FROM OUR KIDS TO YOUR KIDS

From Our Kids to Your Kids is a program developed by The Center in response to the tragedy of September 11th. As is evidenced by the address to the Senate Health Committee authored by Spencer Eth, M.D., Vice Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Director, Behavior Health Services, "...in New York City, there are not sufficient psychiatric resources to respond effectively to all of the people...our hospitals...and agencies lack adequate staff and other resources to...offer the specialized therapies that are known to be useful for disaster-related syndromes..."

Program Duration:
September 6 to 13, 2002

Program Description:
The project is to bring children and parents from New York and Washington DC to Los Angeles, for a period of one week to:

- Remove them from the site that represents desctruction and extreme loss.
- Provide an alternative, safe environment to heal
- Provide grief and mental health counselors and therapeutic sessions to stimulate the healing process at The Center.
- Pair the New York/Washington DC children with Los Angeles children who have also experienced the loss of a parent.
- Teach the parents how to create their own grief support groups for children in New York and Washington DC.

New York City and Washington DC participants are those who have experienced the loss of a parent and spouse in the tragedy of September 11th. Los Angeles participants are children and their families involved in Support Groups who have also experienced the loss of a parent or spouse.

Ten to fifteen children will be chosen as participants in September. It is estimated that the New York/Washington DC group will contain an additional ten adults. The children will be matched with an additional ten to fifteen children from Los Angeles who have lost their parent(s). The surviving spouse or guardian will be invited to join groups with thei parents from New York and Washington DC. The groups will be divided into age-appropriate categories, consistent with The Center's other support groups.

All expenses will be covered by the project.

The involvement of the community, business, service, medical, and mental health leaders is essential for the operation of the project.

View ABCNews video on From Our Kids to Your Kids - aired September 6.