Program Description
The Association's communication resource program is a long-term support project that links families and addresses their evolving needs. Similar to veteran’s organizations that provide support to people affected by trauma, the Association is a permanent fixture and resource for family members to connect and represent their issues. The program includes four major components:

Through family meetings, events, www.911families.org, e-mails and mailings, the Association has delivered information to and surveyed over 3,800 individual family members. The Association continues to represent families and issues surrounding 9/11, by working with politicians, serving as advisors, communicating through the media and supporting the unity of all family groups.
The Association began publishing a seasonal newsletter in July 2002 that addresses the needs of the 9/11 community. It serves as a source of information about the WTC recovery effort, the identification process of loved ones, the WTC memorial and site rebuilding, services available to families, and events. The newsletter is written by family members who are active in the 9/11 community from all backgrounds.
The Tribute Visitors’ Center program builds upon the core Association mission, by providing a broader platform for support in the 9/11 community and creates a central place for information. Visitors will learn information about the events on September 11th, the identity of 2,973 people killed in the attacks, the rescue and recovery operations and the tremendous spirit of America. Volunteer guides from the 9/11 community will convey aspects of the events, loss and aftermath through a scripted dialogue. The center provides a unique opportunity for the impacted families, survivors, rescuers, and residents to be both responsive and creative in meeting a very real and defined need over the next five years prior to development of the WTC memoria, which is scheduled to open in 2009. The Tribute Center volunteer network builds from the Association’s established network of family members, dozens of additional family support networks, thousands of rescue and recovery workers, and hundreds of immediate relief volunteers. Assembly of these networks through the Tribute Center, pools a powerful resource of passionate and dedicated volunteers that will distinguish the center with intimacy, reverence and first-hand experience of the events and aftermath.

Population Served
Families who lost loved ones were initially fragmented across the world. 2,749 loved ones were killed at the World Trade Center, 184 loved ones were killed at the Pentagon and 40 loved ones were killed in Shanksville, PA on September 11, 2001. Although separated geographically, they have drawn strength from working together and supporting each other. Networks have developed within the 2,973 families centered around geographical proximity, employers on 9/11, faith groups and passion for specific issues that have arisen from 9/11. The Association’s mission to connect families by sharing information helps support these networks across 50 states and 30 countries.

Population Needs
While the major rescue and recovery operations were the primary concern of official agencies in the aftermath of the attacks on September 11, 2001, family members who were geographically, culturally and demographically segmented began to unite to find answers for their evolving grief. Searching for information about our loved ones was the driving force of unity among all families. As the Association began linking families to work together, an incredible network of peer support emerged to collectively address proper and dignified recovery of our loved ones, return of unidentified remains to the WTC Memorial, development of memorials, assistance programs, and remembrance of September 11th 2001 and February 26th 1993.
Services include: