REGISTER NOW!
9/11 Workers' Compensation Registration Deadline Aug. 14

NYDIS urges 9/11 chaplains, recovery workers and volunteers to register now to protect their right to workers' compensation benefits. NYDIS and New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) in collaboration with other agencies is mounting a media campaign to inform workers throughout the country about the necessity of registering by the deadline, Tuesday, August 14, 2007.

Download the brochure (pdf): English | Español

Call for registration guidelines: 866.WTC.2556

  NYDIS ED To Be Honored by National VOAD

The National VOAD Awards (NVOAD) Committee has announced that NYDIS Executive Director Peter Gudaitis is to be a 2007 National VOAD “Award for Excellence” recipient in the category of “Individual Award for Preparedness and VOAD Enhancement.” The Award recognitions will take place at a luncheon on April 19 at the 2007 National VOAD Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

  NYDIS Awards 2007 Continuity of 9/11 Services Grants

NYDIS is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2007 Continuity of 9/11 Services grants. These grants are awarded to human service organizations providing longer-term disaster case management for 9/11 health impacted recovery workers and other 9/11 health impacted communities. Grantees received up to $55,000 for 9-12 months of case worker salaries and administrative costs. Grantees must assign a caseworker to participate in all formal coordinated recovery programs including; NYDIS’ 9/11 Case Management Coordination meetings, accept new client referrals from NYDIS and the three medical monitoring and treatment programs, process application to the NYC 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable and participate in the 9/11 Recovery Work CAN system. The 2007 grantees are:
  • Asociación Tepeyac De New York
  • Hamilton-Madison House – Chinatown Resource Center
  • Henry Street Settlement
  • ICNA Relief USA Programs, Inc.
  • Lutheran Social Services of New York – Project LIFE
  • Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty
  • St. Mark’s Place Institute for Mental Health

  NYDIS Joins Preparedness Event for Bronx Families

On Saturday, March 31, NYDIS joined the American Red Cross, FDNY, NYPD, OEM and other agencies to present emergency preparedness information at the Highbridge Family Preparedness Day. OEM organized the day in response to the fire in the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx on March 7 that claimed 10 lives of 10 Muslim immigrants from Africa. The event included appearances by the NYPD’s “McGruff the Crime Dog” and FDNY’s “ Hot Dog”, as well as Ready New York presentations and Stop, Drop, n’ Roll lessons. FDNY gave away free smoke detectors with batteries and coloring books for kids. NYDIS’ Community Outreach and Training Coordinator, Autumn Brown, distributed preparedness information and promoted NYDIS’ Congregational Readiness and Resiliency Trainings, as well as information on Koinonia’s New Ground Summer Day Camp program, focuses on giving children the life skills necessary to deal with trauma and crisis.

  NYDIS Contributes to Catastrophic Health Event Report

Citizen preparedness for health emergencies must look beyond the individual and the home. So says a panel of experts whose report, “Community Engagement: Leadership Tool for Catastrophic Health Events,” was published April 3 in the journal Biosecurity and Bioterrorism under the direction of the Center for Biosecurity of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The report was completed with input from a “Working Group” that included government officials, public health and safety practitioners, heads of community-based partnerships, and experts in infectious diseases, disaster management, community development, and risk communication. Their report instructs mayors, governors, and health and safety officials in why and how to involve community partners in disaster- and epidemic-related policymaking, urging them to tap community resources in advance of epidemics and disasters.
Over the past 18 months NYDIS Executive Director Peter Gudaitis has served as a member of the Working Group, helping to define and enhance the role of faith-based community preparedness efforts.

Press Release:www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/focus/ community_engage/2007_working_group/press_release.html

Download the Report: click here
Download the Summary Findings: click here

  NYDIS: NYC 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable Client Video

On March 28, a former NYC 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable client notified NYDIS that his recent video project was being promoted on the website of Trinity Church-St. Paul’s Chapel. Jim LaPenna was a volunteer at the World Trade Center site after its destruction in 2001. He participated in the recovery of two PATH policemen on 9/11, and in the months afterward, he found spiritual comfort at St. Paul’s Chapel. In the video, created from interviews conducted in the spring of 2002 and the summer of 2006, LaPenna reflects on his brushes with death, being part of the “ultimate team,” life as a father and son, and the value of the people he met at St. Paul’s Chapel during his healing process.

View Jim LaPenna’s video: www.trinitywallstreet.org/welcome/?article&id=771

  NYDIS ED Addresses Annual NYC Buddhist Forum

The Buddhist Council's Annual Buddhist Council Forum was held at the Village Zendo (Temple) on March 31 – the event was attended by over 50 Buddhist Priest, Monastics and Leaders from temples around NYC. NYDIS Executive Director Peter Gudaitis gave a presentation on the work of NYDIS and preparedness opportunities for Buddhist Temple communities. This year’s theme was “Buddhism in America: How Are We Doing?” The Buddhist Council Forum is a vehicle for discussing topics important to the NY Buddhist community.

  NYDIS, OEM & ARC: Harlem Preparedness

On Saturday, April 21, NYDIS’ Community Outreach and Training Coordinator, Autumn Brown, will be speaking, along with representatives from the NYC Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the American Red Cross in Greater NY (ARC-GNY), at Abyssinian Baptist Church about congregational and community emergency preparedness. Participants will receive an interactive CD to create a customized evacuation plan and preparedness materials from NYDIS, ARC-GNY, and OEM.

  NYDIS: Calling All NYDIS Volunteers

The NYC Citizen Corps Council presents the "Disaster Volunteer Conference" on Saturday, April 28 to Sunday, April 29 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at St. Francis College in Brooklyn. Topics include Leadership and Volunteer Management and Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities.

If you are a current or former NYDIS volunteer and would like to attend the conference, contact Autumn Brown:
212.669.6104
abrown@nydis.org

  NYC 9/11 Recovery Resources Online

  NYC 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable Updates

• Online 9/11 Client Inquiry Form
  To access the form, go to:
  www.nydis.org/unmetneeds/7.php


• NYC 9/11 In-Service Training for Case Workers
  In-Service Training is required for case workers who have never presented a case at the Roundtable, and is recommended as a refresher for experienced case workers who have previously presented cases. All training sessions take place at NYDIS (map).

  • Monday, May 7 - 1:00-3:30 pm
  • Monday, June 4 – 1:00-3:30 pm


• NYC 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable Schedule
  The NYC 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable brings together donors with agencies providing case management to 9/11 victims. Case Workers who would like to present a case must sign-up by Friday prior to the meeting of the Roundtable. Due to the influx of cases which need presenting, the 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable will be adding an additional Wednesday date each month. There will now be three meetings a month, instead of two.

  • Wednesday, April 11 - 9:30-12:00 noon
  • Thursday, April 19 - 9:30-12:00 noon
  • Wednesday, April 25 – 9:30 am-12:00 noon
  • Thursday, May 3 – 9:30 am-12:00 noon


• NYC 9/11 Case Management Coordination Meetings
  NYDIS hosts monthly Case Management Coordination meetings for service providers that are assisting 9/11 recovery workers and the general 9/11-affected community. These meetings are open to representatives from any service providers that wish to coordinate and share information about their services and the community's needs.

  • Wednesday, April 25 – 3:00-5:00 pm
  • Wednesday, May 16 - 9:30-11:00 am

  NYC Katrina Evacuee Resources Online

  NYC Katrina Unmet Needs Roundtable

• NYC Katrina In-Service Training for Case Workers
  Case managers working with Katrina or Rita survivors are required to attend an in-service training prior to presenting at the Roundtable. The purpose of these trainings is to provide case managers with a better understanding of the workings of the Roundtable and to help increase the likelihood that a client's needs could be funded.


• NYC Katrina Unmet Needs Roundtable
  The NYC Katrina Unmet Needs Roundtable aids case managers in securing cash assistance and to share resources to best meet the unmet needs of disaster victims so that they may regain self-sufficiency and recover from the impact of a disaster. The Roundtable helps to facilitate long-term recovery by supporting clients' recovery plans. Case managers who would like to present at the NYC Katrina Unmet Needs Roundtable may submit a request the Friday prior to the Roundtable meeting.

  • Tuesday, April 24 - 2:00-5:00 pm
  • Tuesday, May 8 – 2:00-5:00 pm

To sign up for In-Service Training or to present a case:
Dominique Atchison, Moderator
212.669.6120
datchison@nydis.org

  FDNY & Board of Rabbis Stress Passover Fire Safety

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano and FDNY Chaplain Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and staff from the New York Board of Rabbis (NYBR) joined at Engine 34/Ladder 21 in Manhattan to discuss fire safety for the Passover holiday. “Fire doesn’t discriminate,” said Commissioner Scoppetta. “We’re committed to working with the Board of Rabbis to make sure this Passover holiday is a safe one.” Firefighters demonstrated the proper way to burn bread in order to stay fire safe. “We have to be extra cautious at this time of year,” said Rabbi Potasnik. “The most tragic words I have heard at the FDNY are ‘if only.’”

http://nyc.gov/html/fdny/htm

  Updated WTC Health Registry Resource Guide

This Guide is the sixth update to the WTC Health Registry (WTCHR) Resource Guide developed by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) for people affected by 9/11. It includes information about occupational, respiratory, environmental, and mental health services and resources available in the NYC region and nationally. NYDIS is referenced on Page 12.

Download the Guide:
www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/wtc/wtc-resource.pdf

  Emergency Communications Project Imperiled

The partnership between the departments of Justice and Homeland Security to create an interoperable wireless communications network for police and first responders has fallen apart and the project is imperiled. The report from the Justice Department states that despite more than six years of development and $195 million in funding, the Integrated Wireless Network project "does not appear to be on the path to providing the seamless interoperable communications system that was envisioned."

Read the full story:
www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=36454&dcn=e_hsw

  State Emergency Manager Director FY 2007 Survey Results

Every year, the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) conducts the State Emergency Management Director survey, asking about organizational structures, budgets, staffing, salaries and more. They found that the trend toward appointment of the state emergency management director position continues but that the number of emergency management directors serving as the primary coordinator for homeland security has decreased this year, from 11 to six.

Download the Results of the 2007 Survey: www.nemaweb.org/?1814

  Landmark Rail and Mass Transit Bill Passes House

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. James L. Oberstar, Chairman on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced House passage of H.R. 1401, “The Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007”. This legislation aims to close the security gaps facing rail and public transit and focuses on training, grants, security planning, research and development, and hazardous materials transportation.

Read the Committee’s Press Release:
http://hsc.house.gov/press/index.asp?ID=194