Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Program

The Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Program (TLC) at UMDNJ-University Behavioral HealthCare is New Jersey’s primary youth suicide prevention program funded by the Department of Children & Families, Division of Children’s System of Care.

The TLC is an interactive, statewide network that offers collaboration and support to professionals working with school-age youth. The dual mission of the TLC is excellence in suicide prevention and trauma response assistance to schools following unfortunate losses due to suicide, homicide, accident and illness. This is accomplished through county, regional and statewide conferences, training, consultation, onsite traumatic loss response, and technical assistance. The purpose is to ensure that those working with youth from a variety of disciplines and programs have up-to-date knowledge about mental health issues, suicide prevention, traumatic grief, and resiliency enhancement. Since its inception, the TLC has trained thousands of individuals with the purpose of saving lives and promoting post trauma healing and resiliency for the youth of New Jersey.

The TLC has operated as a county-based collaborative since the year 2000 with a TLC Coordinator in each county. The Coordinators provide meetings throughout the year bringing together school personnel, mental health clinicians, juvenile justice personnel, law enforcement officials, social service agencies, child welfare workers and many others who work closely with youth. The meetings are effective forums for reviewing traumatic loss events, identifying service needs, and providing professional development through the inclusion of an educational component. The educational speakers are experts in topics related to the needs of youth.

The Coordinators also work within their counties to direct a Lead Response Team (LRT) to assist schools when needed following a traumatic loss event, or as in the case of several counties, support the director of an existing team. Post Traumatic Stress Management (PTSM), Psychological First Aid (PFA), Classroom, Culture and Community Based Intervention (CBI) and Traumatic Incident Intervention (TII) trainings are provided for members of these teams.

The Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Program has created an expanding statewide network that effectively works to prevent suicide and promote healing and resiliency in the aftermath of traumatic loss.

News & Announcements

Helping Your Children Focus on the Good People in the World
When your children show signs of fear, grief and illness after being exposed to watching or hearing media reports of terroristic violence, there are many ways parents, caregivers and teachers can allay their fears. Mr. Rogers said it beautifully in the following. More...

NEW INITIATIVE: Jersey Voice Website: www.jerseyvoice.net. The Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth & Young Adults Program (TLC) is very happy to announce the launching of a new peer-to-peer website. The TLC has partnered with Emotion Technology, an innovative company that combines suicide prevention, intervention and postvention with social media to reach youth and young adults where they live and communicate. This is a platform where individuals can share their stories of hope, help and strength and getting through the difficult times in life. Messages can be shared using stories, poems, music, photography, posters, videos and other creative outlets.

SUPERSTORM SANDY: (See excellent resources under Guidelines tab found on the left side of your screen)

The TLC is providing Classroom-Community-Culture Based (CBI) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) programs for schools to help children and teens in recovering in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.. Click on CBI and SPR for descriptions of these programs. If you are interested in bringing these programs to your school, community program or summer camp, please contact the TLC for information: 732-235-2810.