Additional FEMA Grant for Children's Mental Health Sesame Workshop to Create Program for Parents, Caregivers and Teachers to Help Children
Release Date: December 9, 2002
Release Number: 1391-182
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 Keith Simons--NYS Office of Mental Health, David Paulison--FEMA U.S. Fire Administrator, Elmo and Gary Knell--Sesame Workshop President/CEO (left to right) announce a crisis counseling project to help children with mental health issues from the WTC attack. |
New York, NY -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved additional crisis counseling funding through New York's State Office of Mental Health for Sesame Workshop, a non-profit organization, to develop materials to help hundreds of thousands of children in the tri-state area who continue to struggle with mental health issues resulting from the World Trade Center attack.
The $500,000 grant is in addition to the $132 million Regular Services Crisis Counseling Grant for Project Liberty that FEMA awarded to New York earlier this year. The grant will go toward educational materials that help children ages three to eight cope with stress and trauma.
Working with the pediatric and psychiatric staff at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and other experts in the field, Sesame Workshop's producers, researchers and educators will develop print and online material for children and adults. Included are a booklet with a pullout poster, games, and activities to help children address fears and other troubling issues that have arisen from the disaster. Additional materials will aid parents and teachers with strategies to help children develop coping skills. The print materials will be tri-lingual: English, Spanish and Chinese.
The material developed can be used as a model for children suffering from other traumatic events across the country for years to come. It will be available in June 2003.
"We are delighted to support such a well-respected leader in children's education. Our partnership with Sesame Workshop is a great additional benefit to our work with Project Liberty," said FEMA director Joe Allbaugh. "The needs of children and families affected by the events of 9/11 are of the utmost importance to all of us."
"I want to thank FEMA once again for assisting those needing mental health services in the wake of Sept. 11, especially in this case, the children," said James L. Stone, commissioner of New York Office of Mental Health. "This grant builds on the positive work already done and being done by Project Liberty, which continues to provide free counseling to individuals and groups."
"We are excited about the opportunity to develop this program and further support the many children directly and indirectly affected by the tragedy," said Gary E. Knell, president and chief executive officer of Sesame Workshop. "Children manifest trauma in their own ways, and these age-appropriate materials will assist parents as they help the children they love."
Once developed, outreach materials will be distributed through tri-state mental health offices, Sesame Workshop's established network of educational and community organizations, and through a special section on their website, www.sesamestreet.com, which will reach an even broader audience. In addition, help is still available by contacting Project Liberty, 1-800-LIFENET (1-800-543-3638; TTY: 212-982-5284). Spanish speakers can call 1-877-298-3373, while speakers of Asian languages can dial 1-877-990-8585.
Last Modified: Friday, 03-Oct-2003 15:36:38