"Making access to mental health and substance abuse treatment available to those affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma."

The American Red Cross continues to serve those affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma through its Hurricane Recovery Program (HRP). Funded by designated donations related to the three hurricanes, the program has the overall goal of improving the lives of individuals, families and communities directly affected by those storms. HRP will support the work of local Red Cross chapters and other recovery organizations throughout the country as they help people and communities rebuild. Access to Care is one of the programs being provided by HRP.

Link2Health Solutions is a private non-profit subsidiary of the Mental Health Association of New York City with expertise in disaster mental health and is the administrator of the Access to Care Program. The goal of the program is to make mental health care for victims of these disasters affordable and accessible.

After a natural disaster, some people find they have difficulty with eating, sleeping, relating to others or concentrating at work or school. It can take a while to recognize your symptoms, and sometimes they might not seem connected to the event of the hurricane itself. If you still don't feel like yourself, it might help you and your family to talk to someone. Access to Care can help.

Many people experience a range of these symptoms. It's normal to feel different after surviving and dealing with the aftermath of a difficult ordeal such as a natural disaster. Sometimes, however, these problems last longer than expected, and you may find that they are interfering with your everyday life.

You and your family may be eligible to receive assistance for mental health or substance abuse treatment if you were directly affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita or Wilma. This program is available regardless of where you live, your insurance coverage or your immigration status. You choose the type of treatment and the licensed provider. Coverage is retroactive to August 30, 2005 and will cover services received on or prior to September 30, 2008. The program is an initiative of the American Red Cross Hurricane Recovery Program and administered by Link2Health, a non-profit subsidiary of the Mental Health Association of NYC.

Enroll now online:
https://www.a2care.org/ssl/prescreen.html

Or call:
1-866-794-HOPE (4673) before March 31, 2008.

I launched ArtAID in response to September 11th, 2001, as a grass roots effort to create and provide artworks that comfort, heal, and inspire. It was a time when we needed our spirits uplifted, so i created a series of tribute and memorial pieces, which were widely received and appreciated by those most effected by that tragedy. That model of tribute has continued to be requested in response to Line of Duty Death (LODD) incidents for various uniformed (MOS) members of service, cops, firefighters, military. In addition, I have provided designs for various September 11th causes, too many to mention in this description, but many can be seen on the www.artaid.org website.

Many of you know me personally, and you know me to be a committed and talented artist and designer, but someone in great need of the administrative skills or experience necessary to make ArtAID self sufficient.

My original mission (pre-September 11th) was to create an organization, a new form of non-profit design agency that served the design and marketing needs of charitable causes. It was also an opportunity for artists and designers who wanted to do humanitarian work to be supported in doing this work, hence, "art" "aid" to help the artists, as well as to use the arts to help others.