The TLC for Youth (TLC) is an interactive, statewide network that offers collaboration and support to professionals
working with school age youth. The dual mission of the TLC is excellence in both suicide prevention and trauma response assistance to schools following the sudden losses due to suicide, homicide,
accident and illness. This is accomplished through county, regional and statewide conferences, training, consultation and
technical assistance. The purpose is to ensure that those working with youth from a variety of disciplines and programs
have up to date knowledge about mental health issues, suicide prevention, trauma response and resiliency enhancement. The TLC is funded by the NJ Department of Children and Families. There
is a TLC coordinator in each county. These county coordinators provide meetings throughout the year bringing together school
personnel, mental health clinicians, juvenile justice personnel, law enforcement officials, social service agencies and child
welfare workers. The meetings are effective forums for reviewing crisis events, identifying service needs, and providing professional
development through the inclusion of an educational presentation. The TLC Coordinators also work within their counties to either develop a Lead Response Team (LRT) or to support an existing one. These teams remain available
to assist schools when needed following a traumatic loss event. The members of the team are trained in Post Traumatic Stress Management (PTSM) for youth. How Can the TLC Benefit Your School and Community? Provide county coalition meetings for the purpose of disseminating information and reviewing best practices in the
areas of mental health, trauma and suicide prevention. Educator Professional Development Credits are available. Coordinate a two hour Suicide Awareness Training for Educators to fulfill the professional development requirement. Provide training in Post Traumatic Stress Management (PTSM) for school crisis team members to assist in implementing
the postvention provisions in the NJ Dept of Education's document titled School Safety and Security Manual: Best Practices
Guidelines. Provide regional training workshops in the Chronological Assessment
of Suicidal Events (CASE) Approach. (developed by Shawn Christopher Shea, MD). Half day workshop provides front line counselors
and clinicians with state of the art skills necessary to tackle one of the most difficult clinical situations facing them:
gathering valid data about ideation, plan and intent during a suicide assessment. These trainings are free. Provide schools for no charge, assistance from the TLC's Lead Response Teams (LRT) in the event of a traumatic loss.
Assistance can range from phone consultation and support to the provision of on-site services. Consult with schools and communities regarding evidenced based suicide curricula. This consultation can help schools
fulfill the requirements of the NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards. To get to the TLC web site simply click on the Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth just
below this:
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth County Coordinators: Atlantic County: Patty Weeks, MA- 609-625-6051 patty.weeks@stockton.edu The Richard Stockton College of NJ Bergen County: Sue Heguy, LCSW 201-797-2660 x 129 sueh@careplusnj.org Care Plus NJ, Inc Burlington County: Kimberly Mattson (609) 702-7086 kmattson@co.burlington.nj.us Camden County: Barbara Maronski, LSW (609) 230-8933 bmaronski@centerffs.org Cape May County: Chris Miller, MA (609) 465-4100 x 141 cell: 609-374-2913 cmiller@capemaycounseling.org Cape May Counseling
Services Cumberland
County: Elvira Smith, MS, CSW- (856)- 305-2138 esmith.tlc@gmail.com Cumberland County Guidance Center Essex County: Arlene O'Connell, MA, LPC, (973)
239-5382 aoclpc@aol.com UMDNJ University Behavioral HealthCare Gloucester County: Barbara Maronski, LSW (609)- 230-8933 bmaronski@centerffs.org Hudson County: Silvana Gomez, MA (201) 915-2268 SGomez@Libertyhcs.org Jersey City Medical Center Hunterdon County: Sherri Neville, MA (908) 788-6400 neville-fontini.sherri@hunterdonhealthcare.org Hunterdon Medical Center Hunterdon Behavioral
Health
Mercer County: Steve Olsen (609) 278-7924 solsen@mercercounty.org Funded
by the NJ Dept of Health and Senior Services Middlesex County: George Scott, EdS, MFT (609) 771-0444 ngscott02@comcast.net UMDNJ
University Behavioral HealthCare Monmouth County: George Scott, EdS, MFT (609) 771-0444 ngscott02@comcast.net UMDNJ
University Behavioral HealthCare Morris County: Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth (732) 235-2810 Ocean County: Karen Bright, MA, LPC (732) 773-8087 Oceantic@aol.com Kimball Medical Center Passaic County: Daniel Silitsky, PhD (732)
718-3535 drslits47@aol.com UMDNJ University Behavioral HealthCare Salem County: TLC (732) 235-2810 Somerset County: Melissa Callen, MA, LPC (908) 253-3103 callen@co.somerset.nj.us Richard
Hall Community Mental Health Center Sussex County: Daniel Silitsky, PhD (732) 718-3535 drslits47@aol.com UMDNJ University Behavioral
HealthCare Union
County: Krizia Jimenez-Mdrano, LSW 908-994-7148 Cell: 908-209-0539
email: kjimenez@trinitas.org
Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Warren County: (acting) Darrell
Buckner MSW, LSW (908) 454-4470 x301 ldbuckner@fgcwc.org Warren Family Guidance Center
How can the TLC Benefit Your School and Community: - Coordinate a two hour suicide awareness training for educators
- Provide Post Traumatic Stress Management (PTSM) for school crisis team
members to assist in postvention
- Provide regional
training workshops in Chronological Assessment of Suicidal Events (CASE) Approach
- Provide schools at no charge with the TLC's Lead Response Teams (LRT) in the event of a traumatic
loss. Assistance can range from phone consultation and support to the provision of on site services.
- Consult with schools and communities regarding evidenced-based suicide
curricula.
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