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:
Elliot Katz, LCSW (732) 431-7200
egkatz@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:
Pat Neary Ludmer, PhD, (908) 276-2244, x 215
PNeary-Ludmer@trinitas.org
Trinitas Hospital
Warren County: (acting)
Darrell Buckner MSW, LSW (908) 454-4470 x301
ldbuckner@fgcwc.org
Warren Family Guidance Center