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APA Partnering with Discovery Health in Public Education Outreach Effort

Filming has begun on the new documentary on resilience being co-produced by the American Psychological Association (APA) and Discovery Health. Like the Warning Signs documentary that was developed in conjunction with MTV: Music Television, the film will serve as a key component in grassroots outreach for APA's public education campaign.

The documentary, entitled Aftermath: The Road to Resilience, presents profiles in resilience from people of diverse ages and backgrounds in dealing with the effects of September 11 as well as other hardships that define many of our lives.

The storytelling will be put in context by psychologists and give viewers unique perspectives on building resilience. In contrast to the many programs reliving the events of that tragic day, this documentary provides a window to the recovery, healing and new directions an individual's life undertakes when confronted with adversity. Viewers will see that resilience can be learned and is a journey with no single path or prescribed time line.

The film will be screened at APA's Convention in Chicago, during a special training session for Public Education Campaign Coordinators.

The documentary uses real-world stories of resilience drawn from a collection of neighbors who live on a single city block in Brooklyn.

Among the characters is a young mother who lost her firefighter husband in the World Trade Center disaster, a teacher at one of the toughest schools in New York, a man who lost his partner and his home in a gas explosion and a man who faced multiple challenges in his life after his company was destroyed in the terrorist attacks, forcing him to search for a new job at the same time he was coping with his mother's serious illness and eventual death.

"Our goal for this documentary is to ensure that the characters, circumstances and information about resilience will be relatable to a wide and diverse audience for many years to come," says Jan Peterson, APA assistant executive director for public relations and communications.

The concept for the public outreach focus on resilience came as a result of focus group discussions held shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Participants in Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Baltimore revealed a strong interest in learning what makes a person resilient and how to become resilient.

In addition to the documentary, APA is working on a toolkit for psychologists to use in their grassroots outreach efforts. APA is also working with resilience experts to develop a brochure that addresses some of the signs of resilience, steps toward building resilience, as well as a description of changes that may accompany an individual's journey toward building resilience, whether a job loss, serious illness or other hardships.

RESILIENCE PROJECT TRAINING SET FOR CONVENTION

Coordinators Have Opportunity to Preview Resilience Documentary

Two special events are planned this year for Public Education Campaign Coordinators as part of APA's annual convention in Chicago. A special event for coordinators and a training in the use of the new PEC campaign materials will be held.

RESILIENCE TRAINING WORKSHOP

APA is hosting a special training workshop on Friday, August 23 to review the new resilience project materials and screen the documentary being co-produced with Discovery Health. The training session will be held at the Chicago Hilton in room 4B on the 4th floor from noon to 2:50 p.m. and will include lunch. Please confirm your attendance in advance.

"Our hope is that by providing campaign coordinators with a chance to review the new materials, they will go back to their states and encourage their colleagues to get involved in this important project," says Jan Peterson, APA assistant executive director for public relations and communications.

SECOND CITY EVENT

In addition, this year's traditional PEC reception will be extra special as APA and its public education campaign coordinators show their support for the Illinois Psychological Association's (IPA) public education and outreach efforts. Instead of hosting a cocktail hour at an area restaurant, APA is purchasing one ticket per state for coordinators to attend IPA's private fundraiser at the world famous The Second City comedy club. All proceeds from the event benefit IPA's public education campaign activities. The benefit will be held at 8 p.m. on Thursday August 22 at the club, located at 1616 N. Well Street in Chicago's historical Old Town neighborhood.

APA will provide one ticket per state to PEC coordinators. Please fill out the form provided below to confirm your attendance and a ticket will be mailed to you.

Confirm Your Attendance Public Education Campaign Coordinators planning to attend the resilience training or the Second City event must confirm their attendance for both activities.

Please include the following information:

Name:__________________________________
State:_________________________________
Telephone:_____________________________
Email:_________________________________
Address:_______________________________
Second City event _ Yes _ No
Convention training _ Yes _ No

To confirm your attendance, email Georgia Sargeant by June 15.