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The project described in this chapter was designed to maintain the social, recreational and task functioning of psychiatric outpatients impacted by the events of September 11th. A literature review determined that the research done on predicting the risk of psychiatric sequelae to the September 11th terrorist attacks focused on the development of psychiatric illness either in direct survivors or the population at large. No literature was found addressing functional outcomes, yet functional decompensation was the major concern of a group of occupational, recreational and creative arts therapists treating seriously mentally ill patients in The St. Luke 's/Roosevelt Hospital psychiatric outpatient programs in Manhattan. By comparing demographic patient data to risk factors identified in the research, we found a moderate amount of population risk. We then hypothesized, utilizing the stress diathesis model of serious mental illness, that major mental illness itself was a risk factor for decreased functioning in the aftermath of a disaster We designed a three-part program geared to the outpatient psychiatry population at large, utilizing an active coping model. The program is described and its potential as a prevention program utilizing the treatment setting's role as a support system is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]