NYC SCHOOLS TAPS SIDRAN TO HELP TREAT THE ESCALATING NUMBER OF POST-9/11 CHILDHOOD PTSD CASES

New York City school administrators have turned to the Sidran Institute to help the Departments psychologists, social workers and guidance counselors respond to the growing number of traumatic stress cases among the Districts children, resulting from the September 11 tragedy.

BALTIMORE, MD -- October 24, 2002 -- New York City school administrators have turned to the Sidran Institute to train the Departments psychologists, social workers and guidance counselors on how to respond to the growing number of traumatic stress cases among the Districts children, resulting from the September 11 tragedy, announced Sidran Institute President Esther Giller.

Through a grant from the Philip Morris Companies, Sidran is training approximately 100 NYC school-based mental health professionals in the use of their Risking Connection with Kids in Disasters (Risking Connection) program for treating children with traumatic stress. The training will be provided to mental health professionals in the NYC neighborhoods most affected by the World Trade Center bombings. Once implemented, the Risking Connection model will arm the Department with the tools and skills necessary to provide and sustain services to thousands of affected children -- many of whom are already exhibiting signs of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as a wide range of trauma-related emotional and behavioral problems.

According to Ricky Greenwald, Psy.D., who served as director of training for Mount Sinais child trauma program prior to joining Sidran Institute, New Yorks children are at the greatest risk because of their proximity to the catastrophe, which has touched so many of their young lives.

Those of us who treat children regularly are seeing nightmares, acting out, behavior changes and other symptoms of PTSD."

Dr. Greenwald goes on to discuss Sidrans Risking Connection program as a viable tool for training NYC school district mental health professionals, The treatment protocol is perfectly suited for the New York City schools because a significant element of the program focuses on maintaining the health of the provider who, in this case, has experienced the same trauma and must relive it all over again, vicariously, through each patient. The participants appreciate the training because they are getting more than just theory. They are learning hands-on skills to help them be more effective -- and they are learning how to take better care of themselves to avoid burnout."

Maintaining good health while working with traumatized children is a unique aspect and critical feature of the Risking Connection curriculum, which incorporates self-care tools to help clinicians maintain their strength, objectivity and effectiveness and to reduce the inevitable vicarious (secondary) trauma they are likely to experience as a result of treating so many traumatized children.

When queried about the effectiveness of the program, Cristina Casanova, the NYC schools citywide coordinator for professional staff development, stated, This is groundbreaking training for our school counselors, social workers and psychologists. It is the first complete protocol for the assessment and treatment of posttraumatic stress in our students and the very best program I have attended in my 30 years of work in mental health at the Department of Education. The participants feel the same."

Giller added, This is groundbreaking for Sidran as well. We are now in the forefront of developing and teaching treatment models for traumatized children. Using the practical, relational approach of building RICH (respect, information, connection and hope) relationships between the caregivers and the students, we are able to help reduce the impact of trauma on the children."

Casanova agreed, Now, well be better prepared to handle the trauma cases and the resulting benefits to our children and their families are immeasurable."

The Sidran Institute is the nations leading provider of traumatic stress education, publications and resources. Founded in 1986 with a gift from Kate Sidran, it is a national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting people with traumatic stress conditions, providing education and training on treating and managing traumatic stress, providing trauma-related advocacy, and informing the public on issues related to traumatic stress. Sidran is also a leading publisher of books about traumatic stress.

For additional information, contact the Sidran Institute at info@sidran.org, visit the Web site at http://www.sidran.org, call 410-825-8888 or write the Sidran Institute, 200 East Joppa Road, Suite 207, Baltimore, MD 21286.