Comments
Description
Transcript
Document 2066391
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New JerseyUniversity Behavioral HealthCareBehavioral Research and Training Institute Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth A Message Newsletter Fall 2012 from Donna… Cold Penguins to the Middle It is said that in the extreme conditions of Antarctica, the Emperor penguins huddle in densely packed circles to keep each other warm and thriving. Healthy and fit adults whose temperature regulation is the most mature take up the periphery of the circle, and thus are buffeted the most by the frozen air and fierce winds. The youngest of those with more difficulty regulating body heat are permanently placed in the warm center of the huddle. The adult penguins on the outermost edges of the huddle periodically work their way into the center of the circle with the immature and infirm penguins, in order to regain their own body heat. Meanwhile, other robust adults take their places in the frigid outer circle. Thus the herd keeps up the body heat of the whole group without sacrificing the young or old, and giving those in the prime of life regular opportunities to warm themselves in the middle. Perhaps, the motto of the group might best be stated, “Cold penguins to the middle!” © Donna Gaffney and Mary Galbraith, 2001 (continued on next page) Across the State Sussex Passaic Bergen Warren Morris Essex Hudson Union Hunterdon Somerset Middlesex Mercer Burlington Gloucester Monmouth Ocean Camden Salem Atlantic Cumberland Cape May Northern Region Counties Central Region Counties Southern Region Counties 1 Websites for Teens and College Students Jersey Voice Introducing a new peer-to-peer website where youth and young adults can express their hope, help and strength in getting through difficult times. http://www.jerseyvoice.net Depression Screening If you think you might be suffering from depression here is a quick confidential survey that will provide you with a brief assessment and some resources if needed. http://www.depression-screening. org/depression_screen.cfm Half of Us The Half of Us campaign is an initiative of The Jed Foundation that uses stories of students and high-profile artists to increase awareness about mental health problems and the importance of getting help. http://www.halfofus.com/ Reach Out (Information and support service using evidence based principles and technology to help teens and young adults facing tough times and struggling with mental health issues. All content is written by teens and young adults, for teens and young adults.) A great place to hear, read and watch stories by all kinds of people going through all kinds of tough times who got better. Find great resources, community and help! WE CAN HELP US! http://us.reachout.com/ The Jed Foundation The Jed Foundation works nationally to reduce the rate of suicide and the prevalence of emotional distress among college and university students. https://www.jedfoundation. org/ 2 Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter A Message from Donna… (continued from page 1) The TLC routinely uses the story of the Arctic penguins when we speak with children and teens during a postvention in the aftermath of a traumatic loss. We ask them “who knows how penguins not only survive, but thrive in the harshest weather on the planet?” Inevitably one or more of the youth knows the answer, and we go on to talk about penguins being pretty brilliant and resilient creatures that can teach us a lot about getting through harsh times in life. We then talk with them about getting through the grief of losing a friend or going through some other tragedy by sticking together, taking care of each other and letting others take care of you. This metaphor fits so nicely with some of the newest programs TLC has initiated as a result of the SAMHSA Suicide Prevention Grant we have been fortunate enough to have been awarded. The Jersey Voice Website and The Sources of Strength Program are enabling us to wrap multiple sources of support around our youth and young adults and increase our efforts to reduce conditions that give rise to suicide and other maladaptive behaviors. The TLC also understands the importance of encouraging good self-care for those that work with youth and young adults in order to maintain optimal mental health. Most of us who do the work of teaching, preaching, and caring for others in myriad ways really “get” the caring for others part and do it pretty well. What we sometimes forget to do is make our way into the middle of our life circles and let the healing warmth of others restore us. We sometimes don’t move into the middle until we are metaphorically physically, emotionally, and spiritually freezing to death and sometimes not even then. It often takes a friend or loved one to come along side us and nudge us into the middle when we begin to look a bit worse for wear. As we start the new school year, let’s remind ourselves and each other that when life gets really hard to weather, as it sometimes does, to move into that middle of family, friends and colleagues and let others provide that lovely warmth that heals and soothes the weary soul. Warm regards, Donna The Trevor Project A national 24 hr. toll free confidential suicide hotline for gay & questioning youth – The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. They are also the only accredited, nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth. http://www.thetrevorproject.org/ To Write Love on Her Arms To Write Love on Her Arms is a sweet organization dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. They are extremely relevant, hang out with cool bands and make sweet shirts too! http://www.twloha.com Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter SAMHSA Grant of $1.4 Million Helps TLC Continue to Build a Statewide Suicide Prevention Safety Net The TLC is the recipient of the Garret Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The total grant award is $1.4 million to be used over a three year period which began this August. The grant will be serving six counties that have higher numbers of youth and young adult suicide deaths statewide (Camden, Monmouth, Passaic, Hudson, Middlesex, and Bergen). There will be a focus on two counties per year, and this year the focus is on Camden and Monmouth Counties. The TLC Coordinators in these counties will work closely with the Mental Health Administration in the creation of a countywide Suicide Prevention Task Force that will bring together key service providers and stakeholders. The task force will be charged with examining the county’s current suicide trends; identifying what is already being implemented in suicide prevention, intervention and postvention programming throughout the county; identifying further programming needs as well as obstacles to implementation. There will be a focus on reaching high risk groups such as LGBT, military youth and young adults, juvenile justice youth, and Latino/Latina youth. The TLC has developed a highly skilled training team that is poised to deliver several new training initiatives to schools and community programs and agencies in each of the identified counties. The mission is to join hands with a variety of individuals from a variety of disciplines and programs and create community suicide prevention and postvention networks throughout these six counties. We will continue to branch out to other counties going forward in a durable and sustainable way even as the grant comes to an end in year 3. The TLC will be adding the following initiatives as a result of this grant: Connect Prevention/Intervention and Postvention Training; Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk Training for Clinicians; Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program Training for Peer Leaders; Columbia Suicide Prevention Rating Scale for Screening; and a Social Media Project. Connect Suicide Prevention/Intervention Training Programs Training with a CommunityBased Approach Knowing risk factors and warning signs of suicide and how to get a suicidal person help is a good beginning. However, to build a truly comprehensive safety net, it’s important to promote collaboration and bring together key service providers and stakeholders to address community risk and protective factors. The TLC has historically relied on coalition building to achieve its goals and the Connect Program fits extremely well with our mission. More than “just training”, Connect fosters relationship building and the exchange of resources among participants. Connect’s Prevention/ Intervention curriculum includes how to identify suicide warning signs and intervene with a person at risk. Using activities, interactive case scenarios, facilitated discussion, PowerPoint, and written materials, the TLC training team will offer customized Connect Prevention/Intervention trainings to the following audiences: school personnel, community members, faith leaders, primary care doctors, social service agency personnel and law enforcement. Suicide Prevention/Intervention training highlights for schools: • National Best Practices for school personnel and educators regarding school suicide prevention and crisis response related to suicidal behavior • Recognizing risk and protective factors and responding to warning signs for suicide • Intervening with students or others at risk and connecting the individual with appropriate resources • Transition plans for students who return to school after a suicide attempt • Communicating with students and parents/guardians in crisis situations and knowledge of local resources • A review of individual school crisis response plans and suggestions for including suicide incidents as part of these plans • Suicide as a public health issue and its impact on communities, family members and friends • Suicide data and how age, gender, culture and other factors impact suicide risk • Strategies for promoting help-seeking behavior and reducing stigmatizing attitudes • Individual, family and community risk and protective factors and ways to strengthen the positive influences that prevent suicide and reduce risky behaviors • Youth culture, including electronic communication, social networking, peer group influences and bullying and how these impact risk and protective factors • Confidentiality and reporting requirements with respect to FERPA and HIPPA, and guidelines for timely response and notification • Best Practices concerning restricting access to lethal (continued on page 5) 3 Grief Support Programs Children and Teens 2NDFLOOR, NJ Youth Helpline 1-888-222-2228 Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter Social Media Project TLC and Emotion Technology Launches the Jersey Voice Website A confidential and anonymous helpline for New Jersey’s youth and young adults. We are here to help you find solutions to the problems that you face at home, at school or at play. http://2ndfloor.org/ Child Trauma Academy The Child Trauma Academy (CTA) is a not-for-profit organization, based in Houston, Texas, working to improve the lives of high-risk children through direct service, research and education. http://childtrauma.org/ Comfort Zone Camp Montclair Office 1-866-488-5679 x120 Comfort Zone Camp is a nonprofit 501(c)3 bereavement camp that transforms the lives of children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. http://www. comfortzonecamp.org/ Dougy National Center for Grieving Children The Dougy Center provides support in a safe place where children, teens, young adults, and their families grieving a death can share their experiences. We provide support and training locally, nationally and internationally to individuals and organizations seeking to assist children in grief. http://www.dougy.org/ 4 www.jerseyvoice.net The TLC has partnered with Emotion Technology, an innovative company that combines suicide prevention, intervention and postvention with social media to reach youth and young adults where they live and communicate. We have created a platform where individuals can share their stories of hope, help and strength and getting through the difficult times in life. The messages can be shared using stories, poems, music, photography, posters, videos and other creative outlets. These stories will remain front and center on the website as a source of support and inspiration for other Jersey teens and young adults to draw on. We decided to launch the website in commemoration of World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10) and National Suicide Prevention Week (September 9-15). Our hope is that Jersey Voice will help move our suicide prevention efforts upstream as we try to reach youth before they begin to feel hopeless and helpless. The mission is to provide a space where the resounding voices of peers echo throughout as they show each other how to tap into strength, resiliency and connection when difficult times hit. We are sponsoring the first Jersey Voice Statewide Social Media Festival to invite submissions for the website. http://www.jerseyvoice.net/media-festival. Please help us get the word out about Jersey Voice and the Social Media Festival to those teens and young adults in your schools, colleges and universities, faith-based organizations, juvenile justice facilities and community and agency programs and encourage them to participate in the festival and share their Jersey voice. Interested? To learn more about the Jersey Voice Media Festival, visit http://www.jerseyvoice.net/media-festival. Good Grief, Inc., Morristown, N.J. (908) 522-1999 Sesame Workshop http://good-grief.org/ http://www.sesameworkshop.org/ We provide services to children, teens and young adults who have lost a parent or sibling to death. We also provide services for the children’s surviving parent(s) or caretaker. We are committed to the principle that all children deserve a chance to learn and grow; to be prepared for school; to better understand the world and each other; to think, dream and discover; to reach their highest potential. Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter Trainings Programs (continued from page 3) means, safe messaging, communication and responding to media inquiries • Strategies to increase suicide prevention efforts through collaboration with community and campus services • Self-care skills Connect Postvention Training A suicide can have a devastating impact on a community or organization. The shock and grief can ripple throughout the community affecting friends, co-workers, schools, and faith communities. Connect postvention training helps service providers respond in a coordinated and comprehensive way in the aftermath of a suicide or any sudden death. Since knowing someone who has died by suicide is one of the highest risk factors for suicide, postvention becomes an integral part of suicide prevention efforts. TLC Master trainer/clinicians conduct the suicide postvention training that includes activities, interactive case scenarios, discussion, PowerPoint, and printed materials for school personnel, social service agency personnel, mental health and substance abuse personnel, faith leaders, funeral directors, and law enforcement. This program is compatible with the Post Traumatic Stress Management Training (PTSM) that is offered each year by the TLC. The Connect Postvention Training is ideal for all individuals working with children, teens and young adults. It clearly outlines everyone’s roles and responsibilities in the aftermath of suicide or other traumatic death. PTSM trains school and community crisis teams in more in-depth group protocols and individual psychological first aid to help in the healing process. Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk for Mental Health Professionals The TLC training team will be providing this one-day workshop for social workers, licensed counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists focused on the core competencies for assessing and managing suicide risk identified by leading clinician researchers. The workshop includes pre-workshop reading, lecture, resource manuals, paired practices, discussion and video demonstrations. It will be offered to counselors and clinicians in schools, mental health centers, social service agencies, juvenile justice facilities, colleges and universities. Sources of Strength Peer Leader Program Sources of Strength is a comprehensive wellness program that is designed to impact suicide prevention. It uses peer and caring adult relationships to improve social norms, enhance coping and social support, and increase help-seeking behaviors in order to reduce conditions that give rise to suicide and other risk-taking behaviors. This highly acclaimed program also impacts substance abuse, violence and bullying prevention. Sources of Strength can be implemented in middle schools, high schools and colleges and university campuses. It is listed on the SPRC National Registry of Evidenced Based Programs and Practices. Sources of Strength’s Core Principles include the following: bring together and train both peer leaders and caring adults - one without the other lacks prevention power; peer leaders break down codes of silence and increase student help seeking from caring adults; a core emphasis on strengths that goes beyond a simple focus on suicide risk and warning signs; move beyond a singular focus on mental health referrals and train students to develop multiple sources of support; hope, help and strength messages use local voices and faces to saturate local schools and communities with stories of resiliency instead of trauma. We will be ready to start training these new programs late in the fall. We are available now to discuss how these trainings can be implemented in your school district. Please call 732-235-2810 for additional information. Training and Conference Announcements PTSM – November 2012 Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth (TLC) is holding its annual Post Traumatic Stress Management and Psychological First Aid Training (PTSM) in two locations this November to maximize attendance throughout the state. The PTSM training will be held at the Richard Stockton College of NJ in Galloway on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 13-14, 2012. For those in northern and central counties, it will be held at The Imperia in Somerset on Thursday and Friday, November 15-16, 2012. The registration fee of $195 includes the two-day certificate training PLUS a oneday Advanced PTSM in Suicide Response Protocols training being scheduled for the latter part of January 2013. A continental breakfast, lunch, course manual and materials are also included in the registration fee. To view program material and to register online, go to http://ubhc. umdnj.edu/brti/TLC.htm. TLC’s 10th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference – December 11, 2012 Plans are underway for David Brent, M.D., international suicide expert, to present, Assessment and Clinical Management of Suicidal Youth: Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Approaches at the TLC’s 10th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference. SAVE THE DATE. Registration information will be posted on the TLC website (http:// ubhc.umdnj.edu/brti/TLC.htm) early October. 5 Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter Two Friends Cycle 7,000 Miles to Raise Suicide Awareness To highlight National Suicide Prevention Week, on Thursday, September 13, 2012 the Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Program (TLC) at UMDNJ-UBHC along with the NJ Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) hosted a forum featuring two young men who have been bicycling across the country for the past seven months. Their mission is to raise awareness for suicide prevention and promote healing for those who have lost a family member or friend to suicide. Thomas Brown and Zachary Chipps spoke to a group of about 30 individuals at UBHC’s Behavioral Research and Training Institute in Piscataway. These two friends met each other in Phoenix, Arizona several years ago and discovered they both had brothers who had taken their lives. This life changing trauma created a unique bond between the men which prompted their own call to action. They set off on a 7,000 mile cross country trek Zachary Chipps and Thomas Brown at TLC’s Forum by bicycle from the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge on February 9, 2012. On their journey they stopped in cities and towns across the nation and listened to those who had lost friends and family to suicide, sharing their stories of hope and healing with others. Their final destination which will be completed in a few weeks is Wappingers Falls, New York. Some of the attendees who attended the forum had lost a loved one or friend to suicide, some were clinicians who work with suicidal individuals, as well as families and communities in the aftermath of suicide, and some were psychology and social work graduate students who were looking for information that would help them in their future work. The forum lasted two hours during which time Thomas and Zachary told the story of their brothers’ suicides. They shared details of their healing cross country journey and expressed awe at the amount of work that is being done in suicide prevention in NJ. The attendees listened, asked questions and shared some of their own stories of survivorship. The overall sentiment shared by the speakers, and audience alike was one of gratitude, respect, and inspiration for all that is being done by those in the room and throughout the state to continue the work of saving lives and promoting healing for survivors. ♦♦♦♦ AFSP Holds Out of the Darkness Walks This Fall One of the most challenging issues a school or community faces is helping their youth mourn the loss appropriately and safely memorialize the deceased. Suicide contagion among adolescents and young adults is a real phenomenon and certain memorialization activities can increase risk for imitative suicides. We would like to suggest an activity that can be an active, living memorial that allows youth and young adults the opportunity to express the natural desire to honor the life of their peer without inadvertently putting others at risk. Youth who have lost a peer or loved one to suicide can walk in that person’s memory with family members, friends, school personnel and the many participants from across the nation. By raising money for AFSP, they can satisfy that desire to “do something” to make meaning out of a tragic death by being an agent in preventing another. The monies raised will be go to AFSP’s vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide, and assist survivors of suicide loss. AFSP sponsors 3-5 mile Out of the Darkness Community Walks. The 2012 Community Walks will be held throughout the country and upcoming NJ walks are as follows: Central New Jersey Walk, Buccleuch Park, New Brunswick on September 30; Hudson River Walk, J. Owen Grundy Pier at Exchange Place, Jersey City on October 6; Northwest NJ Walk, Waterloo Village, Stanhope on October 7; Saddle Brook NJ Walk, Saddle River County Park (Otto C. Pehle), Saddle Brook on October 14; Southern NJ Walk, Gloucester County Institute of Technology, Sewell on October 21 and Secaucus NJ Walk, Laurel Hill Park, Secaucus on October 27. One year after an Out of the Darkness Community Walk, one New Jersey school addressed the issue of yearbook memorialization by including the deceased student’s picture in the yearbook with the caption, “In your memory we will continue to work to stop suicide.” They also included a picture of their students participating in the Out of the Darkness Walk. The school administration and the decedent’s family used the walk and the forum of the yearbook to memorialize the life of this young person while educating others about the importance of working to prevent suicide. For further information about becoming involved in any of these walks, please visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s, Out of the Darkness Community Walk website: http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.page&id=1031 6 Colleges and high schools can hold their own Out of the Darkness Campus Walk. For more information on how to plan a campus walk see the AFSP website below. http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.eventGroup&eventGroupID=9AA19459-C880-0E26-61312B15147B2E0A Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter Other Trainings Offered by the TLC Please contact TLC Central Office for information on fees and scheduling – 732-235-2810 Suicide Awareness Training Workshops for Educators, Parents and other Youth Serving Individuals This two-hour Suicide Awareness Training for Educators fulfills the professional development requirement, per N.J.S.A. 18A:6-11. Clinicians experienced in the evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents with mental health disorders and suicidal behaviors provide the training. The content can be customized to meet the needs of a single school or an entire school district, as well as mental health and social agency staff. On-site school counselors or administrators are included in the presentation to talk about the specific protocols outlined in their school’s crisis plan for referring at-risk youth for further evaluation and treatment. This program uses lecture, power point, video clips, and interactive discussion to enhance the learning. Chronological Assessment of Suicide Events (CASE) Approach Training This half-day workshop provides front-line counselors and clinicians in high schools, colleges and universities and community-based programs with an overview of the 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. The CASE Approach is an interviewing strategy for eliciting suicidal ideation, planning, and intent for high school youth of normal cognitive development as well as adults. It is designed to increase validity, decrease errors of omission, and increase the client’s sense of safety with the interviewer. CASE Approach Advanced Skill Training (Part I) This half-day training provides attendees with the opportunity to experientially advance their skills in using the CASE Approach. Through the use of a series of scripted role plays, participants will come away with immediate skills in effectively using two validity techniques to raise the topic of suicide - Shame Attenuation and Normalization. Once the topic has been raised, participants will also learn to effectively employ the Behavioral Incident, the cornerstone of the CASE Approach to create a verbal videotape, to explore the client’s suicidal ideation, planning and intent. CASE Approach Advanced Skill Training (Part II) This half-day follow-up workshop will provide attendees with the opportunity to continue to experientially advance their skills in using three more validity techniques Gentle Assumption, Denial of the Specific, and Symptom Amplification. The trainee will learn through the use of scripted role plays to artfully explore a client’s suicidal ideation, behavior, planning and intent in the time frame of the past two months (Recent Suicide Events), a time frame that often proves to be rich in information. Responding to Grief and Loss What is the school’s responsibility to facilitate the expression of grief following the death of a school community member? Is a response needed even during a holiday or summer death? How should schools respond to very public deaths, multiple deaths or deaths on campus? This discussion will focus on paying attention to the natural grieving process among students and staff in a school community. Trauma and Youth Trauma is often a core issue presenting in many youth we work with. Recognizing trauma and knowing how to work with youth who have been traumatized is becoming a critical skill set for education and social services professionals. This workshop provides practical strategies for those who work with youth who have experienced trauma and may be manifesting behavioral health issues as a result. The presentation includes signs and symptoms of trauma in children and youth, neurobiological effects, and practical strategies for working with youth who have experienced trauma. It also covers vicarious trauma and self care for workers, and ways to create safe environments for youth and families suffering the effects of trauma. This is a dynamic, interactive program that combines large and small group activities, video illustrations and discussion. This training is useful for anyone who works with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, including clinicians, behavioral assistants, DYFS workers, juvenile justice workers, guidance counselors, case managers, social workers, child study team members, teachers, parents, and advocates Working with Youth with Mental Health Disorders This 3 hour training provides a comprehensive overview of the most common mental health disorders facing youth in the juvenile justice system. Includes presentation and group discussion. (continued on next page) 7 Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter Other Trainings Offered by the TLC (continued from previous page) Working with Resistant Teens Those of us who work with teenagers encounter resistance as part of our work. But how we view resistance to our services makes all the difference in how effectively we engage our young clients. This workshop provides participants with new insight and practical strategies for building working alliances with adolescents. It is suitable for any professional who provides services to teenagers, including therapists, educators, outreach and DYFS workers. This is a dynamic, highly interactive and fun program using a combination of presentation, small group discussion, and role play that will leave participants with fresh ideas and new confidence in meeting the challenges of working with resistant youth. Managing the Crisis in Your School Under normal circumstances, schools are effectively organized and efficient in their day-to-day operation-until a crisis occurs. This training will offer guidance to administrators and crisis team members about effective prevention, intervention and post-vention practices. Topics include building the crisis team; revising the crisis plan; prevention practices; thoughtful responses and effective post-vention healing. Crisis Planning for Vulnerable School Populations What special considerations are given for vulnerable populations of students (and staff) within the school community? This training session brings special attention to students with IEP’s, 504 Accommodation Plans, and those other students and staff with “invisible” needs (psychiatric disorders, anxiety, use of medication, fears and disruptive behavior). 8 School Safety is Every Adult’s Responsibility What are the responsibilities for secretaries, bus drivers, bus aides, classroom aides, hall monitors, security guards, custodians, substitute teachers, volunteers and visitors during a school crisis? This training offers administrators and school safety team members a deeper look into the potential value of all adults in the school during a crisis, or the potential disruption that might result if their presence is not considered. School Crisis – An Administrator’s Guide to Management and Recovery Leadership during a school crisis is critical to recovery. Returning to a pre-crisis level of functioning is always the goal, but requires thoughtful planning and effective intervention. School superintendents, principals, assistant principals and other school leaders will be expected to be “out front” in managing school crises. This training will highlight skills, attitudes and practices needed to live through a school crisis and support a healthy recovery. Stress, Burnout and Vicarious Trauma Your work should make your life better. But sometimes, those of us who work in the areas of trauma, crisis or mental health can become overwhelmed and even symptomatic from our work. And too often, selfcare is not prioritized in our work environments. This workshop invites participants to step outside of their work life and reflect on how their engagement with suffering in their work affects their own lives. It equips participants with essential knowledge for recognizing, addressing and protecting themselves against burnout and vicarious trauma using a combination of presentation, guided individual reflection and group discussion. Participants will leave this session with a sense of how to find balance between their professional and personal lives and their own self-care plan to help put their new ideas into action. It is suitable for any professional who encounters trauma in their work, including mental health professionals, human services professionals and teachers, though it is targeted specifically to those who work with children and adolescents. People Skills It’s not what you say—it’s how you say it. We may all be familiar with this old adage, but do we come across to others in a way that promotes their trust and cooperation? Interpersonal skills are highly sought after in every workplace and can reap great benefits in your personal life. With well developed personal skills, we can handle the most difficult coworker, family member, child or teenager in a way that leaves both parties feeling understood and ready to cooperate. Most of us learn to interact with other people from experience. This workshop takes what we know instinctively and delves deeper into the mysteries underlying human communication. It discusses the role of emotions and how unrecognized negative emotions lead to the behaviors that often cause conflict in relationships. It discusses the role of anger and how unexpressed anger affects us in our relationships with others. It teaches participants how to recognize feelings in themselves and others and to use that information to resolve conflict and enhance relationships. This workshop is suitable for all audiences, but will be particularly helpful for those who work in situations where they encounter a lot of conflict, such as youth workers, teachers, human services and juvenile justice professionals. In the Spotlight – Come to a County Coalition Meeting Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter Atlantic County Patty Weeks Bergen County Sue Heguy Dennis Burd MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 20122013 SCHOOL YEAR: October 2, 2012; December 4, 2012; February 5, 2013; March 5, 2013; April 2, 2013; May 7, 2013 Meetings are held from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Southern Regional Institute & ETTC, 10 W. Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway, NJ 08204. Coalition meetings are open to school personnel, representatives from community and municipal agencies, school resource officers, police, emergency management responders, and any individuals interested in developing and maintaining a network of support for the children in our communities following a traumatic loss event. We encourage you to invite interested colleagues to coalition activities. For more information about the Atlantic County TLC call the SRI&ETTC at 609-626-3850 or visit the Atlantic County TLC Website: www.ettc.net/traumaticloss Sue Heguy reports that the TLC in Bergen County will hold its first coalition meeting for the new school year on October 4 at Care Plus, 610 Valley Health Plaza in Paramus. The meeting will be held from 10-12:00. Their first meeting will welcome new members to the team; discuss crisis responses that occurred over the summer and share trauma resources and important training information. The Lead Response Team (LRT) meeting for PTSM drill practice will be held on November 8 – same place and time as above. Sue Heguy, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 201-797-2660 x129 Burlington County Elfrieda Francis Patty Weeks, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 609-625-6051 The first coalition meeting scheduled by Frieda Francis will be held on October 3. The location for the meeting is the Burlington County Human Services Bldg., Café 2, 795 Woodlane Rd. in Westhampton, and the time is 3:00-4:30 pm. Dennis Burd, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 609-626-3850 Wendy Moluf, a coalition member who attended the Connect Program’s Prevention/Intervention training, will be giving an overview of the training. Our Wonderful TLC Coordinators The Burlington County School Crisis Response Team meetings, facilitated by Josephine Mercantini-Bocci, will be held on September 24; October 2; October 30 and December 13, 2012. Frieda will be presenting on the Traumatic Loss Coalitions program at the October 2 meeting. These meetings are held at the BCSSSD Media Center from 8 – 8:30 a.m. with training from 8:30 to 11:45 a.m. Frieda Francis, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 609-265-5538 Camden County Barbara Maronski Barbara Maronski has scheduled the Camden County School Crisis Response Team/TLC Lead Response Team and School Based Crisis Team meetings back-to-back with the TLC Networking Meetings. The meetings run from 8:30 to Noon at the Camden County Educational Services Commission, 225 White Horse Ave. in Clementon. The dates for these meetings are October 4 and December 7, 2012 and January 18; March 1 and April 26, 2013. Barbara Maronski, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 609-230-8933 9 Come to a County Coalition Meeting Cape May County Chris Miller TLC and LRT meetings have been scheduled by Chris Miller for the Cape May County coalition. Join Chris on October 11, 2012; January 10; March 14 and May 9, 2013. Meetings start at 9:30 am at Cape Counseling, 1129 Rt. 9 in Cape May Court House. Chris Miller, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 609-465-4100 x141 Cumberland County Elvira Smith With summer officially over, the TLC of Cumberland County would like to welcome everyone to the 20122013 school year. This year’s coalition meetings will be held on October 24, 2012 and January 16; March 20 and May 22, 2013 at South Jersey’s Healthcare Fitness Connection, second floor Board Room in Vineland from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The Lead Response Team meetings will immediately follow. Elvira Smith has collaborated with Cumberland’s Interagency Coordinating Council to host Jamie Anderson, RNC, IBCC, NJ Parent Link administrator from the NJ Department of Health. She will be presenting on the new web resource, NJ Parent Link. All are welcome to come learn about this resource and share the information with families and colleagues. 10 Elvira Smith, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 856-305-2138 Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter Essex County Arlene O’Connell The first coalition meeting of this school year in Essex County will be held on October 17. Arlene O’Connell is excited that the Rachel Coalition will present, In Her Shoes: an experiential and interactive workshop for the community. Have you ever wondered: why a woman stays in an abusive relationship? Why does a woman make the choices she does? How does a woman cope? Then, this workshop will allow you to experience first-hand what a victim of domestic violence has to do once she decides to reach out for help. In Her Shoes will help participants understand in a very compressed period of time, the ups and downs a victim of domestic violence experiences over the course of many years. Coalition meetings are held at Temple Shalom of West Essex, 760 Pompton Avenue in Cedar Grove from 9:45 am until Noon. CEU’s are given at these meetings. Coalition meeting dates are: October 17 and December 12, 2012 and February 13 and April 17, 2013. Lead Response Team meetings are held at the Mental Health Association, 33 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair beginning at 10:00 am. LRT meeting dates are: September 12 and November 14, 2012 and January 16; March 13 and May 15, 2013. Arlene O’Connell, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 973-239-5382 Gloucester County Barbara Maronski Barbara Maronski has set the schedule for Gloucester’s Coalition and LRT meetings. All meetings are held at the Gloucester County College, Community Board Room in the Library. Coalition meetings begin at 8:30 am and are immediately followed by the LRT meetings. Scheduled for this school year are: October 12 and December 13, 2012 (confirmed) and January 25; March 22 and May 3, 2013 (TBC). Barbara Maronski, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 609-230-8933 Hudson County Silvana Gomez Coalition and Lead Response Team meetings are set for the 2012-2013 school year. Silvana Gomez will hold the meetings at the Secaucus Library from 8:30 to 11:30, back-to-back. The dates scheduled are September 28; November 14 and December 21, 2012 and February 15; April 12 and May 24, 2013. The Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center is located at 1379 Paterson Plank Rd. in Secaucus. Silvana Gomez, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 201-915-2268 Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter Hunterdon County Sherri Neville-Fontini Traumatic Loss Coalition meetings scheduled by Sherri Neville will be held on October 17, 2012 and February 27 and April 24, 2013. These meetings run from 9:30 to 11:30 am at the County Complex, Route 12 in Flemington. The Lead Response Team (LRT) meetings are held from 2:30 to 3:30 pm at the 5th Floor conference Room in the Hunterdon Medical Center. Those meetings are scheduled for October 17 and December 19, 2012 and February 27 and April 24, 2013. Sherri Neville, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 908-788-6401 x 2082 Mercer County Steve Olsen Steve Olsen has scheduled interesting educational components for the Mercer County TLC meetings. On October 16 from 8:30-12:00 pm, Nicci Spinazzola will present Working with Surviving Families. The November 14 and December 12 meetings will also feature Nicci presenting Vicarious Traumatization: The Synergy of Helping Colleagues and Identifying the Barriers to a Compassionate Presence: Identifying Compassion Fatigue, Helplessness, Hopelessness and Fear, respectively. The coalition meetings are held on Come to a County Coalition Meeting Wednesdays at Catholic Charities Mobile Response and Stabilization Services in Mercerville. The full day fall conference on September 28 will feature Barent Walsh, PhD, with a presentation entitled, Understanding and Treating the Complex Puzzle of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury. Monmouth County George Scott Steve Olsen, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 609-278-7924 A full schedule of coalition/LRT meetings for this school year is as follows: September 13; October 4; November 1 and December 6, 2012 and January 3; February 7; March 7; April 4; May 2 and June 6, 2013. Middlesex County George Scott All meetings are held at the Monmouth County Office of Human Services, 3000 Kozloski Rd., Freehold with the exceptions of September 13 that will be held at the Samaritan Center, 36 South Street in Manasquan and December 6 that will be held at the Beech Room/ Visitor’s Center at Thompson Park in Middletown. The TLC/LRT meetings have been scheduled by George Scott at the Middlesex Office of the Superintendent, 1460 Livingston Avenue, Bldg. 400, 2nd Floor conference room. Back-to-back coalition/LRT meetings are held from 9:00 – 12:00 pm. Dates for this school year are: September 28; October 26; November 30 and December 21, 2012 and January 25; February 22; March 29; April 26 and May 31, 2013. George Scott, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 609-915-0684 George Scott, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 609-915-0684 Morris County Mary Vineis The Morris County Lead Response Team attended the Our Youth, Their Future event on August 25th. This is an annual event that is held to bring the youth of the Morristown community together and allow them to investigate the resources available to them. There will be a gathering of the Lead Response Team on September 28th. The team will practice their skill set and celebrate with each other after a very 11 Come to a County Coalition Meeting busy spring and summer. The next Coalition meeting will be held at the Morris County Library on October 12, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The guest speaker will be Nicole Morella from the New Jersey Battered Women’s Shelter. Mary Vineis, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 973-686-2228 Ocean County Karen Bright Ocean County meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month in Toms River. Presently, dates are being scheduled for the Lead Response Team (LRT) meetings. Karen is actively recruiting additional members for the LRT. You can contact Karen or the Ocean Emergency Response Committee (ERC) for information on local training. Karen Bright, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 732-886-4474 Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter Silitsky recognizes the leadership and staff at the state park and school who actively participated in the healing process. He is also personally grateful to Donna Amundson, LCSW; Mary Vineis, BA, DRCC; Pam Legall, LPC and Varsa Wilber, LCSW for their efforts and devotion to the success of the responses at the park, agencies and schools. LRT meetings follow the coalition meetings and are held on Wednesdays at the Passaic County Vocational Institute, 45 Reinhardt Rd. in Wayne promptly at 9:30 a.m. The speaker at the first coalition meeting will talk about what helped her in dealing with the loss of a significant other. TLC/LRT meetings are scheduled for September 19 and November 14, 2012 and January 16; March 13 and May 8, 2013. Potential topics for coalition meetings are Bipolar Disorder in the School Child; Dealing with Sexual Assault; Bullying; Depression; Anxiety and Conduct Disorder in the Schools; Care for the Caregiver and Positive Approaches to Dealing with Stress on the Job. Dan Silitsky, Ph.D., TLC Coordinator [email protected] 732-718-3535 Salem County Joanne Comninos Passaic County Dan Silitsky During the summer months, the Passaic County Lead Response Team was involved in responses to deaths by drowning and vehicular accidents. The team provided individual and group responses on site and within a school. Dan 12 The Traumatic Loss Coalition for Youth program is welcoming a new Coordinator to the county. Bridget DeFiccio, LPC, will be taking over the reins from Joanne Comninos. Bridget is a Program Director at Robins Nest in Glassboro and has many years of experience in the mental health field, including working with children who have been sexually abused. Bridget will be taking the PTSM training in November and is looking forward to building upon the relationships in TLC developed by Joanne. Welcome, Bridget! Of course when someone starts, there is someone who is finishing. The TLC extends its best wishes to Joanne as she accepts new challenges in her career. It was a pleasure working with Joanne and watching her development of the Salem County TLC. Best of Luck, Joanne! Bridget DeFiccio, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 856-881-8689 x203 Somerset County Melissa Callen The Somerset County TLC meetings are held at Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center from 9:30 to 11:00 am. The first meeting of the 2012-2013 school year will be held on Friday, October 12, 2012. The focus of the meeting will be on understanding how the TLC can help your school or community and what services are offered at the Center. Staff will also be presenting their favorite tools in their toolbox to add to your own toolbox. Other TLC meetings are scheduled for December 14, 2012 and March 8 and May 10, 2013. Melissa Callen, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 908-253-3103 Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter Sussex County Dan Silitsky Dan Silitsky, TLC Coordinator, welcomes everyone back to the 20122013 school year. The first Coalition/ Lead Response Team meeting will be held on Thursday, September 20, at 9:30 am at Sussex County Technical High School, 105 N Church Rd. in Sparta in the School Based Support Program Lounge. Speaking at this meeting will be a therapist from Newton Medical Center discussing dialectic and cognitive therapy as related to suicide in children and teens. All Coalition meetings are followed directly by the LRT meetings. Dan always welcomes new participants to the Sussex County Traumatic Loss Coalition program. The meetings scheduled for this year are: Thursday, September 20; Tuesday, November 13; Thursday, January 17; Thursday, March 14 and Thursday, May 9, 2013. All meetings begin at 9:30 a.m. Dan Silitsky, Ph.D., TLC Coordinator [email protected] 732-718-3535 Come to a County Coalition Meeting Union County Krizia Jimenez-Medrano We have a new coordinator who will guide and build upon Union County’s Traumatic Loss Coalition. Welcome to Krizia Jimenez-Medrano, CMRSS Program Coordinator at Trinitas Regional Medical Center. Krizia is an energetic and fast worker who has already scheduled coalition and LRT meetings for the 2012-2013 school year. October’s coalition meeting will be held on the 24th and will feature Lisa Athan from Grief Speaks. Lisa’s presentation will be, What the 21st Century School Professional Needs to Know About the Grieving Student. On February 20, Michael Litterer will present, Drug Trends-Prevention Links, and Tyree Creeden from Hudson Pride will speak on LGBTQ’s at the May 22 meeting. These meetings will be held at Trinitas Regional Medical Center (TRMC) – New Point Campus, 655 East Jersey St. in Elizabeth. Meetings are held from 9:30 until Noon. Lead Response Team (LRT) meetings are held at TRMC – New Point The TLC Newsletter is a publication of the Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Program, 151 Centennial Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854, 732-235-2810. The TLC is funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families Division of Child Behavioral Health Services through the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) - University Behavioral HealthCare (UBHC) Behavioral Research and Training Institute (BRTI). Campus, 655 Livingston St., 1st floor conference room in the Monastery building. The LRT meeting dates are: October 24; November TBA; February 20; May 22 and June TBA from 12:30 pm until 1:30 pm. Krizia Jimenez-Medrano, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 908-994-7148 Warren County Darrell Buckner The first Warren County Coalition meeting is scheduled for 9:30 – 11:00 am on October 18. The meeting will be held at the Warren County Public Safety Building located at 1024 Route 57, Washington. A Lead Response Team (LRT) meeting will be held following the coalition meeting. Darrell Buckner, TLC Coordinator [email protected] 908-454-4470, ext. 301 Artwork and Layout by eDigital Graphics 326 Route 22 West, Suite 12A Green Brook, NJ 08812 732-968-1234 www.edigitalgraphics.com Please contact eDigital Graphics for all your printing needs. UMDNJ Approved Vendor 13 Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter Appreciation Letters TLC Central To: Donna and Colleagues Thank you so much for your support and assistance during this difficult time for the Old Bridge Community. We are most appreciative of your knowledge and insight in addressing student and staff needs. We look forward to working with you. Sincerely, Donna M. Kibbler Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Old Bridge Township Public Schools ♦♦♦♦ To: Donna Amundson, Program Manager and Coordinators: Melissa Callen; George Scott; Barbara Maronski; Elvira Smith; Arlene O’Connell; Patty Weeks and Mary Vineis Between August 2011 and March 2012 the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of School Preparedness & Emergency Planning, conducted twelve statewide LEA Minimum Requirements: School Safety & Emergency Planning trainings entitled, “Safer Schools for A Better Tomorrow”. These training sessions, which hosted over 700 attendees, shared important information with chief school administrators, school administrators, and key stakeholders who partner with schools and personnel who oversee the implementation of district-wide School Safety & Security Plans. Joining the department in this endeavor was the Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth (TLC). I would like to thank you and the TLC County Coordinators for their assistance during this training. Everyone shared their expertise in the field of crisis planning and response and fostered a positive attitude of cooperation 14 and collaboration. We look forward to working with you on future projects. Sincerely, Anthony Bland State Coordinator NJ Department of Education ♦♦♦♦ To: Donna Amundson I wanted to extend my thank you for the instructive, informative and much needed presentation on the CASE method at our Wednesday, May 9th SBYSP Director’s meeting. Having you there Donna to provide the professional development on such an important topic to SBYSP center directors was a recognition of the work our staff seek to accomplish and providing tools, such as the CASE method is what our staff requires. Many thanks to our DCF regional coordinators for organizing the event and I look forward to seeing you again soon. Sincerely, Therese T. Hendrickson Program Coordinator School Based Youth Service Program Keansburg High School ♦♦♦♦ Burlington County To: Frieda Francis, TLC Coordinator I just want to thank you for all of the support you’ve given to Greg and MVP over the last few weeks. You have been a wonderful resource and we thank you for all you do. Best, Patricia Bruder Educational Information & Resource Center ♦♦♦♦ Cape May County To: Chris Miller, TLC Coordinator No one is ever prepared for the loss of a colleague. Even if the loss follows a prolonged illness, staff members are bound to feel bereft. In the case of our Peggy, a vital, healthy woman whose laughter echoed in our halls and whose kindness embraced all of us, the word bereft cannot convey our sense of loss. Peggy was the heart and soul of our building, and everyone knew it, everyone felt it. How could we go on without our heart? On behalf of the students and staff at Crest Memorial, let us thank you and your colleagues at the Traumatic Loss Coalition for supporting us every step of the way through that first terrible, crucial day back at school. We needed a clear plan of action and a unified message to staff and students. We needed safe environments in which students and staff could share feelings, memories and grieve together. Most of all, we needed to know that there were steady, compassionate hands to guide us as we stumbled through the day. You and your team were those hands. It was clear to us from the moment you arrived that you understood what we were going through, and that you were genuinely sympathetic. You weren’t just doing a job; you were helping fellow human beings in need. All of us felt your compassion, your understanding. Thanks to your guidance, both students and staff felt supported, affirmed and comforted. Speaking personally let us thank you for lifting part of the burden from our shoulders. Because we had help, we were able to breathe a bit easier, and maybe be a bit more helpful to others. Know that you made a difference in our lives on Monday. When we think of Peggy and mourn our loss, we’ll also Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter Appreciation Letters remember our first day back, and we’ll remember how, with your guidance, we comforted one another. We will remember you and your team. Sincerely, Ann-Maria Guevara, Principal Dennis J. Anderson, Superintendent Wildwood Crest School District ♦♦♦♦ Essex County To: Arlene O’Connell, TLC Coordinator I want to thank you again, for your help and support during our recent crisis. It has been an overwhelmingly busy two weeks, as you can imagine. Our focus has been on all of the details related to school opening, while also preparing to continue on-going support and “watchfulness” regarding our students. Arlene – I am so glad that we reached out to Essex County TLC right away. When I had time to reflect, I realized that you provided exactly the type of support needed. You helped us think systematically at a time when it is most difficult to do that. It is so important to have that type of support. As a SAC, I am very grateful. Kevin Barnes would like to write a letter of thanks – and he would also like to send a note to Kim. Thanks, again – and let me know when you are available for a phone check-in. I’d love to touch base and talk with you. Mary B. Cunningham, LPC, SAC Student Assistance Coordinator James Caldwell High School West Caldwell ♦♦♦♦ Middlesex County To: George Scott, TLC Coordinator and Donna Amundson It was a pleasure meeting you both last Saturday. And thank you for the wonderful presentation and much needed information. Our youth ministers greatly benefited from the training. As I said, this was our first step to bring this issue to the forefront and give our youth ministries the tools to assist in the development and growth of healthy adults. Dorothy Holman Donna Howard Sharon Rudolph Donnie Foster Annah Pledger-Foster Janet Lewis We will certainly continue to be in touch and collaborate in building safer communities. Do keep us informed about upcoming events and meetings as I would like to be part of the coalition. To: Dan Silitsky, TLC Coordinator May you have a blessed week, Javier W. Bustamante Director, Youth & Young Adult Ministry Diocese of Metuchen ♦♦♦♦ Morris County To: Mary Vineis, TLC Coordinator On behalf of the Our Youth Their Future Organization, we would like to take this opportunity to thank Morris County Traumatic Loss Coalition for supporting our 3rd Annual Youth Rally. On Saturday, August 25, 2012, our organization sponsored a Community Youth Rally, wherein the youth enjoyed food, music, performances, pony rides and a basketball tournament. It was a huge success! It is our goal to continue to provide activities for our youth in an effort to educate and to encourage awareness in diverse areas which will help them build confidence and self-esteem. Your contribution is greatly appreciated and we, again, thank you. As we strive to continue in our mission of “education and awareness,” and as we look forward to planning additional events for our youth, we hope we can count on your further support and participation. Very truly yours, Our Youth Their Future Toshiba Foster ♦♦♦♦ Passaic County On behalf of the New Jersey Department of Environmental protection, Division of Parks and Forestry and the Ringwood State Park Staff, I would like to thank you for your caring attention in response to a drowning that occurred at Ringwood State Park on Saturday, July 14, 2012. The lifeguards who tried in vain to rescue the teenage victim were distraught and needed the help that you were able to offer. Division staff and Parks staff spent Saturday evening calling various hospitals, clinics and other resources to find help for our distressed teenage lifeguards and staff and had no luck until we were put in touch with the Traumatic Loss Coalition. We are so thankful that we had your help. Your compassion for dealing with the emotions experienced by the staff was exceptional and truly made a difference in helping them to deal from the loss they experienced. We could not have asked for more caring, helpful and understanding assistance in this time of need. The services that you and your staff provide at the Traumatic Loss Coalition are invaluable. Please pass my heartfelt thanks on to your staff for their prompt attention and caring compassion in a job well done. Sincerely, Stephen Ellis Acting Regional Superintendent NJ Department of Environmental Protection 15 Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Coordinators http://ubhc.umdnj.edu/brti/TLC.htm Who to Contact in Your County Northern Counties Central Counties Bergen County Sue Heguy, LCSW 201-797-2660, x129 [email protected] Care Plus NJ, Inc. Hunterdon County Sherri Neville-Fontini, MA 908-788-6401 x2082 [email protected] Hunterdon Medical Center Essex County Arlene O’Connell LPC 973-239-5382 [email protected] UMDNJ - UBHC Mercer County Steve Olsen 609-278-7924 [email protected] County of Mercer Hudson County Silvana Gomez, MA 201-915-2268 [email protected] Jersey City Medical Center Morris County Mary Vineis, BA, DRCC 973-686-2228 [email protected] Atlantic Behavioral Health Passaic County Daniel Silitsky, PhD 732-718-3535 [email protected] UMDNJ - UBHC Middlesex County George Scott, EdS, MFT 609-915-0684 [email protected] UMDNJ - UBHC Monmouth County George Scott, EdS, MFT 609-915-0684 [email protected] UMDNJ - UBHC Ocean County Karen Bright, MA 732-886-4474 [email protected] Kimball Medical Center Sussex County Daniel Silitsky, PhD 732-718-3535 [email protected] UMDNJ-UBHC Somerset County Melissa Callen, MA, LPC 908-253-3103 (emergency) 908-309-9087 [email protected] Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center Warren County Darrell Buckner, MSW, LSW 908-454-4470, x301 [email protected] Warren Family Guidance Center Union County Krizia Jimenez-Medrano 908-994-7148 [email protected] Trinitas Regional Medical Center 16 Southern Counties Atlantic County Patty Weeks, LSW 609-625-6051 [email protected] Dennis Burd 609-626-3850 [email protected] Richard Stockton College Burlington County Elfrieda Francis, MSW 609-265-5538 [email protected] County of Burlington Camden County Barbara Maronski, LSW 609-230-8933 [email protected] Center for Family Services Cape May County Chris Miller, MA 609-465-4100, x141 [email protected] Cape May Counseling Services Cumberland County Elvira Smith, MA, CSW 856-305-2138 [email protected] UMDNJ - UBHC Gloucester County Barbara Maronski, LSW 609-230-8933 [email protected] Center for Family Services Salem County Bridget DeFiccio, LPC 856-881-8689 x203 [email protected] Robins’ Nest, Inc. TLC Central: Office No. 732-235-2810 Donna Amundson, LCSW, Program Manager (cell 908-304-3266); Nancy Baird, Dotty Rodrick