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University Behavioral Health Care

Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth

Suicide prevention and trauma response support, training, and assistance for youth-serving organizations.

Reach Your TLC County Coordinator

  • Maureen Brogan, LPC, ACS, DAAETS, DRCC
    Program Director
    (732) 235-2810

    Doris Salzano
    Staff Assistant
    (732) 235-2810

    George Scott, Ed.S., LMFT
    Resource Coordinator
    (732) 235-2810

    • Bergen County Coordinator
      Jennifer Velten, MA, LPC
      (201) 250-6660
    • Essex County Coordinator
      Arlene O’Connell, LPC
      (973) 239-5382
    • Hudson County Coordinator
      Silvana Gomez, MA
      (201) 915-2268
    • Morris County Coordinator
      Mary Vineis, BA, DRCC
      (862) 684-2166
    • Passaic County Coordinator
      Mary Vineis, BA DRCC
      (862) 684-2166
    • Sussex County Coordinator
      Jessica Large
      (973) 713-3034
    • Warren County Coordinator
      Julie Farneski, MS
      (908) 303-0665

     

    • Hunterdon County Coordinator
      Richard Mansfield, MA, LPC
      (201) 250-6660
    • Mercer County Coordinator
      Tymia S. Ellison
      (609) 989-6574
    • Middlesex County Coordinator
      Suzi Millar, PsyD
      (732) 289-8785
    • Monmouth County Coordinator
      Brie Niciewski, MSW, LCSW
      (732) 749-0620
    • Ocean County Coordinator
      Karen Bright, MA LPC, ACS
      (732) 773-8087
    • Somerset County Coordinator
      Karissa Vassallo
      (908) 309-9087
    • Union County Coordinator
      Nancy Mooney, MA, LPC
      (908) 693-4873
    • Atlantic County Coordinator
      Patty Weeks
      (609) 626-3850
    • Burlington County Coordinator
      Elfrieda Francis, MSW, DRCC
      (609) 265-5383
    • Camden County Coordinator
      Barbara Maronski, LSW
      (609) 230-8933
    • Cape May County Coordinator
      Carleena L. Supp
      (609) 465-2720, x1182
    • Cumberland County Coordinator
      Elvira Smith, MA, CSW
      (856) 305-2138
    • Gloucester County Coordinator
      Barbara Maronski, LSW
      (732) 773-8087
    • Salem May County Coordinator
      Jennifer Kugler, LPC, ACS
      (844) 422-3632, x1038

Services Available

  • 24/7 Support & Coordination of Traumatic Loss Responses
  • Consultation for schools and youth-serving organizations following a traumatic loss
  • Suicide prevention trainings utilizing QPR (Question, Persuade & Refer) and TSL (Talk Saves Lives)
  • Quarterly County Coalition Meetings
  • Psychological First Aid, Skills for Psychological Recovery, Managing Sudden Traumatic Loss
  • Trainings in Trauma and Grief
Group of smiling students with backpacks and books standing together in a school hallway.

The HOPES Program

The HOPES Team is a group of first responders with lived and professional suicide loss experience who are immediately available to provide encouragement, support and resources to those newly bereaved by a suicide loss. If the team was not invited on-scene at the time of the loss, a referral can be made anytime thereafter for family support. The goal is the shorten the elapsed time between the death and survivors finding support and resources to help them cope with this devastating loss.

Call us today: (732) 815-5749

Team Lead: Wendy Sefcik

Logo for the Traumatic Loss Coalition’s HOPES Program featuring purple and blue text with a leafy branch design.

Trainings Provided by the TLC

Please note: We strive to offer all our training sessions using grant funds to ensure accessibility for youth serving organizations. However, please be aware that there may be instances where a fee is required for certain trainings that fall outside the scope of our grant. We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to provide high-quality training opportunities.

Caring Communities logo with the tagline Guidance for Supporting Survivors of Suicide Loss.

Caring Communities

This program offers actionable insights on navigating conversations, addressing cultural considerations, and implementing practical support strategies across diverse settings for loss survivors.

Paper-cut figures standing together in a person’s hands, representing community support, care, and connection.

Finding Hope

AFSP’s program designed to support individuals and communities impacted by suicide loss. This presentation offers understanding of the impact of suicide, pathways to healing, and resources for survivors, while fostering connection and resilience. Can be delivered in 60- or 90-minute formats.

Students gather and walk through a bright school hallway carrying backpacks and school materials.

Managing Sudden Traumatic Loss in the Schools

A 2-day training experience created by the Traumatic Loss Coalition Team to onboard new lead responders. This training teaches about the impacts of trauma, importance of self care and critical components of a trauma/stabilization response to a youth serving organization.

Smiling father holds his young daughter as she wraps her arms around his shoulders.

Psychological First Aid

An evidence-informed, 6-hour training designed to teach the skills necessary to reduce the initial distress caused by traumatic events and to foster short- and long-term adaptive functioning and coping.

QPR Institute logo with the letters QPR inside a light blue circular design.

Question, Persuade, Refer

The most widely taught suicide prevention gatekeeper training in the world. QPR is designed to help any and everyone learn how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, offer hope, and help save lives. Can be delivered in 1 or 2 hour models.

Yellow awareness ribbon displayed against a white background.

Signs Matter (Online Suicide Prevention Training for K-12 Educators):

An online suicide prevention training that meets the 2-hour suicide prevention training required every 5-years. A half-day, in-person follow-up session is offered to districts who purchase Signs Matter for their schools.

Young person speaks with a behavioral health professional during an individual counseling session.

Skills for Psychological Recovery

An evidence-informed, 6-hour training designed to teach an intervention that aims to help survivors gain skills to manage distress and cope with post-disaster stress and adversity.

Talk Saves Lives logo featuring the words Talk Saves Lives inside a speech bubble.

Talk Saves Lives

AFSP’s signature suicide prevention education program. This presentation provides a foundational understanding of suicide, including risk factors, warning signs, and how to have a conversation about mental health. It is designed to equip participants with knowledge and confidence to take action and help save lives. Can be delivered in 60- or 90-minute formats.

Video Resource Library

Explore videos from the Traumatic Loss Coalitions (TLC) focused on suicide prevention, traumatic loss, grief, and resilience. These resources support educators, professionals, and communities with practical knowledge and strategies for helping youth and responding effectively following traumatic events.

Black mother, father, and teenage daughter watching TLC suicide prevention and mental health videos together on a laptop.