around $70m. Web site (http://helping.apa.org/) also contains information on psychological conditions including trauma caused by terrorism. * The Web site of the Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal agency responsible for coordinating emergency planning, preparedness, risk reduction, response, and recovery. The agency works closely with state and local governments by funding emergency programs and providing technical includes emergency preparedness guides for families, businesses and communities. Go to www.fema.gov/pte/. * The Web site of the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps is www.nascc.org. Call (202) 737-6272. RELATED ARTICLE: Let a million flowers bloom. Some agencies honor the victims of Sept. 11 with "living memorials." Both the Department of Parks and Recreation in the City of New York and the Fairfax County (Va.) Department of Community and Recreation services led "fields of gold" daffodil daffodil: see amaryllis. daffodil Bulb-forming flowering plant (Narcissus pseudonarcissus), also called common daffodil or trumpet narcissus, native to northern Europe and widely cultivated there and in North America. It grows to about 16 in. projects last fall. Volunteers and students in New York and Virginia planted donated daffodil bulbs in parks and on recreation center grounds to honor victims lost in the September attacks. More than 10,000 volunteers and New Yorkers for Parks assisted the Department of Parks and Recreation in the City of New York to plant 1.5 million daffodils in 1,000 parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Similarly, near the Pentagon, the Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services led volunteers in planting fields of gold at 19 community, senior and teen centers. The daffodils bloomed throughout the month of April. RELATED ARTICLE: Commemoration plans. * The Park and Recreation Department of Orange County, N.Y., is planning a dedication ceremony for Sept. 15 of its Sept. 11 Remembrance Walkway and Gardens, donated in part by the company that sorted through the ruins of the World Trade Center, Taylor Recycling. * The Amherst, N.Y., Park and Recreation Department will lead a rededication Noun 1. rededication - a new dedication; "the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem" dedication - a ceremony in which something (as a building) is dedicated to some goal or purpose ceremony on Sept. 22 of Amherst Memorial Hill Grove. The grove includes a circle of 11 red and white oak trees, a flag flying atop a jagged rock, a monument and a plaque remembering the victims of the attacks and the fallen rescue workers. * In Shrewsbury, Mass., the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cemetery has offered a public park to be the location of a memorial service on Sept. 11, to be led by a local church council. * Volunteers for the Greater Huntington Park & Recreation Department in West Virginia will ring a bell on Sept. 11 at a local cemetery for each victim of the terrorist attacks. The event will last approximately 24 hours. * On Sept. 11, 2003, the Park and Recreation Department of Middletown Township, N.J., will dedicate to victims a memorial park and a memorial trail that includes a sitting area with 36 monuments, one for each resident of Middletown who died as a result of the attacks. RELATED ARTICLE: Commemoration caveat. Sept. 11, 2002, is a Wednesday. Your commemoration plans should take into consideration that many people will be working during the day. In addition, people living near metropolitan New York, Washington, D.C., and the crash site in Pennsylvania may choose to attend commemorations at the attack sites on Sept. 11. Hence, municipalities in those regions may want to consider commemorations for the following weekend, Sept. 14 and 15. Erica Shane Hamilton is the policy associate for health issues in NRPA's public policy department in Washington, D.C. |
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