VOICES/Kanishka Research Project

Voices of September 11th recently completed a research project entitled, "Investigating the Long-Term Impact of Bereavement due to Terrorism: Factors that Contribute to Trauma, Grief, Growth and Resilience." The project was conducted in partnership with the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University and the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime.

Public Safety Canada's Kanishka Project Contribution Program, the research project involves family members of the 2,977 individuals lost at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, PA on September 11, 2001 as well as the family members of the 329 individuals lost in the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182 that crashed off the coast of Ireland, the majority of whom were Canadian. Both attacks remain the worst acts of terrorism in the history of their respective countries. The study will identify the long-term needs of individuals impacted by terrorism.

Understanding the long-term needs of victims' families is crucial to helping bereaved individuals heal. The research project was a unique opportunity for those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001 or in the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182 to provide important insight into factors that contribute to trauma, grief, personal growth and resilience. The knowledge gained from their responses will help expand the scientific advancement of research in the field, guide communities in providing services to victims' families, and help individuals heal after traumatic events.

Since 1993, the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime (CRCVC) has been a leader in advocacy for victims and survivors of serious crime in Canada. The CRCVC is a federal Not-for-Profit Corporation located in Ottawa, Ontario and bilingual services are available. All services are free of charge and confidential.

Victims of crime should be treated with courtesy, compassion and with respect for their dignity and privacy. The CRCVC offers assistance and advocacy regardless of whether the perpetrator of the crime has been identified, apprehended, prosecuted or convicted. The Centre believes victims must be empowered to regain control of their lives.

The CRCVC provides services to meet the diverse needs of all people regardless of race, colour, religion, place of origin, income level, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

They also:

For more information, please visit the Canadian Resource Center for Victims of Crime's website.

In partnership with Voices of September 11th, the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) will conduct the research for the Kanishka project, with Stephen J. Cozza, M. D. serving as the Principal Investigator.

The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress is one of the nation's oldest and most highly regarded, academic-based organizations dedicated to advancing trauma-informed knowledge, leadership and methodologies. The Center's work addresses a wide scope of trauma exposure from the consequences of combat, operations other than war, terrorism, natural and human made disasters, and public health threats. CSTS is a part of our nation's federal medical school, Uniformed Services University (USU), and its Department of Psychiatry. These affiliations represent the Center's history, mission and future directions as a major contributor to our country's understanding of the impact of trauma and the advancement of trauma-informed care.

A unique aspect and contribution of the Center is the bridging of military and disaster psychiatry and the integration of disaster mental health and public health. In applying the principles and practices for dealing with individuals and groups exposed to extreme environments (in the military), the Center has generated and disseminated its subject matter expertise to inform disaster preparedness, response and recovery principles and practices across a wide range of traumatic events and populations.

Stephen J. Cozza, MD is Professor of Psychiatry at the Uniformed Services University where he serves as Associate Director, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He received his medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He completed his residency in General Psychiatry and fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Dr. Cozza is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in the specialties of General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He has served in a variety of positions of responsibility in the Department of Psychiatry at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to include Chief, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service, Program Director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program and Chief, Department of Psychiatry. He retired from the U.S. Army in 2006 after 25 years of military service. Dr. Cozza's professional interests have been in the areas of clinical and community response to trauma and the impact of deployment and combat injury, illness and death on military service members, their families and their children. He was instrumental in organizing and executing the initial mental health response to the September 11th 2001 attack on the Pentagon. Under his leadership, the Walter Reed Department of Psychiatry spearheaded the initiative to provide mental health services, support and follow up to the many injured service members, their families and their children who receive medical treatment. Dr. Cozza has highlighted the impact of deployment, injury, illness and death on the children and families of military service members. He is published in the scientific literature and has presented on these topics at multiple national and international scientific meetings. Dr. Cozza serves as a scientific advisor to several national organizations that focus on the needs of military children and families.

Visit ResearchGate for a list of Dr. Cozza's publications.

For more information, please visit the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress's website.

Voices of September 11th (VOICES) was founded in 2001 to offer information and support services to those impacted by the events of 9/11. Since then, VOICES has provided over 100,000 hours of social services support and built longstanding, trusting relationships with victims' families, responders, and survivors.

Over time, families wanted to commemorate and celebrate the lives of their loved ones. This led to one of VOICES most important accomplishments: The 9/11 Living Memorial Project, an extensive digital collection of over 70,000 photographs honoring the nearly 3,000 lives lost. Located on our website, the Living Memorial is also a core component of the In Memoriam Exhibit at the 9/11 Museum in New York City.

In 2014, the VOICES Center of Excellence for Community Resilience was created to share our expertise and lessons learned to promote resiliency in the lives of families and communities. VOICES Resilience Center is a collaborative effort to work with public-private partnerships, such as subject matter experts, non-profit organization, universities and federal agencies. Through these collaborations, we will advance research, discourse and dialogue on issues that impact the long-term recovery and promote resiliency in the lives of victims' families and survivors.

For more information, please visit the VOICES homepage.