Public Employee Press

DC 37 gets $250,000 grant for 9/11 safety work

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded DC 37 a major federal grant to reach out to members and others eligible for the World Trade Center Health Program who are not enrolled in the program. The program includes medical care and monitoring for 9/11 rescue and recovery workers and Ground Zero area residents and workers.

The $250,000 grant from the CDC and its National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recognizes the continuing
role of DC 37's Safety and Health Dept. at the forefront of work with the many members and others hit by 9/11-
related diseases and with health care providers and public agencies.

Four DC 37 members were killed in the Twin Towers on 9/11 and eight more have died since then of related diseases.

"This is a great opportunity for District Council 37 to serve our community along with our members," said Executive Director Lillian Roberts, who praised Safety and Health Director Lee Clarke for the achievement.

Clarke pointed out that Principal Program Coordinators Guille Mejia and Lisa Baum "did a tremendous job in the highly competitive application process in a very short time."

As a large grantee, DC 37 will reach out to eligible participants nationwide, Mejia said, "including some of our working and retired brothers and sisters" in DC 37's national union, the 1.6-million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The outreach "provides another opportunity to steer members into helpful programs if they meet the requirements," she said.

The grant will provide resources for an innovative outreach campaign, including social media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, as well as more traditional visual media, such as a multilingual poster that area businesses can display.

"We'll set up a hot line to answer questions and provide assistance to members," said Baum, "and we'll train volunteers to answer questions and provide information, such as the best places to get treatment for 9/11-related illnesses."

On Oct. 15, members of the New York State congressional delegation held a press conference calling on lawmakers to protect the 9/11 health and compensation programs from any 2013 budget cuts. "Those who answered the call of duty on 9/11 should be treated with the same dignity as military veterans," said U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney. "Slashing 9/11 funds would violate the intent of Congress to aid the injured and the sick victims," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler.