Document 2066392

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New JerseyUniversity Behavioral HealthCareBehavioral Research and Training Institute
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth
A Message
Newsletter
Spring 2012
from Donna…
“Everything is blooming most
recklessly; if it were voices
instead of colors, there would be
an unbelievable shrieking into the
heart of the night.”
Across the State
Rainer Maria Rilke
Welcome to spring! The world
is blooming with life around
us, and there are many new
things happening at the TLC
as well. We are adding to our
suicide prevention, intervention
and postvention efforts around
the state, and I think you will
appreciate the additional training
programs that we will be offering
to schools and communities.
Our fall and winter trainings
were very well attended and
very well received. The Post
Traumatic Stress Management
(PTSM) training for school and
community crisis teams was
held in October, and there were
202 attendees. The Advanced
PTSM training – Suicide
Postvention Protocols was held
on January 13, and there were
168 attendees. There are now
2,198 individuals that have been
certified in PTSM throughout the
state. Our next training will be
held in October 2012.
The 9th Annual Youth Suicide
Prevention Conference featured
Thomas Joiner, PhD, an
international expert in suicide,
researcher and writer. The title of
this highly acclaimed workshop
was Why People Die By Suicide,
and it was attended by 210
individuals. Some attendees
described this conference as:
(continued on next page)
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
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 highprofile 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/
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-theclock crisis and suicide prevention
helpline for LGBTQ youth.
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
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Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
A Message from Donna…
(continued from page 1)
This presentation was very helpful and applicable to my
profession. Best conference I have been to in 10 years.
Great job!
One of the best speakers on this topic yet! (They’ve all
been very good but he was really good!) The time flew!
Dr. Joiner was phenomenal!
Dr. Joiner is an excellent presenter. His thoughts are clear
and he always makes certain to repeat others questions for
the audience. All suicide conferences previously attended
are more of the same. His knowledge lends itself to
broadening our field’s perspectives on suicide.
TLC Central has been working hard to expand our suicide prevention and
postvention trainings. Our goal is to create a comprehensive training program
for Gatekeepers, Clinicians, and Peers Leaders, and we have added three new
initiatives continuing to use programs from the SPRC/AFSP Best Practice Registry.
Our aim is to be able to offer the trainings in a sustainable and cost effective
way for schools and community programs, and so have elected to have our TLC
Training Team certified as trainers in the upcoming programs.
The Training Team will be certified to teach the following new programs: Connect
Postvention, Connect Prevention/Intervention and Assessing and Managing
Suicide Risk for Clinical Staff. We are happy to report we already have two
certified trainers for the Sources of Strength Peer Leader Suicide Prevention
program and will be adding two more trainers this summer. We look forward to
adding to the eight schools already implementing Sources of Strength. Please see
the articles that describe these programs.
We are very excited about our Social Media Project (see page 13). The project
will allow us to reach youth and young adults where they live and communicate
with information about mental health issues and suicide prevention using
Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and other social media sites. We have been meeting
with an advisory team made up of 11 teens and young adults and Christopher
Gandin Le and his team from Emotion Technology to create branding and content
for this project. The plan is for this site to contain content created by teens and
young adults. The 2nd Floor has been a major collaborator in this project as well.
Please see the article describing these efforts including an upcoming media festival
that will be hosted by TLC and Emotion Technology.
We are also very happy to report on a wonderful collaboration with Kelly Posner,
PhD, from Columbia University in bringing the Columbia Suicide Severity
Rating Scale (C-SSRS) to youth-serving individuals throughout the state (see
page 7.)
Please enjoy this Newsletter. It is bursting with information from TLC Central and
from our Coordinators around the state. Please feel free to forward it to anyone
that can benefit from its contents.
Warm regards,
Donna
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Appreciation Letters
Atlantic County
To: Amy Jacob, TLC Trainer
I want to thank you for a marvelous
in service yesterday. My teachers
and staff were so impressed with
your knowledge and your style of
presenting. We gained a great deal.
Thanks to all of you for assisting us in
finding Amy.
Janice DeCicco Fipp, Ed.D.
Northfield Community School
Superintendent
♦♦♦♦
Bergen County
To: Sue Heguy, Coordinator
Again, thanks for all that you did
today, Sue. I can’t tell you how
much your support and invaluable
help meant. The kids were so much
better in the afternoon as they focused
on tasks and formed their own support
groups. You were really there for
them, and I can’t thank you, Theresa,
and Eileen enough for that. The kids
were also very appreciative for all that
you did and being there for them.
Barbara Pitocco
School Social Worker
Ft. Lee School District
♦♦♦♦
To: Sue Heguy, Coordinator
Burlington County
On behalf of the Haworth Teachers’
Association, we would like to
extend our deepest gratitude to
you and your team of counselors
for helping us move through our
sadness over the death of our friend
and colleague. The support all of
you gave was, and continues to be,
invaluable to us.
To: Frieda Francis, Coordinator
You may have surmised from our
collective grief, just how much
XXXX was loved by us all. She was
so much fun to be with and would
always bring her own special warmth
and humor to our every encounter.
XXXX gave herself entirely to us
here at Haworth Public School. Her
accomplishments and generosity
that illuminated her brief life
continue to awe and inspire us.
Through the work of your
counselors, we are able to move
forward with this loss and try to be
stalwarts for our students. Grief is
a long and uneven process and we
are sincerely grateful for all the help
you gave us in taking these first steps
along this journey of weaving the
loss of XXXX into our lives.
Sincerely,
The Haworth Public School
Teachers’ Association
♦♦♦♦
I just wanted to thank Elfrieda Francis
and the Burlington County Traumatic
Loss Coalition for the quick response
in reaching out to our schools during
a community crisis last month. Ms.
Francis was proactive, concerned
and offered an array of supports.
We are very thankful to have access
to this wonderful program for all of
our students and families!
Respectfully,
Heather Ilconich, MSW, LCSW
School Social Worker
Pemberton Township Schools
♦♦♦♦
To: Frieda Francis, Coordinator
I’m writing to thank you for the
support you and Donna gave to our
students and parents during this
time of crisis. No one could prepare
for a tragedy of such magnitude,
but we are grateful to have had the
Traumatic Loss Coalition as a resource
to help our families. Thank you
for coming and meeting with our
students and their parents and for
helping them learn to cope with the
trauma they have experienced.
Sincerely,
Ellen McHenry
Superintendent
Chesterfield Township School
Websites for Teens &
College Students
(continued from previous page)
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
Grief Support
Programs
Children and
Teens
2NDFLOOR, NJ Youth
Helpline
1-888-222-2228
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/
(continued on page 13)
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Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Appreciation Letters
Essex County
To: Dan Silitsky and Arlene
O’Connell, Coordinator
I wanted to reach out and sincerely
thank you on behalf of the entire
Essex High School Community. Your
ability to assist us during our time
of crisis was phenomenal. I reached
out to you and within twenty minutes
you had a response for my staff
and students. Our community
experienced a violent death and
you were able to help break down
barriers of communication for
staff and students. In addition to
providing on-site services for my staff
and students you also were able
to process the entire event with
me and give me helpful tips and
suggestions, as well as, access to
a tool kit through your website for
future response. This information
is vital for a building administrator
working with at-risk students.
I cannot express my appreciation
enough to you and your staff
for assisting us with the grieving
process and sharing your knowledge
and expertise to ensure staff and
students were able to deal with the
tragedy in a healthy and meaningful
way. Our community began the
healing process thanks to your
wonderful organization. This is the
second time that I have utilized the
Traumatic Loss Coalition Services
and I have to admit that without you
I would have been at a loss to help my
community begin to heal.
Kimberly Brucale
Essex High School
♦♦♦♦
To: Donna Amundson, Program
Manager for Arlene O’Connell,
Coordinator
I am writing to express my
appreciation for the work of the
Traumatic Loss Coalition, and of
Arlene O’Connell in particular.
I am the administrator of the New
Jersey Devils Youth Hockey club,
and
4
on February 1, 2012 one of our longtime coaches passed away suddenly
and unexpectedly. In addition to my
own personal grief over the loss, I was
especially concerned for his current team
of eleven-year-olds. Through a friend
of mine who is a therapist, I found the
Traumatic Loss Coalition website and
contacted Arlene. She was kind, helpful,
and showed great concern for me and,
more importantly, our young hockey
players.
Arlene and her colleague, Heather
(Kobylinski), were kind enough to
come to our rink in West Orange on
a Saturday morning to meet with the
boys and with their parents. I was
concerned about the player meeting
because eleven-year-old hockey players
are not a population generally known to
be comfortable with expressing emotion
and vulnerability. I had nothing to worry
about, though; Arlene and Heather
got the boys to open up by sharing
what people commonly feel in similar
situations, creating a safe space in which
they could express their emotions, and
giving them permission to feel whatever
it was that they felt – sadness, anger,
regret, fear, or even numbness. The
amount of help they were able to give
these boys in a short amount of time was
amazing.
What most impressed me was the fact
that Arlene and Heather closed the player
meeting by asking the boys if there was
anything they wanted them to discuss
with the parents. Some of the boys did
express concerns, and during the parent
meeting Arlene and Heather gently but
strongly advocated for the boys and
their needs. While understanding that
everyone was dealing with their own
feelings about the loss, they made sure
the parents knew what to expect from
their sons and how they could best assist
them during such a difficult time.
Every parent from that team has
contacted me to express their gratitude
for the assistance offered by Arlene and
the Traumatic Loss Coalition for their
sons. I, too, am unspeakably grateful
to have had their
assistance in
helping the children to cope with this
unexpected and difficult death. We
are lucky to have such a wonderful
organization and such caring
and committed individuals in our
community.
With sincere thanks,
Kelly Coyle DiNorcia
Administrator, New Jersey Devils
Youth Hockey Club
♦♦♦♦
To: Arlene O’Connell,
Coordinator
I cannot express how grateful we are
to have had you here with us last
evening. You, and your organization,
have been here for us in our most
difficult times. Your guidance and
support continue to be invaluable to
our work here. You help keep all of us
safe.
And for last night, thank you for giving
your time and expertise again to our
community. Your confidence and
knowledge put everyone at ease even
when discussing such a difficult
topic. Our parents, the Board, our
professionals, and certainly I appreciate
your efforts on our behalf. We are
lucky to have you as a resource, a
support, and a colleague.
I hope we continue our cooperation
and if there is anything that we can
do, please let me know.
With appreciation and gratitude,
Russell M. Lazovick, Superintendent
Nutley Public Schools
♦♦♦♦
To: Arlene O’Connell,
Coordinator
I want to say thank you so very
much for you and Dr. Silitsky who
accompanied you for your support and
assistance to the Burch Charter School
of Excellence family. Your presences
meant so much to us and helped us
during a very difficult time. Please
add me to your contact list to receive
correspondences regarding trainings, etc.
Shanell Lee
Burch Charter School
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Appreciation Letters
Middlesex County
To: George Scott, Coordinator
Thank you for your guidance
regarding our sudden student
death. Everything seems to have
gone well. The teachers were
very receptive to coming into
their classroom for a brief 5 minute
discussion with the students of
xxxxxxx classes. The students were
sad and appeared very receptive.
It was a good idea to meet with
them. Your advice, guidance, and
support at some of the most difficult
times is appreciated more than
words are able to express (you know
that).
Thank you for helping us help kids.
Irene Baratta
Monroe School District
♦♦♦♦
To: George Scott, Coordinator
Dear George:
This communication is sent to you
with the most sincere, professional
gratitude possible as a School
Superintendent representing a
grieving educational community. Of course, I am referring to the
tragic residential fire that claimed
the lives of four children here in
South Plainfield. Three of those
who perished were school-aged
attending two of our elementary
schools. Surviving is an elementary
student who was severely burned
and hospitalized indefinitely. The
elder child of the family, a 15 year
old brother who attends South
Plainfield High School also survived
as he saved his two-year old sister. A pre-school sibling was also lost in
the blaze. Thus in one tragedy, four
children and their grandmother were
lost with three surviving children
displaced from their home. The
media descended at the scene
of the residential fire, on various
school grounds, and the central
administrative building en masse,
with news helicopters overhead.
This was the circumstance that we
faced when you immediately responded
to our outreach on the morning of the
fire, February 23. You quickly assessed
the circumstances and met with staff
in Franklin School where two students
were enrolled that did not survive. You
next appeared in my office to assist with
the district-wide traumatic response
effort. You instantly recruited grief
counselors from your Middlesex County
network of highly skilled professionals. Next, you and I assembled the South
Plainfield administrative team for
collective discussion and advice at
which time we processed our dilemma
including how to address the immediate
needs of the surviving victims,
classmates, staff and all concerned. You offered your experience in media
management wherein I concurred
factoring in my experience as well. You
were the consummate professional in
every regard deferring to me as the
Superintendent of Schools at every
juncture. You provided a schedule for
immediate follow up assessment of the
grief counselors on a daily basis with
clear recommendations for all.
With the benefit of retrospective time
now that the initial grieving process
has unfolded, I am pleased to report
that thanks to you, the Traumatic Loss
Coalition of Middlesex County network,
and the fine response of leadership
team and all other pertinent employees
of South Plainfield, we are the true
beneficiaries of your involvement to the
maximum extent possible under such
a horrific circumstance. The collective
healing is well underway.
To you and all concerned from the TLC,
please accept and relay my most sincere
gratitude and appreciation on behalf of
the entire South Plainfield community,
many of whom also rallied to this crisis. The level of skilled professionalism will
always be remembered. There are not
sufficient words to thank you enough.
With the utmost appreciation and
recognition, I remain,
Very sincerely,
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Gary R. Bowen, Ed.D.
South Plainfield Public Schools
♦♦♦♦
Monmouth County
To: George Scott, Coordinator
On behalf of Monmouth County’s
Human Service community I
thank you for your sensitive
acknowledgement of the important
work provided by your team. I was
mindful of the events you referenced
and I’m most grateful that under your
leadership we are able to offer such
a high quality resource to our grief
stricken families and communities.
Thank you for your contributions of
time, expertise and compassion.
Peace.
Charles D. Brown III, Director
Monmouth County Department of
Human Services
♦♦♦♦
To: George Scott, Coordinator
I would like to thank you and Kim for
the help you provided to our students
during a difficult time. You were a
source of comfort and support for
our staff and students. Although
we did not meet, Ed McNeil speaks
highly of you and your organization
and I wanted to extend my
appreciation as well.
Ocean County
High School Principal
♦♦♦♦
To: George Scott, Coordinator
Thank you for your amazing
presentation last night. I’m sure your
inbox is full this morning! You really
connected with the audience and
dealt with important issues that
concern so many of us.
Assenka Oksiloff
Communications Manager
Princeton Regional Schools
♦♦♦♦
5
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Appreciation Letters
Morris County
Union County
To: Mary Vineis, Coordinator
To: Donna Amundson and Team
On behalf of the students, my
colleagues and me, please
accept our collective thanks for
a very informative and engaging
presentation to our middle school
students on November 30th. The
topic of depression and suicide
prevention can be a challenging
one to discuss. Your delivery style
and supportive tone provided key
information wrapped in a bow of
hopefulness and understanding.
We wanted to take this opportunity
to thank you for your expertise and
assistance during the loss at Burnet
Middle School. Your support and
services were invaluable to our students,
staff, and administration. The caring
and concern that your team gave us
was truly appreciated by all. Your
service is needed in the school system; it
is comforting to know that your service
is available in times of need.
Thank you for taking the time to
become familiar with our population
and to tailor the content to the
needs of the students and their
language levels. The interactive
quality of the presentation was
thought-provoking and reinforced
the sense of control that some
students can feel is lost in their lives.
It was a pleasure to meet you
and we look forward to working
together again in the future.
Nora Rodriguez, MS, LCSW
Social Worker
Lake Drive Program
♦♦♦♦
Ocean County
To: Karen Bright, Coordinator
Thank you Karen for your
unbelievable support over the past
years. I could not have made it
through many of our toughest
moments without your guidance;
I was a better administrator for it!
Best wishes to you for a very slow
work world because that means
everyone is okay!!!
Laura Wheaton
Jackson District Director of
Guidance, K-12
♦♦♦♦
6
Kim Conti
Director of Special Services
Township of Union Public Schools
♦♦♦♦
Warren County
To: Darrell Buckner, Coordinator
I would like to take this opportunity to
express my appreciation for the efforts
of the Traumatic Loss Coalition (TLC)
under your guidance during last week’s
crisis. The death of a student is always
a time of considerable turmoil, and
the guidance provided by TLC, and
you specifically, was critical in ensuring
our school community was supported
appropriately and the proper referrals
made.
Your willingness to provide John
Sarcone, Principal, and me with
guidance and gentle direction
was greatly appreciated. Equally
appreciated was the follow-through
you provided with each of us over
the course of the week every evening
in anticipation of the needs for the
following day.
Having never experienced a loss
such as our student’s death and
the interventions needing to be
implemented, I was greatly relieved and
grateful for your constant presence and
guidance. The work of the TLC Team
was superb, and the feedback from the
school community reflects this positive
sentiment.
Please accept my deepest gratitude
for your efforts. While I hope that
your services will never again be
needed, it’s reassuring to know
that they are just a phone call
away should the need arise.
Sincerely,
Michael Reinknecht
Director of Special Services
Hackettstown School District
♦♦♦♦
To: Darrell Buckner, Coordinator
Please accept my sincere thanks and
appreciation for the service you
provided to Hackettstown School
District during our time of crisis.
There were many offers of
professional support that were
provided, but none were more
valuable than that provided by the
Traumatic Loss Coalition (TLC). Your
behind the scenes support and
guidance provided to our professional
staff was invaluable. This was the
first traumatic loss experienced
by many of our staff members
and your guidance, direction and
support provided them with the
ability to perform their duties in a
professionally appropriate fashion.
On a personal note, I had the
opportunity of speaking with you
at the March 6 Celebration of Life
at our high school gymnasium. Your
tender and compassionate presence
and demeanor provided me with
immediate personal relief. Words
cannot express the power of your
presence. I was comforted and your
words allowed me to know there
was light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you, Darryl for your
professional support and friendship;
it is greatly valued. My very best to
you.
Sincerely,
Robert K. Gratz
Superintendent of Schools
Hackettstown Public Schools
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Suicide Prevention
The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
Widely Used Screening Tool Shown to Successfully Predict Suicide Attempts
The continuing national and international tragedy of suicide has spurred substantial prevention efforts. Lack of effective
screening and identification of persons at risk is an obstacle to effective prevention. An evidence-supported, low-burden
solution is The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), a screening tool developed by multiple institutions,
including Columbia University, with National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) support as predicted suicide attempts-one
of the foremost national priorities for prevention.
Key Points
• Demonstrated ability to predict suicide attempts in suicidal and non-suicidal individuals
• The CDC adopted Columbia definitions of suicidal ideation and behavior
• Field-use ready: mental health training not required to administer; chaplains to first responders
• Gathers key data to help direct limited resources to persons most in need
• Track record of many millions of administrations
• Available in 103 languages
• Electronic self-report is available and widely used
The Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Program (TLC) has partnered with Kelly Posner, PhD, to begin a systematic
implementation of the C-SSRS in school and community programs serving children, teens and young adults throughout
the state. This makes NJ the first state to focus its efforts primarily on statewide implementation of the C-SSRS targeting
youth-serving individuals.
On April 2, a workshop in the implementation of the
C-SSRS was provided in Monmouth County. There were 95
individuals attending the workshop led by Dr. Posner.
A webinar was provided on April 3, and over 150 attended
from NJ. Attendees at both of these trainings included school
personnel, clinicians in community programs, nurses, social
service agency personnel, juvenile justice personnel, law
enforcement, clergy, college and university counselors and
others working closely with youth. A third webinar was held
on April 17.
In addition to the webinars, three workshops in implementing
the C-SSRS will be held:
April 30 – two trainings
Central Region Training at the Middlesex Fire Academy
at 9:30-11:00 am
Northern Regional Training at Sussex County Technical
School at 1:30-3:00 pm
May 15 – one training
Southern Regional Training at Southern Regional
Institute and ETTC at 1:00-2:30 pm
***Webinars provide an overview of the C-SSRS and trainings
provide information on implementation of the tool.
Left to right: Steven J. Horvath, Asst. Director, Monmouth County Mental
Health & Addiction Services; Charles D. Brown, III, Director Monmouth
County Department of Human Services; James Romer, Director Monmouth
County Psychiatric Screening; Donna Amundson, Program Manager,
UMDNJ-UBHC Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Program; Kelly Posner,
PhD, Director, Center for Suicide Risk Assessment, Columbia University/
NY State Psychiatric Institute; Barry Johnson, Director, Monmouth County
Mental Health & Addiction Services; George Scott, TLC Coordinator for
Middlesex and Monmouth Counties
7
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Sources of Strength
The TLC will continue to bring the Sources of Strength Peer Leader
Program to schools in the 2012-2013 school years.
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 support; Hope, Help
and Strength messages use local voices
and faces to saturate local schools and
communities with stories of resiliency
instead of trauma.
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 risktaking 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 Best
Practices Registry and is presently being evaluated for
inclusion in the SPRC National Registry of Evidenced Based
Programs and Practices.
Amy Jacob, LCSW, and Donna Amundson
are certified to train the Sources of Strength
Curriculum to Peer Leaders and Adult Advisors,
and two more trainers will begin their provisional
certification this summer.
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
Sources of Strength is presently being implemented in eight
(8) NJ schools: Secaucus High School; Sparta High School
and Middle Schools; Long Branch High School; Wall High
School; Cinnaminson High School; Princeton High School
and Cherry Hill East High School.
♦♦♦♦
Updates from SOS Schools
Cinnaminson High School
Peer leaders coordinated a school-wide paper chain activity.
The students cut a paper chain link for each person in the
building including students, faculty, cafeteria workers, and
office and maintenance personnel. Everyone wrote who or
what was their own source of strength. The peer leaders
then stapled together the chain and hung it in the front
hallway for all to see.
Sparta High School
Sparta High School Peer Leaders have started a Facebook
page and are getting inspirational quotes from students
to be read during morning announcements. Their team is
large and they have decided to divide it into 7 groups of 10
to more effectively take the ideas they are generating and
move them forward into action steps forward.
Wall High School
Wall High School Adult Advisors and Peer Leaders have
continued to meet every other week. They have worked on
several action steps including raising money to help 2 former
Wall HS students produce a short-film for suicide prevention.
In February the Peer Leaders raised $400 for this project. We
hope to see this film entered into the upcoming Film Festival
hosted by TLC and Emotion Technology!
The Peer Leaders have also been focusing on one of the
Sources of Strength – Generosity and have developed a peerbuddy program where students are meeting once a week
with multiply-disabled students to play games, and interact.
The purpose of this activity was to show others that we all
have sources of strength and to give ideas to those who
struggle to find their own during difficult time.
Congratulations to these and the other Peer Leader Teams
that are involved in the Sources of Strength Program. We
look forward to hearing more about your action steps as
you move forward.
8
Wall High School Peer Leader & Adult Advisor Teams
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Sources of Strength
Out of the Darkness
Campus Walks
Community Implementation
Project
Mark LoMurray, Founder and
Executive Director of the Sources
of Strength Program and his son
Scott, Director of Communication
and National Trainer, spent 2 days in
January working with the TLC and
stakeholders from various groups
around the state that serve high risk
teens and young adults. The purpose
of these meetings was to talk about
and plan community implementation
of Sources of Strength.
Adult stakeholders that work with
the following teen and young adult
groups were represented: Military
family groups, Latino youth, LGBT
youth, Juvenile Justice youth, and
Colleges and Universities.
Taking Place in New
Jersey this Spring
The Out of the Darkness Campus walks are 3-5 mile walks taking place in
communities across the country, with the proceeds benefitting the American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). High Schools and College
Campuses nationwide are sponsoring walks in their communities. The
Campus Walks are a wonderful way to safely memorialize a peer that has
died by suicide while at the same time raising money for AFSP’s vital research
and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national
awareness about depression and suicide and provide support for survivors of
suicide loss. The schools who sponsor a walk receive 50% of the proceeds
to implement AFSP suicide prevention programs including the Interactive
Screening Program or the More Than Sad video series.
Planning for the event is simple. There is a participant packet available
online that walks you through the steps from planning to hosting the walk
including sample letters that can be used in an email writing campaign
for sponsorships. The AFSP NJ staff is also extremely helpful in making the
process easy and your event successful. Please contact Jennilee Bulkley at
732-428-7344 [email protected] if you are interested in sponsoring a Campus
Walk and visit afsp.org for more information.
NJ Walks
Scott & Mark LoMurray
with Juvenile Justice Leadership Staff
We thank those that generously gave
of their time to work with us offering
their ideas and feedback. Stay tuned
for more information as we move this
project forward.
Montclair State University held a walk on 3/24 on the Montclair State
Campus Quad. There were 125 participants and $1,600 was raised.
Congratulations Montclair State!
Upcoming Walks
Bergen Community College – April 20th – Campus Grounds, Paramus
William Paterson University – April 29th – Zanfino Plaza, Wayne
Red Bank Regional High School – May 8 – RB Regional Track, Little Silver
♦♦♦♦
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
(AFSP) 2012 Out of the Darkness Overnight
Walk To Be Held in San Francisco June 9-10
The Out of the Darkness Overnight is a walk like no other. It’s an 18-mile
journey through the night, from dusk until dawn where a courageous
community of men and women, youth and young adults will break the
silence and bring the issues of depression and suicide into the light. Join
AFSP on June 9-10, 2012 as thousands of Walkers come together in San
Francisco, CA - a city rich with history and filled with the energy that we
know will fuel our quest for awareness and prevention.
For more information, visit www.afsp.org.
9
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Training…
New TLC Initiatives…
New Suicide PreventionIntervention-Postvention
Training Programs for School
and Community Providers
TLC is offering a number of new
training initiatives. These programs
can be found on the SPRC/AFSP
Best Practice Registry. http://www.
sprc.org/bpr Most of these trainings
are available now and others will
be available in June. Please contact
Donna Amundson for information on
any of these programs.
Assessing and
Managing Suicide
Risk for Mental
Health Professionals
Clinicians have expressed a critical
need for more training to assist them
with assessing, treating and managing
suicidal patients. The Suicide Prevention
Resource Center (SPRC) has designed a
professional training to meet this need.
SPRC developed a one-day workshop
based on a set of core competencies
for assessing and managing suicide
risk identified by leading clinician
researchers.
TLC is working with the Education
Development Center to certify 12
TLC trainers to teach the AMSR
curriculum throughout NJ. The
one-day workshop for social workers,
licensed counselors, psychologists and
psychiatrists 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.
This curriculum has been delivered
to approximately 10,000 mental
health professionals in the U.S. and
abroad since 2007. Evaluation results
indicate not only gains in
clinicians’ knowledge, but
10
also increases in their confidence
and competence in assessing and
managing suicidal patients.
CONNECT Prevention/
Intervention
TLC is also adding the CONNECT
Prevention/Intervention Training.
This training is a community-based
model that employs a collaborative
approach that helps individuals learn
to recognize warning signs early and
improve their skills in responding to
suicide attempts and threats.
healing with the group. This powerful
portrayal was a generous gift to the
attendees who are richer in their
understanding of the aftermath of
suicide for families and communities.
This team will now bring the training
forward to schools and communities
throughout NJ in a durable and
sustainable way. The team is certified
to teach the Connect Postvention
Protocols that are specific to school
personnel, social service agency
personnel, funeral directors, clergy
and mental health and substance
abuse agency personnel. While the
Participants will work across systems
to address community risk and
protective factors, coordinate services
and improve access to care to prevent
suicide. This training will be available to
school personnel, community members
(gatekeepers), social service agency
staff, faith leaders, and primary care
physicians and nurses.
TLC Training Team
certified to bring the
Connect Postvention
Program to NJ
Suicide can have a devastating impact
on a community or organization
especially if there aren’t policies and
procedures in place for responding to
a suicide death. Connect postvention
training, a National Best Practice
program, is offered as a proactive
planning tool to promote healing and
reduce risk in the event of a suicide. It includes best practices on how
to coordinate a safe and supportive
response to a suicide. The training
encourages collaboration between
systems and outlines specific protocols
for those involved in postvention
depending on their roles and
disciplines.
Seven members of the TLC training
team were recently certified as trainers
in the Connect Postvention Program.
They attended a four-day training
conducted by Ann Duckless from
NAMI New Hampshire. Lisa Schenke,
the mother of a son who took his life
in 2008, shared her story of grief and
TLC -Connect training team (left to right) Ken Verni, Donna Amundson,
Ann Duckless, (Connect Trainer),
Barbara Maronski, Vanessa Arias,
Amy Jacob, George Scott and
Chris Miller (not pictured).
training focuses on youth and young
adult suicide, the skills learned apply
to all ages.
This program is compatible with the
Post Traumatic Stress Management
Training (PTSM) that is offered to
school and community crisis team
members each year by the TLC and
taught by Robert Macy, PhD.
For information on bringing the
Connect Prevention/Intervention or
Postvention Trainings to your school,
agency or organization, please contact
Nancy Baird at 732-235-2810.
For more information on the Connect
Project go to www.naminh.org.
TLC Continues to
offer Chronological
Assessment of
Suicide Events (CASE)
Approach Training
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
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 workshop 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 learn
to effectively employ another validity
technique the Behavioral Incident
to help the client create a verbal
videotape (the cornerstone of the
CASE Approach) to explore the client’s
suicidal ideation, behavior, planning
and intent (Presenting Suicide Events).
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 about a
client’s “real” intent. To complete this
workshop, trainees will be introduced
to the last two regions of the CASE
Approach (Past Suicide Events and
Immediate Suicide Events) through the
use of didactics and videotape.
PhD., focuses on suicide postvention
protocols. At the end of the day,
trainees were able to respond to a
suicide with evidence-based public
health/mental health intervention
protocols incorporating ethnocultural,
gender and developmental specificity.
Trainings Well
Received…
9th Annual Suicide
Prevention Conference
Post Traumatic Stress
Management Training and
Psychological First Aid
Robert D. Macy, PhD, Executive
Director of the Boston Center for
Trauma Psychology, presented his 16
Hour Certificate Course for School
& Community Based Responders on
October 6 and 7, 2011. The Post
Traumatic Stress Management Training
and Psychological First Aid training was
attended by 202. This PTSM model
was developed and tested extensively
in the field over the last 10 years by
Dr. Macy. The series includes the most
current components of psychological
first aid, psychosocial stabilization and
resiliency enhancement. Attendees
were taught the skills used to identify,
stabilize and augment the psychosocial
needs of children, adolescents and
young adults who have been exposed
to life threatening events including
traumatic loss from suicide, homicide,
accidents, illness, as well as larger
incidents such as disasters.
This PTSM program has been approved
for six (6) credits as a NJ Disaster and
Terrorism Branch DRCC Recertification
Course. To date there are 2,198
individuals trained in PTSM in schools
and communities across the state.
Advanced PTSM Training:
Protocols for Response to
Suicide
The venue had to be changed to
accommodate more people, and on
January 13, 168 certified in the Basic
PTSM training came to the Imperia
for the Advanced PTSM Training:
Protocols for Response to Suicide. This
training developed by Robert D. Macy,
Thomas Joiner, PhD
Why People Die by Suicide, the Traumatic
Loss Coalitions’ 9th Annual Suicide
Prevention Conference, was well received
on December 13 as evidenced by the
acclaims of the 210 who attended. Dr.
Thomas Joiner engaged the audience
with his knowledge and expertise
lending itself to broadening their field’s
perspectives on suicidal behavior. The
attendees, comprised of mental health
clinicians; school crisis counselors; social
agency staff; juvenile justice personnel;
screeners; school administrators; school
nurses; law enforcement and clergy, were
also appreciative that the Self Esteem
Shop was again the on-site bookstore
at the conference. Dr. Joiner’s books
and a myriad of up-to-date therapeutic
resources were displayed for purchase.
As has been the practice for the past
several years, the TLC presents an
award during their annual conference
to someone who has shown leadership
and commitment raising awareness
about mental health issues and suicide
prevention. This year the TLC honored
James Dao, a correspondent with the
NY Times and a New Jersey resident,
by presenting him with the Traumatic
Loss Coalition’s Suicide Prevention
Award. Mr. Dao’s sensitive and
powerful reporting on suicide
and mental health disorders,
11
Save the
Dates
for Future
Training
The next series of the three
day Post Traumatic Stress
Management (PTSM)
training will be held in two
regions of the state.
•Richard Stockton
College in Pomona
will host the training for
the southern counties at
its Campus Center. Save
the dates of October
22 and 23, 2012 for Dr.
Macy’s 16 Hour Certificate
Course, Post Traumatic
Stress Management
Training and Psychological
First Aid. The Advanced
PTSM Training: Protocols
for Response to Suicide
will be offered in January
2013 at the same
location.
•The Imperia
Conference Center
in Somerset will be the
site for this training for
the northern and central
counties. Save the dates
of October 24 and 25,
2012 for Dr. Macy’s 16
Hour Certificate Course,
Post Traumatic Stress
Management Training
and Psychological First
Aid. The Advanced PTSM
Training: Protocols for
Response to Suicide will
be offered in January 2013
at the same location.
12
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
especially in the military population, has
a message that speaks to everyone and
has the potential to save lives. Jeff Tolvin,
Director of Communications for UMDNJ,
accepted this award for Mr. Dao who was
on assignment and could not be present.
Girl Scouts Present
Information on
Depression to
Their Peers
More Than Sad Video
topic using safe messaging in their
talk and encouraging the students to
reach out for help if they or a friend
were struggling with depression.
The girls handed out Lifesaver candy
as a reminder to the students that
they are all important in reaching
out to a peer who is struggling with
depression as it could save a life.
It should also be noted that both
Madeline and Deja have participated
in the Out of the Darkness Walk.
We are very impressed and grateful
to these two caring and proactive
teenagers for joining the battle to raise
awareness about mental health issues,
decrease stigma, prevent suicide and
save lives. Well done, Girls!
“Bully” documentary
dangerously
oversimplifies the
connection between
bullying and suicide…
Deja, Jennilee and Madeline
TLC and AFSP NJ were asked to
participate in a presentation of the
More Than Sad video led by two girl
scouts from Troop 40416 in Linden,
NJ as a project to achieve their Silver
Award.
Deja Graeper and Madeline LaTempa
decided to sponsor a showing of
the More Than Sad video for their
8th grade classmates at McManus
Middle School to raise awareness
of the problem of teen depression.
The girls assembled a panel of adults
including Donna Amundson (TLC)
and Jennilee Bulkley (AFSP NJ) and
two counselors from the school to
answer questions. Jennilee worked
with the girls during the year helping
them prepare for the presentations.
The girls did a wonderful job
of setting up the program and
explaining the importance of the
Please see the link below to an
article entitled: “The Problem
With Bully: The new documentary
dangerously oversimplifies the
connection between bullying and
suicide.”
http://www.slate.com/articles/
news_and_politics/bulle/2012/03/
bully_documentary_lee_hirsch_s_
film_dangerously_oversimplifies_the_
connection_between_bullying_and_
suicide_.html?wpisrc=twitter_socialflow
There are important points made in
this article about the complexity of
suicide and the need for safe and
correct messaging about bullying and
suicide.
• Using stories, pictures or
biographies of youth who were
bullied and subsequently killed
themselves can inadvertently
send a message to vulnerable
youth that says: “When you
are being bullied, suicide is a
way to deal with the problem.”
Telling the story of youth who
were bullied and found better
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
alternatives to dealing with the
problem is a safer message.
• Closely connecting bullying
and suicide gives the message
that bullying is a direct and
main cause of suicide. Suicide
is a complicated behavior, with
multifaceted causes. To make
an overly simplistic link between
bullying and suicide is erroneous
and can inadvertently influence
other vulnerable youth to imitate
the behavior.
• In talking about suicide in these
simplistic cause and effect
ways, we miss an important
opportunity to inform youth
about the diverse underlying
causes of suicide such as the
presence of depression or other
mental health issues at the time
of the suicide.
• Last, there is ample evidence
that inappropriate messaging
about suicide can have untoward
consequences. National and
international recommendations
for media reports of suicide have
been developed, which argue
against the types of messages
that seem to have emerged in
some anti-bullying programs.
(See the document: Reporting
on Suicide: Recommendations for
the Media which can be accessed
on the American Foundation for
Suicide Prevention website at
www.afsp.org).
SOS Signs of Suicide
Prevention Program
Booster Program for
Students Graduating
High School
The SOS Signs of Suicide® Booster
Program is a “refresher course” for
students preparing for life beyond
high school, teaching them how
to identify and respond to serious
depression and potential suicidality
in themselves or a friend. The SOS
Booster program “graduates”
the ACT® acronym to be more
relevant for individuals approaching
adulthood, replacing the Tell in
ACT: Acknowledge, Care, Tell with
Treatment—Help the person you are
concerned about get to treatment.
Lastly, the program familiarizes
students with college and communitybased mental health services.
Social Media Project
We’re partnering with Emotion
Technology from Austin, TX and the
2nd Floor Youth Helpline to create
a NJ Youth & Young Adult Suicide
Prevention initiative. In efforts to
reach youth and young adults (ages
13-25) in ways that are relevant
and meaningful, we are utilizing
social media and online tools to
create a space and experience that is
accessible, safe and impactful.
TLC and Emotion Technology are
launching a Media Festival next
month and are looking for youthserving organizations to partner
with to help get the message out!
The Media Festival, hosted on our
forthcoming website and social
media sites, will give participants the
opportunity to get creative, learn
about social media use, and develop
meaningful and relevant messaging.
Entries will include written stories,
videos, visual arts, etc. They will
cover a range of topics with a focus
on suicide prevention, mental health,
hope, and strength messaging as well
as the importance of help-seeking
when needed.
Festival entries will then be at the
core of this peer-to-peer project and
website, living online for others to
view and interact with. This is an
exciting time for us to learn from
the youth and young adults we’re
working with and help them learn
from each other.
We are presently working with a
group of 11 teens and young adults
who are part of our Advisory Team.
We meet via phone conferencing.
We want to thank the Advisory Team
for their time, great ideas and passion
for raising awareness about mental
health issues and suicide prevention.
For more information or to get
involved in the festival please contact
Kalee Gower at 281-723-2403, or
[email protected].
Grief Support Programs
Children and Teens
(continued from page 3)
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/
Good Grief, Inc.,
Morristown, N.J. (908) 5221999
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.
http://good-grief.org/
Sesame Workshop
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.
http://www.
sesameworkshop.org/
13
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Welcome to 2NDFLOOR
2NDFLOOR is 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.
If you are between the age of 10 and 24, live in New Jersey, and need to talk about an issue or problem that you
are facing call 2NDFLOOR at (888) 222-2228.
And, if you aren’t from New Jersey, please call your local United Way or 211 for assistance and support.
But remember, if you have an emergency and need police or medical assistance, always immediately call your
local police or dial 911.
And, if you aren’t ready to talk but are looking for support, post a message at 2NDFLOOR stuff. The message board
will provide you with ideas, thoughts and insight from 2NDFLOOR staff as well as from your peers.
And remember, if you have an emergency, always dial 911.
New Stuff
2NDFLOOR is one number, one place for you to call or write about both everyday AND serious problems.
• Bullying
• Family problems
• Depression/Anxiety
• Friend/peer problems
• Dating
• Sex and Sexuality
• School struggles
• Substance Abuse
• Family/dating abuse
• Health
• Basic needs
Sometimes just talking about a problem helps to ease the pain, stress and burden.
2NDFLOOR is confidential and anonymous and we’re here 24/7.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL8yP7_Qy6I
Looking for help with an issue?
If you can’t get to the phone, try our updated Resource Page!
14
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Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Imagine is a year-round grief support center for children and adults located in
Westfield NJ and serving all surrounding communities. Founded in 2011 as a
nonprofit corporation, we offer peer grief support programs for children and their
parents dealing with the loss of a family member due to death.
Contact us at: [email protected] or 908-264-3100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cost to attend Imagine? Imagine peer support groups are free for all children and families for as long
as they need. Because the death of a family member often brings financial instability, Imagine does not charge a
fee to families.
Is this a counseling program? Is it therapy? Imagine is a peer-support group program, not counseling or
therapy. Groups are facilitated by trained adult volunteers and overseen by Imagine clinical staff. Imagine support
groups are a wonderful complement for children who are in counseling.
How many weeks is the program? Imagine peer support groups run year-round. Families can join any time and
stay as long as needed.
When do the groups meet? Groups meet on weekday evenings every other week with pizza dinner at 6:30
PM. Opening Circle is 6:45 PM and the groups run until 8:15 PM.
Do the children meet in the same groups with the parents? Children meet in small groups no larger than
ten per group with other children their same age. Parent groups run concurrently and meet separately from the
children and teen support groups.
What is the volunteer commitment? Volunteers make a yearlong commitment to volunteering every other
week from 5:45 PM – 9:15 PM.
What kind of background do I need to have to be a volunteer? Volunteers come from all walks of life
and need no special background other than a willingness to listen, a heart inclined to serve, and the ability to be
with children and adults in pain without trying to fix, solve or give advice.
What if I’ve had a recent loss? May I still volunteer? We ask that it be at least six months to a year since
you have suffered a significant loss of your own before you volunteer. All volunteers will attend an orientation and
interview with Imagine clinical staff to determine the best fit and time to volunteer after a loss.
How old do you have to be to volunteer? Volunteer Facilitators must be 21 years of age and up. In the fall
of 2012 we will be training Teen Facilitators to co-facilitate groups for the 3-5 year old children.
When and how long is the training? The first volunteer facilitator training was March 23-26. For further
information please contact [email protected].
What if I know a family or child that needs support? Please share information about Imagine with any family
you know who would benefit from participation in Imagine. Imagine does not contact families directly.
Will there be programs to support parents who lost adult children? Free year-round professionally
run support groups are available immediately for adults without school–age children through the Center for Life
Transition in Chatham. As we grow we will be able to offer support groups for adults without school-age children
who are coping with the death of a spouse, parent, adult child or other significant person.
15
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Do You Know Children
Who Struggle With:
√Challenging behavior
at home or school?
√Not going to school?
√Running away?
√Thinking or talking
about death or suicide?
√Sadness or worries?
√Making or keeping friends?
√Use of alcohol or drugs?
√Harmful behavior to self
or others?
√Changes in eating or
sleeping habits?
There is help available!
Through New Jersey’s Child Behavioral Health Services, families can achieve
better outcomes. With the help of services, children are more likely to:
Remain in their community
Receive crisis stabilization in their communities
Receive individualized care planning and support with their families
Do better in school
Have improved social functioning
Have shorter lengths of stay in out-of-home treatment settings
For more information about
Child Behavioral Health Services
visit our Web site:
www.nj.gov/dcf
Toll-Free Access Line
1-877-652-7624
(Multi-lingual Language Line available)
16
24 hours-a-day, 7 days a week
Services are County-Based
Traumatic
Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
In theLoss
Spotlight…
In the Spotlight –
Our Wonderful TLC Coordinators
Our Wonderful TLC Coordinators
Bergen County
Sue Heguy
The Traumatic Loss Coalition in
Bergen County continues to expand
and train the Lead Response Team
(LRT). This winter we were happy
to report that several new members
have joined our Bergen County
Team. About 85% of Bergen’s LRT
have now been trained by Robert
Macy, Ph.D., in Post Traumatic Stress
Management. On average, about
25-30 members attend our coalition
meetings every month.
On December 1, Maria Reynolds,
MA, from Care Plus NJ, did a great
presentation for our Bergen Coalition.
Ms. Reynolds’ presentation was
on Domestic Violence which is a
preventable public health issue
affecting more than 25 million
Americans. Ms. Reynolds presented
an overview of domestic violence
as it exists in homes outside of
the view of law enforcement and
others. Attendees learned how
to identify, assess and treat the
victim, as well as review commonly
associated diagnoses. This up-to-date
knowledge was extremely helpful and
insightful for the school personnel,
clinicians, law enforcement officials,
social service agencies and child
welfare workers that make up the
Bergen County TLC.
I would like to thank my hard
working LRT members who have
dedicated their time and talent to
helping out in our schools over the
past few months after a traumatic
loss. Without the commitment of
our strong Bergen County team, our
trauma responses would not have
been as prepared and successful in
nature.
The March 1 coalition meeting
featured Joan Walpole, LAC, Care Plus
NJ’s Program Manager of the Bergen
County juvenile Fire Prevention
program and Rich Silvia, Senior
Investigator for the Major Crime
Squad for Bergen County Prosecutor’s
office and the Fire Protection
Inspector, Fire Sub-Code Official
and Fire Marshal for Saddle River,
NJ. They presented an overview of
Juvenile fire setting behaviors. They
discussed the level of risk and how we
can help prevent future fire setting
behaviors in our youth.
Lastly, many thanks to our County
Superintendents/Principals and
direct supervisors who understand
the mission of the TLC and the
importance of mutual aid and have
so kindly lent us their staff members
as needed to participate in our
Bergen County crisis responses.
Important Dates for the remaining
school year are our Bergen County
TLC Coalition Meetings:
May 17, 2012 and June 7, 2012.
Submitted by Sue Heguy,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Burlington County
Elfrieda Francis
The Burlington County Traumatic
Loss Coalition had four members
attend the 2-day Post Traumatic
Stress Management Training and
Psychological First Aid on October
6-7, 2011 and one day Advanced
PTSM in Suicide Response Protocols
on January 13, 2012. The trainings
demonstrated the realistic approaches
to dealing with incidents of traumatic
loss. It was also a great opportunity
to network with other county TLC
members and professionals in the
field of grief and loss.
At our November 10, 2011 coalition
meeting, CONTACT of Burlington
County did a presentation on How
to Support Sexual Assault Victims
in Crisis. The workshop included
discussion on the dynamics of sexual
assault and sexual violence in our
community. It provided coalition
members with skills in order to
support survivors of sexual violence
through the healing process.
CONTACT of Burlington County is
a great resource, assisting people
during difficult periods in their lives.
Josephine Mercantini-Bocci, Facilitator
presented on “The Burlington
County School Crisis Response Team
(BCSCRT)- Why The Team Was
Formed, What They Do and What
Type Of Services Are Available to the
Schools” at the March 6 coalition
meeting.
On May 10, 2012 the Burlington
County TLC and Josephine
Mercantini-Bocci, BCSCRT, will be
hosting our 2nd Annual Resource
Fair. The guest speaker for the event
will be Patricia Miller, Director of
Children’s Mobile Response, from
the Lester A. Drenk Behavioral Health
Center. For additional information on
the Resource Fair, please contact me.
I want to thank Josephine, Shirfa
Rufo Simpson from Drenk Behavioral
Health, and the Traumatic Loss
Coalition for their continued
dedication in assisting our children
and families during traumatic events.
I want to give credit to all the
professional organizations
in Burlington County who
17
In the Spotlight –
Our Wonderful TLC Coordinators
come together in a crisis. Their
countless hours of education and
training exercises prepare them
to activate their team to respond
immediately and appropriately with
great professionalism.
Our coalition meetings are held at
the Education Service Unit Satellite
Office at 790 Woodlane Road in
Westampton. For more information
about the Burlington County
Traumatic Loss Coalition, you can
contact me.
I am happy to share that I have been
chosen from a large number of wellqualified candidates to be part of the
Addiction Counselor Training (ACT)
at the Rutgers University Center of
Alcohol Studies and the School of
Social Work. The program’s primary
goal is to educate masters-level
clinicians who wish to prepare for
licensing in their profession and as
Addictions Counselors (LCADC).
Submitted by Frieda Francis
(609) 265-5538,
[email protected]
Camden County
Barbara Maronski
Roger Staubach, Hall of Fame Football
Player, stated “In business or in
football, it takes a lot of unspectacular
preparation to produce spectacular
results.” This is true of the Camden
County TLC as well as all the other
TLCs in counties throughout the
state. Through our Suicide Prevention
trainings; networking meetings; Lead
Response Team practice meetings;
Trauma Response trainings and
resource sharing, we come together
to prepare ourselves to best serve
our youth. Additionally, we work
on building our skills to better serve
youth in improving their
mental health and building
18
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
their protective factors in an effort
to increase their health and well
being. The confetti may not fall on
us as we take time out of our already
busy schedules to participate in these
functions. We know by participating
we increase the likelihood of
producing positive results for our
youth. Our unspectacular preparation
will hopefully give rise to the confetti
falling on our youth.
The Camden County School Crisis
Response Team, a collaboration
between TLC’s Lead Response Team
and Camden County Educational
Services Commission, has responded
to a number of incidents since July
of last year. The incidents have
included sudden deaths of students
and teachers by illness, homicide
and vehicular accidents. During
our responses, we have observed
positive results by being prepared
and implementing effective plans in
the wake of these losses. After post
intervention reviews, the following
were identified as strengths in
the responses: schools having a
plan in place; contacting faculty
immediately; opening the school for
students and community despite it
being in summer session; facilitating
classroom orientations; setting up
faculty safe rooms and providing
post interventions several weeks
later for those most impacted. Based
on individuals who participated
in stabilization groups, classroom
orientations, individual psychological
first aid, or coping groups after
the incidents, we found that
approximately 88% demonstrated a
decrease in their level of distress, and
86% were able to identify at least one
coping resource they would use after
the incident.
On behalf of the TLC, I would like
to thank the following individuals
who were able to respond to these
incidents and their schools and
agencies for supporting their efforts:
Seerojini Adams, Center for Family
Services; Joanne Comninos, Salem
County TLC Coordinator; Armando
D’Angelo, Center for Family Services,
Ginny DeLong, Center for Family
Services; Sharon Garnier, Haddonfield
High School; Bonnie Hazzard,
Center for Family Services; Teri
Kakaley, Waterford Township; Nancy
Lubars, Center for Family Services;
Kim McDermott, Center for Family
Services and Winslow Township High
School; Monica Shore, Waterford
Township; Elvira Smith, Cumberland
County TLC Coordinator and Jan
Vizoco, Highland Regional High
School. I would also like to thank
all the members of the team that
support each other even when
they cannot directly respond to an
incident.
The Camden County TLC Networking
meetings act as a community
learning collaborative bringing
together various schools and agencies
in an effort to network and learn from
each other on how to better serve
our youth. In September, the group
came together to learn about the
resources in the area. A special thanks
to Camden County Youth Advocate
Program; Brookfield Schools; The
Bridge; Center for Family Services’
MST Program; Twilight Program at
Collingswood High School; Hampton
Academy; Camden County Care
Management Organization; C/O
Camden County Partnership for
Children and Lori Gersh, author of
“Good Manners are Contagious”,
for sharing valuable information. In
December, Ann-Michele Corbi Potvin,
Dance Movement Therapist and Amy
Romaine, Art Therapist, from Camden
County PALS: Peace: A Learned
Solution, provided information on
the impact of domestic violence
on children. PALS is a creative arts
program for children between the
ages of 3 and 12 who have been
exposed to domestic violence. In
addition, they provided hands
on activities that included dance/
movement and art to use when
working with children of domestic
violence and other traumas. The
January meeting was filled with
information on working with children
who experience anxiety. Ed Travis,
Brookfield Schools, provided valuable
information on children and anxiety.
The group walked away with some
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
concrete tools to use when working
with children. We were all thankful
for the guided imagery exercise
he conducted at the conclusion of
the workshop. A special thanks to
all our presenters for sharing their
knowledge and expertise.
The foundation of the Camden
County TLC is within the membership
of those who participate. A special
thanks goes to the following schools
and agencies who have participated
in the first half of the school year:
Ann Mullen Middle School; Audubon
Schools; Berlin Borough Community
School; The Bridge; Brookfield
Schools; Camden Catholic High
School; Camden County Family
Court; Camden County Office of
Education; Castle Program; Camden
County Partnership for Children;
Center for Family Services; CFS
Head Start; Cherry Hill School
District; Clementon Elementary
School; Collingswood Public
Schools; Community Planning
and Advocacy Council; Division of
Youth and Family Services; Freedom
Academy; Gibbsboro Schools;
Gloucester Township School District;
Haddonfield School District; Hampton
Academy; Kennedy Health Systems;
Lawnside Public School; Oaklyn
Public School; Pine Hill Schools’
Princeton House; Runnemede School
District; Salem County Special
Services; Stratford Schools; Twin
Oaks; Victim Witness Advocacy:
Camden County Prosecutor’s Office;
Voorhees School District; Waterford
Township Public Schools; West Berlin
Schools and Camden County Youth
Advocate Program.
On behalf of the TLC, I would like
to take this time to recognize two
important people in the TLC Network
who have recently resigned from
their current positions to move onto
new quests. A special thanks to Chuck
Steinmetz, Camden County Mental
Health Administrator, for all his work
with the TLC and Camden County
Mental Health. Since the start of TLC,
Chuck has been a great support. He
is well known for his advocacy in
breaking down the stigma of mental
health and bringing services to the
In the Spotlight –
county. Chuck’s strength was in
bringing together organizations to
join forces in an effort to better serve
our community. He was instrumental
in organizing the collaboration of
trauma response teams in Camden
County and spear heading a suicide
prevention initiative. We wish him
well in the future.
We would also like to recognize
Randy Miller, Nurse Manager of the
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit
for Kennedy Health Systems. As of
February 20th, she has taken on a
new position within Kennedy. Randy
has been a driving force in breaking
down the walls of isolation for those
who experience depression. She
is best known for her community
advocacy through education and
support. She has been dedicated
to raising the standard for suicide
prevention in our community. Again,
we thank both Chuck and Randy for
all their support and guidance.
I would also like to thank Camden
County Educational Services
Commission for use of your
wonderful space for our TLC and
Response Team Meetings.
Our next meetings are as follows:
Traumatic Loss Coalition
Networking meetings (ALL ARE
WELCOME)
Location: Camden County
Educational Services Commission,
225 White Horse Ave. Clementon,
NJ 08021
Time: 8:30 to 11:00 am
The last meeting for this school
year will be held on May 15,
2012.
Camden County School Based
Crisis Team Practice meeting (TLC
Lead Responders and Camden
County Educational Services
Commission)
Location: Camden County
Educational Services Commission,
225 White Horse Ave. Clementon,
NJ 08021
Time: 11:00 -12:00
The last practice meeting will be
held on May 15, 2012.
Our Wonderful TLC Coordinators
To learn more about getting involved
in the Camden County TLC (being a
member or presenting at a meeting)
or further information, please feel free
to contact Barbara Maronski at (609)
230-8933 or email tlcfy@centerffs.
org.
Submitted by Barbara Maronski,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Cape May County
Chris Miller
Cape May County’s first TLC meeting
of this school year was held in
October. Compassionate Friends of
Cape May County presented to our
group regarding the local county
chapter of Compassionate Friends.
The mission of the Compassionate
Friends is to assist families toward the
positive resolution of grief following
the death of a child of any age and to
provide information to help others be
supportive. Each chapter, along with
the supporting National Office, is
committed to helping every bereaved
parent, sibling, or grandparent who
may walk through our doors or
contact us. Today more than 630
chapters serving all 50 states plus
Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico
offer friendship, understanding,
and hope to bereaved parents,
siblings, grandparents, and other
family members during the natural
grieving process after a child has
died. Around the world more than
30 countries have a Compassionate
Friends presence encircling the
globe with support so desperately
needed when the worst has
happened. Their website is: www.
compassionatefriends.org.
The TLC and Cape Counseling
Services staff were extremely
happy to have had the
opportunity to be trained
19
In the Spotlight –
Our Wonderful TLC Coordinators
by Dr. Shawn Shea in the CASE
Approach last October. Plans
continue for additional training in the
CASE Approach.
I am happy to report that
membership to our county TLC
continues to grow. The Center for
Family Services spoke at the January
5 coalition meeting about the Cape
May County Youth Shelter and their
Transitional Living Program for teen
girls. On April 19, Gilda’s Club will
present to the group regarding
their services. All meetings are held
at 1129 Rt. 9 South in Cape May
Court House. Please contact Chris if
interested in attending.
Schools or communities interested in
the QPR-Suicide Gatekeeper Training
can contact me for more information.
Submitted by Chris Miller,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Cumberland County
Elvira Smith
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
board room. Delshawn Santiago,
MHS, Cumberland County Resource
Specialist/Court Liaison from CGS
Family Partnership presented on
Community Resources. We learned
how she helps and the resources
available in our county.
vocational evaluations for the 14-21
year old age group who are on the
autism spectrum. This presentation
was a real eye-opener for those of
us in attendance who had no prior
knowledge of the services that JVS
provides for this population.
Save the date for the last coalition
meeting for this school year on
5-9-2012. I thank all the coalition
members for taking time out of
their busy schedules to attend the
meetings. We welcome additional
individuals interested in the
Cumberland County TLC or serving
on its Lead Response Team. For more
information, contact me at 856-3052138 or by email.
The month of February brought us
Donna Icovino, Family Advocate,
whose primary focus had been to
single-handedly reform New Jersey’s
crisis care system for children and
adults affected with developmental
disabilities and co-occurring mental
health and/or behavioral disorders
(dual diagnosis). Donna succeeded
in her efforts and educated us about
what legislation is current in this
arena throughout the state. In April,
Tyree Oredein, MPH, Programs
Supervisor and Health Education
and Training Specialist for The
Pride Connections Center of NJ and
Hudson Pride Connections returned
to us discussing issues of concern in
the GLBTQ population.
Submitted by Elvira Smith,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Essex County
Arlene O’Connell
On January 11, 2012, a representative
from the Cumberland County
Prosecutor’s Office gave a very
informative presentation on Bullying.
He also provided attendees with
the DVD developed by their office
entitled, “Choices, Decisions,
Consequences…Choices, Decisions,
Rewards,” that was released on 9-1911. This DVD targets high school
youth and aims to facilitate youth
movement towards healthy choices
through collaboration of government,
faith-based organizations, law
enforcement and the community.
All are invited to attend the
Cumberland County Traumatic
Loss Coalition for Youth meetings.
Meetings are held at South
Jersey Healthcare’s Fitness
Connection, second floor
20
If you’ve missed the Coalition
meetings in Essex County, you’ve
missed out on several interesting
speakers and their topics. In October,
Sherry A. Blair, from ISIS, Innovative
Specialists Inspirational Services, LLC
came to us. Her topic was: Are Drugs
the Answer? Exploring Alternatives
For Psychiatric Well-Being.
In this workshop we explored
avenues for addressing psychiatric
disorders without an independent
reliance on psychopharmacology.
Instead, a holistic approach was
explored drawing from Dr. Sandy
Newmark’s book ADHD Without
Drugs, a book that is highly
recommended reading.
Lauren Klein, MS, CRC and
Coordinator of Rehabilitation
Services at JVS, was our guest
speaker in December. Her discussion
enlightened us to the importance of
I offer a sincere thank you to each of
our speakers who have volunteered
their time and have shared their
expertise with us. We truly appreciate
your dedication to the mental health
professionals, school personnel, and
youth that we serve throughout Essex
County. We have had a busy few
months as a result of unexpected
losses that rocked several school
communities here in Essex. I would
like to extend my heart-felt thanks
to those members of the LRT who so
diligently and faithfully manage to
avail themselves whenever there is a
call.
Additionally, I want to express my
gratitude to all: school principals,
administrators, supervisors, and those
who allow in these emergencies
release time for our LRT members.
You all understand that this is a team
effort repeatedly proving that there
is no “I” in team. We cannot do what
we do, as well as we do, without
all of your efforts, cooperation, and
dedication. THANK YOU!
I would be remiss if I did not take this
opportunity to stress how important
is it for us to continually hone and
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
upgrade our skill sets by participating
in Lead Response Team meetings
that are held every other month.
It is at these LRT meetings that we
who are PTSM-trained bond with
our colleagues, practice table-top
scenarios of crises, share information
that is pertinent to our purpose, and
prepare ourselves for the inevitable.
Please make the commitment to
attend an LRT meeting whenever
possible so as to keep Essex County’s
team at the top of its game.
The next Lead Response Team
meeting is going to be on May 16.
All LRT meetings in Essex are held
at the offices of the Mental Health
Association, 33 South Fullerton
Avenue, Montclair. We start at 10
o’clock and finish by noon. Save the
date and please join us. Principals,
supervisors, and administrators are
welcome to join us at the table.
Submitted by Arlene O’Connell,
Coordinator of TLC,
[email protected]
Gloucester County
Barbara Maronski
“Motivated minds networking
together can be a powerful force
creating desirable outcomes, so
surround yourself with the best
possible influences while you
strive to bring out the best of each
other on your quest for constant
and never ending improvement,”
Sandra Renaux. When you come
to a TLC Networking meeting, you
are guaranteed to be surrounded
by those whose dedication and
knowledge reinforce and inspire us to
strive to provide the best services for
our youth and communities.
We are thankful for the following
schools and agencies who joined us
at the start of the 2011-2012 school
In the Spotlight –
year: Center for Family Services;
Clayton HS/MS; DAYTOP; Delsea
Regional; Deptford Township Schools;
Division of Youth and Family Services;
Gateway Regional; Gloucester
County College; Gloucester County
SAFE Schools; Little Hands Family
Services; Monroe Township Public
Schools; Princeton House; South
Harrison Township; St. Margaret
School; Township of Franklin Schools;
Washington Township Schools;
West Deptford School District and
Woodbury High School.
The Gloucester County TLC believes
in learning as a collaborative
experience in which we come
together to share information
and learn from each other. We
kicked off the year with a Resource
Sharing meeting. We are thankful
to DAYTOP; Division of Youth
and Family Services; Little Hands
Family Services; Princeton House
and the Youth Advocate Program
for sharing valuable information
about their services and how to
access them. We appreciated the
youth who came with DAYTOP
to share their experience in the
program. Their strength in sharing
their journey was an inspiration
to all. In December, Mary Antolik
and Kathy Lemon, Gateway High
School, opened up our meeting by
teaching us a fun and interactive
communication skill building activity.
Vicky Czyznikiewicz, Counselor
from Robins’ Nest’s “All About
Me Program,” joined us to share
her expertise on childhood sexual
abuse. “All About Me” is a program
that provides assessment services,
group treatment, and individual
counseling for pre-adolescent and
adolescents who have experienced
sexual abuse. Vicky provided the
group with a clear understanding of
normal sexual behaviors vs. those
of concern for preschool and early
elementary children. TLC thanks
all our presenters for sharing their
knowledge with us.
The Gloucester County School Crisis
Lead Response Team, a collaboration
between TLC’s Lead Response
Team and Gloucester County SAFE
Our Wonderful TLC Coordinators
Schools, has responded to a number
of incidents since July of this year.
The incidents have included sudden
deaths of students, parents and
teachers by illness and suicide.
After post intervention reviews, the
following were identified as strengths
in the responses: activation of
community support; collaboration
between school crisis teams and
TLC; schools having a plan in place;
facilitating parent meetings on
helping children cope with trauma
and loss and providing support
to faculty. Based on individuals
who participated in stabilization
groups; classroom orientations;
individual psychological first aid; or
coping groups after the incidents,
we found that approximately 85%
demonstrated a decrease in their level
of distress, and 86% were able to
identify at least one coping resource
they would use after the incident.
On behalf of the TLC, I would like
to thank the following individuals
who were able to respond to these
incidents and their schools and
agencies for supporting their efforts:
Seerojini Adams, Center for Family
Services; Mary Antolik, Gateway
Regional; Jackie Baumgarten, Center
for Family Services; Janet Fiola,
Gloucester County SAFE Schools; Dr.
William Leonard, Gloucester County
SAFE Schools and Kim McDermott,
Center for Family Services.
The TLC would like to recognize
Gloucester County Institute of
Technology for their efforts in Suicide
Prevention. This past October they
hosted their third annual American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s
(AFSP) Out of the Darkness Walk. In
addition, they were instrumental in
starting a South Jersey Chapter for
the American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention. The Gloucester and
Camden County TLC is excited to join
forces with the South Jersey Chapter
in an effort to increase awareness
and resources. On November 19th,
the Camden and Gloucester County
TLC; Center for Family Services, and
Gloucester County Institute
of Technology brought
the AFSP’s 13th Annual
21
In the Spotlight –
Our Wonderful TLC Coordinators
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
International Survivors of Suicide
Day to Gloucester County. On that
day survivors who lost someone to
suicide connected both in person and
in spirit internationally as they came
together to watch a special broadcast
of survivors and experts addressing
questions that so many bereaved
survivors face. In addition, they
participated in healing activities. We
are honored to be a part of this and
look forward to next year to bring
this resource again to the community.
Lead Response Team and SAFE
School Crisis Responders)
I would like to take this time to
honor one of our TLC members and
County School Crisis Team member
from Deptford School District, Paul
Petrille, who died on September 3,
2011. Paul was an active member
at the TLC meetings and the County
School Crisis Team. He was well
respected by his peers and the
students. His genuineness and
compassion for others helped to
forge trusting relationships. It seems
that his greatest gift was his humor
and laughter. He had the ability to
bring laughter even during some of
the most stressful times. A lesson we
could all learn. In fact, it was written
that “when he laughed, it was a great
place to be.” Our thoughts and
support go out to his family, friends
and his school family at Deptford.
Dates of Remaining Meetings:
4/27/12 - Library Conference Room
6/1/12 - Library Conference Room
I would also like to say thank you to
Gloucester County College for your
support and assistance in providing
meeting and training space, and I
would like to invite you to our next
two meetings. The meeting schedule
is as follows:
Traumatic Loss Coalition
Networking meetings (ALL ARE
WELCOME)
Location: Gloucester County
College, 1400 Tanyard Rd. Sewell,
NJ (See room location next to date
of meeting.)
Time: 8:30 to 11:00 am
Dates of Remaining Meetings:
4/27/12 - Library Conference Room
6/1/12 - Library Conference Room
22
Gloucester County Lead
Response Team meetings
(Traumatic Loss Coalition
Purpose of the Meeting:
The purpose of the meeting
is to practice our skills, learn
new information, review and
update procedures and better
prepare ourselves for a critical incident. Location: Gloucester County
College
Time: 11:00 - 12:00 pm
To learn more about getting involved
in the Gloucester County TLC
(member or presenter) or further
information, please feel free to
contact Barbara Maronski at (609)
230-8933.
Submitted by Barbara Maronski,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Hudson County
Silvana Gomez
Greetings from the Hudson County
Traumatic Loss Coalition. I want to
first thank all the clinicians involved in
the responses to the Hudson County
families that suffered recent losses.
Psychologists and social workers from
schools as well as other community
mental health agencies and DYFS
worked together to assist families
and children during a very difficult
time in their lives. While we met
during times of sadness, it has been
an honor to work with clinicians that
are caring and go out of their way to
help others. Above all, it has been an
honor to meet the families, see their
love, support for one another and
also their compassion and resilience.
A brief summary of the last few
months: In addition to the responses
the Lead Response Team (LRT) had,
the TLC provided trainings to two
schools (“Suicide Prevention” and
“How to Handle Difficult Behaviors
in the Classroom”). Also, as the
TLC Coordinator and Director of
the Hudson County Screening
Center, I was invited to participate
in the monthly CCIAC (Children
Inter Agency Coordinating Council)
meeting. I believe this new contact
will help improve the network and
offer me a better understanding of
the community needs.
The last coalition meeting of this
school year will be May 15th. All
meetings are held at the Jersey City
Medical Center, conference room 5,
from 9 am to 11 am. Immediately
after the TLC meeting, I welcome all
to stay for our LRT meeting.
Submitted by Silvana Gomez,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Hunterdon County
Sherri Neville-Fontini
The TLC of Hunterdon County
has met and held an educational
component on Child Play Therapy
with a Family Connection. Michele
Pinheiro, MSW, LSW, presented ways
to engage children in therapy, as well
as presenting useful ideas on how
to assist families in creating a more
cohesive family group. This has been
a useful tool for both educators and
school counselors working with this
population as children do not always
respond to traditional counseling
practices.
Hunterdon County is no different
than many other counties in NJ
regarding drug use and substance
abuse among teenagers. Another
speaker that addressed the coalition
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
was Lesley Gabel, Associate Director
of Hunterdon Prevention Resources.
This presentation focused on the
challenges our youth face with
prescription drugs within our nation
and Hunterdon County.
It is the coalition’s effort to learn
facts that will help keep our youth
safe. The current trend today is
children abusing medicine making
them at risk for disaster. It is reported
that two in five teens agree that
prescription medicines are safer
than illegal drugs. They are not
using them properly and are putting
themselves at risk. It is important
to know that legitimate medications
often have the exact same addictive
properties, even drugs considered to
have a low abuse potential can be
addictive and possibly fatal to some
users.
The LRT of Hunterdon meets
regularly, and our last meeting
was held on March 28th. The LRT
of Hunterdon consists of school
counselors and mental health
professionals who have an interest in
keeping youth safe and responding
to losses caused by suicide, homicide,
accident and illness. If you have
any questions or concerns regarding
the TLC in Hunterdon, please don’t
hesitate to contact me.
Submitted by Sherri Neville,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Mercer County
Steve Olsen
In the Spotlight –
Injury. The probable date will be
September 28, 2012. The location
has not been determined as of yet.
The program description is as follows:
One of the most challenging
problems for clinicians and other
professionals is dealing effectively
with non-suicidal self-injury. Of
special concern is that self-injury
has recently moved from clinical
populations such as those served
in hospitals and group homes to
the general population including
middle, high school and college
students. This presentation will focus
on understanding, managing and
treating diverse forms of self-injury
including arm and body cutting,
self-inflicted burning, excoriation
of wounds, and other more
serious examples. Self-injury will
be distinguished from suicidal
behavior in terms of a number of
key characteristics, but will also be
discussed as a risk factor for suicide
attempts.
For more information on this
presentation and the activities of
the Mercer County Traumatic Loss
Coalition, please contact me.
Submitted by Steve Olsen,
TLC Coordinator,
609-278-7924,
[email protected]
Middlesex County
George Scott
The Mercer TLC has been working
diligently on our Fall conference
schedule. It appears as if we will
be able to bring in Barent Walsh,
Ph.D., for a presentation entitled,
Understanding and Treating the
Complex Puzzle of Non-Suicidal Self-
Recently, I read the following,
“Children and adolescents experience
grief, loss and crisis in many forms,
which may come into their lives
with more frequency than adults
realize”. That struck me as being
true, I suspect it is. I also have made
several presentations recently using
the following quote from Donna
Amundson, the TLC State Project
Our Wonderful TLC Coordinators
Manager, “…and so, our work is not
only about loss. It is about hope,
help, strength and resiliency.” Within
that apparent conundrum lies the
work of the Middlesex TLC.
When you are invited into a school or
youth group that is feeling the hurt
of death, it is easy to be pulled into
their sadness and sorrow. When you
sit among the dedicated colleagues
from the Middlesex TLC, either on a
response or at our monthly meetings,
it is easy to feel the comfort of
camaraderie and oneness of
“together all of us are stronger than
some of us”.
The Middlesex TLC has roots, deep
roots. That has taken a commitment
from so many wonderful people over
so many years. It is a safe place to
be, members will tell you that. We
can work through a table top training
as if it were the real deal; members
will tell you that too. We can laugh
and have fun, they will tell you that
as well. It is all true. Events can be
horrible, and the grief can take your
breath away, but as a team, this
group known as the Middlesex TLC,
will hold itself together; give care,
give comfort and provide support
when it is requested and where it is
needed.
And we have name recognition, “Oh,
you are part of the TLC. We have
heard about you. How can we be a
part of your work?” When it is time
to stand-down, and the school stands
up and moves on, we hear the voices,
“Thank you so much for being here
with us. You helped us get through
the worst part of this. We are better
because you were here”. Remember
it is about “hope, help, strength…”.
Yes, the meetings are fun and
exciting. Yes, new members come all
the time. And yes, people feel guilty
when they have a conflict and can’t
attend. I don’t know what any of this
is all about. I guess it is the work. I
guess it is about the people. And I
guess it is about the hopefulness of
what we do. Maybe, perhaps likely, it
is all of that.
I can tell you this, only that
I am so pleased to be part
23
In the Spotlight –
Our Wonderful TLC Coordinators
of what the Middlesex TLC people
have created.
The final meetings of the school year
are April 27 and June 1st. Clear your
calendar. Spend some time with us
(9:00-12:00). Come back if you have
wandered away. Just show up: 1460
Livingston Ave, North Brunswick,
Building 400, 2nd Floor Conference
Room.
Submitted by George Scott,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Monmouth County
George Scott
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Come join us. The first Thursday of
the month you will find us gathered
at the Department of Human
Services, 3000 Kozlowski Road in
Freehold from 8:30-10:30. Call
George Scott (609-915-0684) to
find out more. Bring your amazing
self. Be a part of the very special
work that is going on. Help change
the culture for Monmouth County
children. Tragedy will happen as a
part of this life. It is what we do as
adults that will make a difference. I’ll
end with Gandhi’s words, “A small
body of determined spirits fired by an
unquenchable faith in their mission
can alter the course of history.”
Monmouth County is already
changing. The Monmouth County
TLC needs you.
educated on various programs that
GLSEN has available for schools
and the community at the March
meeting. Jim Kimberling, a member
of GLSEN CNJ Training Committee
was the presenter. Jim was able to
share Information on GLSEN research
on bullying in school and the impact
this has on all students.
Submitted by George Scott,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Submitted by Mary Vineis,
TLC Coordinator,
973-686-2228,
[email protected]
We are looking forward to our April
meeting when a representative from
Good Grief organization will be
providing the educational portion of
our meeting.
If anyone is interested in more
information on becoming a member
of either the Coalition or the Lead
Response Team, please contact me at
973-686-2228 or by email.
At the Monmouth County Traumatic
Coalition monthly meetings, you can
experience the dedication of adults
who care; you can experience the
compassion and “good work” that
supports the lives of young people.
The adults that show up each month
to address the needs of children
have made a commitment to make
things better. The TLC members
have committed to excellent suicide
prevention and post-vention practices
that facilitate healing. These are
professional community members
who take this personally and are
dedicated to “raising up” healthy
children, responding to tragedy
in a way that promotes recovery,
and helping adults find their way
in this very difficult work of trauma
response. Those who come to the
table monthly in Monmouth County,
are simply amazing in who they are.
What schools or districts come to the
table: Asbury Park, Brookdale CC,
Hazlet, Holmdell, Howell, Keyport,
Long Branch, Marlboro, Matawan,
Monmouth Vocational, Neptune, and
Red Bank Regional. My apologies if I
neglected to mention others
who have been there.
24
Morris County
Mary Vineis
The Morris County Traumatic Loss
Coalition meetings are held at the
Morris County Library, East Hanover
Ave., Whippany.
We had four new LRT members
attend the three-day statewide
training and certification in Post
Traumatic Stress Management along
with four current members who
attended to refresh their skills. It was
a wonderful experience for all.
The Morris County TLC had an
opportunity to learn about some
very interesting topics during our
Coalition meetings this year. We
were fortunate to have Arlene Stoller
of the Morris County Public Health
office give us a tutorial on Social
Media and ways to have it work to
our advantage. We also hosted a
presentation by GLSEN and were
Ocean County
Karen Bright
TLC coalition meetings continue
to be held on the 3rd Wednesday
of the month in Toms River. The
CIACC Education Partnership of
Ocean County Department of
Human Services is holding a training,
Substance Abuse Treatment Services,
on April 27. For more information on
the Ocean County coalition and LRT
meetings, contact Karen.
Submitted by Karen Bright,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Passaic County
Dan Silitsky
The 2011-12 school year has been a
rewarding one so far for the Passaic
County Traumatic Loss Coalition.
Our Lead Response Team (LRT) has
successfully responded to several
crises in the county. After we left
the schools, the staff and students
were ready to move on with the
daily activities without undue stress.
A follow up to the schools found
the staff and students doing well.
My heartfelt appreciation goes out
to the leadership and staff of the
schools who welcomed us into their
school and participated fully in the
responses.
I personally would like to thank
the Mental Health Administrator
in Passaic County, Francine Vince,
and the County Superintendent,
Robert Gilmartin, for supporting
the Passaic County Traumatic Loss
Coalition Program throughout the
year. I am also appreciative of the
professionalism and expertise that
was displayed by TLC Central and the
lead response team in Passaic County.
Special attention is paid to Marian
Golan, Ph.D.; Varsa Wilber, LCSW;
Pam Legall, LPC; Betty Schulte,
MS; Janice Gerisch, CSW; Reena
Edwards, CSW and Sherri Glassman,
Ph.D. for their expertise, effort and
commitment during the crises in
Passaic County.
Over the past year, we had
some interesting topics during
the educational component at
our Coalition meetings: Abuse,
Abandonment, Cruelty, and Neglect
of the Child; Bullying Prevention
Strategies and Child Advocacy for
Dual Diagnosis. In our last Coalition
meeting we had Rich Pompelio,
Esq., discussing bullying, victim
advocacy and services available in
Passaic County. The next date for
In the Spotlight –
our Coalition/Lead Response meeting
is scheduled on May 23 at Passaic
County Tech at 9:30 am. Please
invite a colleague or two to our last
meeting on May 23; we will host a
speaker from Hospice.
We always accept individuals for our
Coalition/Lead Response Team. Please
e-mail or call me for further details.
Your involvement will assist your
school and others at a time of crisis.
Submitted by Dan Silitsky, Ph.D.,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Salem County
Joanne Comninos
Our Wonderful TLC Coordinators
Attendees at the coalition meeting
were informed of future TLC training
and information on Sources of
Strength, a comprehensive wellness
program that works to use peer
leaders to change norms around
codes of silence and help seeking.
TLC is offering this program to many
schools throughout New Jersey at no
cost.
Join us for our next meeting on the first
Tuesday in June at the Salem Library on
West Broadway in Salem, at 10:30 am.
Submitted by Joanne Comninos,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Somerset County
Melissa Callen
The Salem County Coalition met for
our first meeting of the school year
in October 2011 and focused on
networking and discussing resources
in the community. Additionally,
literature was reviewed on helping
teens cope with the sudden death of
a peer.
At December’s meeting our guest
speaker was Joshua Durand, MA,
LPC, NCC. He spoke about stress
management and compassion
fatigue. His group activity approach
was very effective in helping
participants identify stressors they
encounter and how to reduce distress
as well as use preventative methods
to avoid burnout.
Laura Marker and Brenda Lore from
the Women’s Services of Salem
County spoke on the impact of
domestic violence on children. They
presented facts on the psychological
impact to children and explained
what their agency does to assist
women and children who are victims
of DV. Included in their discussion
was how to work with youth who
disclose sexual trauma issues as
well as resources available to them.
I would like to take this opportunity
to thank the Somerset County
Lead Response Team members
who had responded to several
incidents starting over the summer.
The beginning of the school year
was busy for the Somerset County
Lead Response Team and as always
they faced it with grace and
professionalism.
Join us for our meeting on Friday,
April 26, 2012 at 9:30 am to 11:00
am. Paul Ciempola will present on
the NJ Bullying legislation: Impact
on Schools and An overview of the
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.
If you would like to attend or need
further information, please contact
me. Registration is required for all
presentations. All meetings are held
at Richard Hall Community Mental
Health Center in Bridgewater, New
Jersey.
Submitted by Melissa Callen,
TLC Coordinator
908-253-3103
[email protected]
25
In the Spotlight –
Our Wonderful TLC Coordinators
Sussex County
Dan Silitsky
During the first half of the 201112 school year, the Sussex County
Traumatic Loss Coalition provided
responses that truly challenged the
entire team. We are thankful to our
neighboring TLC Coordinators;
Arlene O’Connell, Darrell Buckner
and Mary Vineis for providing direct
support during those crises. We were
fortunate to have strong leadership
and committed staff in those schools
who requested our assistance during
those difficult times.
Beginning in September, we had
David Johnston from the Division
of Child and Family Services; Lisa
Athan from Grief Speaks and Richard
D. Pompelio, Esq. Director of New
Jersey Crime Victims’ Law Center. In
March, our educational presenter
was Donna Icovino, Co-Chair of the
N.J. Department of Human Services
Dual Diagnosis Task Force. Finally
in May, Maureen Strelzik from
Newton Medical Center will present
a workshop on Dialectical Behavioral
Therapy & Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (DBT-CBT)
I wish to take the opportunity to
professionally and personally thank
the following individuals in Sussex
County who have been instrumental
in providing support to our Traumatic
Loss Program: Dr Rosalie Lamonte,
County Superintendent; Christine
Florio, Mental Health Administrator;
Christine LaTronica, Youth Services
Coordinator; Suzanne Sarner, Director
of School Based Youth Services
Program; Jim McGrath, Emergency
Services Screener for Newton Medical
Center and Lead Response Clinician
for the Sussex County Traumatic Loss
Coalition Program and Lisa Athan,
Director of Grief Speaks.
26
I also would like to express
my appreciation to the staff
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
of the School Based Youth Services
Program and Newton Medical
Center’s Emergency Screening
Center for their relentless support
and professionalism in working with
the Sussex County Traumatic Loss
Program. Special mention goes
to Marcia Fallon and Vicki Szabo,
clinicians for the SBYSP at Sussex
County Technical High School, for
their time, efforts, expertise and
resilience during the year.
proper information to the ER when
referring students for evaluation. The
April 19 meeting will feature Mary
Robinson, Executive Director of the
newly formed Imagine - a year-round
grief support center for children
coping with loss due to the death of
a parent or sibling. The Response
Team met on January 19 and had the
opportunity to practice some skills in
PTSM with Donna Amundson of TLC
Central. Finally, I wish to recognize the
prosecutor, superintendents and
principals in Sussex County for
allowing their staff to be available at
the Coalition/Lead Response Team
meetings and releasing them during
emergencies in the county.
The Elizabeth School District now has
10 staff members certified in PTSM,
who have already begun to provide
responses within their district. These
10 were part of a larger group of
about 15 UC residents/providers who
attended the annual PTSM training in
October. We are hoping to add more
next fall. We will hold a Coalition/Lead
Response meeting on May 17 at
Sussex County Technical High School
beginning at 9:30 am. We encourage
practitioners from each district to join
us for our coalition meeting in May.
Submitted by Dan Silitsky, Ph.D.,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Union County
Kathy Howie
Union County’s TLC is growing!
Our first meeting of the 2011-2012
school year took place on November
17 at Union County Vo-Tech.
Over 20 attendees discussed the
direction they want their TLC to
take and the frequency and topics
of meetings. The guest speaker at
the first meeting was Allison Bressler
from A Partnership for Change, a
private, non-profit organization,
dedicated to ending family abuse
and intimate partner violence. The
February 16th meeting featured an
Overview of Mental Health services
in Union County and how to provide
For the remainder of the 2011-12
school year, we will have all meetings
at UCESC, 45 Cardinal Drive
Westfield. All meetings are the 3rd
Thursday of the month from 9:30
– 11:30. The last coalition meeting
will be June 21, 2012. RESPONSE
TEAM (anyone wishing to practice
skills in PTSM) will meet May 17,
2012. Please join us!
Submitted by Kathy Howie,
TLC Coordinator,
[email protected]
Warren County
Darrell Buckner
On December 9th and 16th 2011
the Warren County Traumatic Loss
Coalition (TLC) co-sponsored a 2-day
workshop with the Warren County
Department of Human Services
entitled, “Bullying, Suicide, and Youth
Violence: A Public Health Crisis“.
The workshop, conducted by Phillip
McCabe of the UMDNJ School of
Public Health - Office of Public Health
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Newsletter
Practice, was extremely well received
by the more than 60 educators,
behavioral health and social service
professionals in attendance. The
Warren County TLC wishes to extend
its thanks to Warren County’s Mental
Health Administrator, Shannon
Brennan, and Candy Brewster of
the Warren County Department
of Human Services and Youth
Services Coordinating Council for
the opportunity to co-sponsor this
valuable training event.
Throughout the winter, the Warren
County TLC has continued to
provide education regarding the
Traumatic Loss Coalition program,
its philosophy and the program’s
approach to suicide pre- and
postvention. TLC members have
met with various groups within the
county to familiarize them with the
Traumatic Loss Coalition including:
a panel of Warren County Municipal
Judges, the New Jersey State Police,
and numerous representatives from
Warren County schools through its
participation in the Youth Services
Coordinating Council’s Education/
Behavioral Health Partnership. In
addition, members of the Warren
County TLC continue to conduct
Suicide Prevention Trainings for
In the Spotlight –
county school districts featuring the
two-part American Foundation for
Suicide Prevention video, “More Than
Sad.”
The Warren County Traumatic Loss
Coalition meets quarterly at the
Warren County Public Safety Building
in Washington, NJ. Recent meetings
have featured speakers on topics
related to grief and loss, anti-bullying
legislation and children’s services.
Members of the Lead Response Team
(LRT) meet following each scheduled
TLC meeting to discuss LRT responses
and to practice response strategies.
Thanks to the recent Post Traumatic
Stress Management Certification
Trainings conducted by Robert
Macy, PhD, the Warren County LRT
is pleased to announce that six more
of its members have completed the
necessary requirements for PTSM
certification.
For additional information regarding
the Warren County Traumatic loss
Coalition, please contact me.
Our Wonderful TLC Coordinators
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).
Submitted by Darrell Buckner,
TLC Coordinator
908-454-4470, ext. 301
email [email protected]
Book Cor ner
Artwork and Layout by
eDigital Graphics
326 Route 22 West, Suite 12A
Green Brook, NJ 08812
732-968-1234
www.edigitalgraphics.com
Please contact
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for all your printing needs.
UMDNJ Approved Vendor
Latinas Attempting Suicide: When Cultures, Families,
and Daughters Collide
by Luis Zayas
“Since 1991, surveys conducted the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention have shown that Latina teenagers attempt suicide
at a far higher rate than other American youth in the same age
group; one in seven Latinas attempt suicide while one in ten
black and white girls do. While these numbers came as a shock
to the general public, many urban clinicians have long suspected
this disparity without having the data to confirm the problem or
draw attention to it. Here, in a compelling account of a troubling
trend that draws on interviews conducted both with girls who
attempted suicide and those who did not, Luis Zayas begins to
unravel the mystery of why such a large proportion of Latinas
attempt suicide.”
27
Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Coordinators
http://ubhc.umdnj.edu/brti/TLC.htm
Who to Contact in Your County
Northern Counties
Central Counties
Southern 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
Atlantic County
Patty Weeks, LSW
609-626-3861
[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 x6
[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]
Cumberland Cty Guidance Ctr.
Gloucester County
Barbara Maronski, LSW
609-230-8933
[email protected]
Center for Family Services
Salem County
Joanne Comninos, MA, LPC
856-881-8689, x156
[email protected]
Robins’ Nest, Inc.
Hudson County
Silvana Gomez, MA
201-915-2268
[email protected]
Jersey City Medical Center
Morris County
Mary Vineis, BA, DRCC
973-839-2520
[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
Kathryn Howie, LCSW
908-994-7543
[email protected]
Trinitas Regional Medical Center
28
TLC Central: Office No. 732-235-2810
Donna Amundson, LCSW, Program Manager (cell 908-304-3266);
Nancy Baird, Dotty Rodrick