Page 138 - Creating Spiritual and Psychological Resilience

Working as an Ally to Underserved Communities 107

coverage of Hurricane Katrina helped raise America’s consciousness
regarding the extent that a community’s predisaster situation leads to dis-
parities in the impact that disaster will have on individual lives. However,
there are few, if any, such media-generated images to summarize the
invisible, underserved communities that were neglected in the immedi-
ate aftermath of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. Many communities
suffered in the shadow of the media spotlight, which focused on the fami-
lies of people who died and concerns over donor intent for funds given to
the American Red Cross and other major disaster recovery charities. This
chapter will shed light on some of those underserved and excluded com-
munities and how the 9/11 Roundtable became a tool for justice and aid.
So, who are the mysterious people at the unmet needs table? Who makes
the decision that something is disaster or not disaster related? Often the
people sitting at the unmet needs table represent faith-based, and some-
times nonfaith-based agencies, that have received donated dollars in sup-
port of the community’s long-term recovery. They may be social workers,
clergy, or lay people who regularly work with disaster-impacted commu-
nities. It is less likely that the people at the table will be mental health pro-
fessionals; however, letters from mental health professionals on behalf of
the client carry considerable weight in these discussions. Another central
person at the table is the caseworker from the agency that is supporting
the client in developing a recovery plan.
As well, the client participates, although they do not sit at the unmet
needs table. The client is ultimately responsible for his or her own recov-
ery and discussion at the unmet needs table, therefore, focuses on how
the client’s recovery plan can be supported. The person seeking assistance
places an amazing level of trust in their caseworker and unmet needs table
participants as they share the details of their disaster and predisaster situ-
ation, including bills, medical information, and personal history, in order
to receive assistance. Depending on how information is presented and
the thoroughness of case management, a request for cash assistance may
be denied or accepted. In general, no one involved with disaster recov-
ery wants to deny aid to vulnerable people, but compassion fatigue can
wear down even the most kind-hearted people in disaster work and, in
some cases, personal prejudice does need to be considered as decisions are
made. On more than one occasion the unmet needs table that served 9/11
victims had to reflect and change its direction so that 9/11 victims we were
meant to help were not arbitrarily denied aid.
Understanding the mindset and utility of these committees is impera-
tive to mental health and spiritual care providers as they support clients