Develop and disseminate
Develop and disseminate evidence-based assessment and interventions for youth who have experienced traumas and/or losses.
Trauma & Grief Center
The primary purpose of the Trauma and Grief Center (TAG) is to raise the standard of care and increase access to best-practice care among children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and/or loss.
Our Priorities
The TAG Center adheres to a scientist-practitioner model with four primary aims:
Research
Conduct research on adaptive and maladaptive responses to childhood trauma and loss, as well as treatment effectiveness.
Training
Provide training, professional education, and consultation in trauma- and bereavement-related topics and interventions.
Policy
Translate trauma- and bereavement-informed best practices into policy.
Not every child who has experienced bereavement will need mental health treatment. Some grief reactions are healthy and serve an important function after a loss.
Treatment Development
Implement & Disseminate
The TAG Center develops novel treatments for children, teens, and young adults exposed to trauma and bereavement. While not a direct service provider, the Center partners with the Lucine Center (led by Julie Kaplow) to ensure treatments are research-supported and clinical services inform both trauma and grief fields.
Sharing Knowledge
Training & Professional Education
The TAG Center provides trainings to community organizations, schools, academic medical centers, bereavement centers, and child-serving organizations on:
- Supporting youth exposed to trauma and loss
- Cultural considerations
- Becoming a trauma- and bereavement-informed organization or school
- Vicarious traumatization and self-care
Evidence-Based Interventions Offered
- Trauma and Grief Component Therapy for Adolescents (TGCTA)
- Multidimensional Grief Therapy (MGT)
For training information: Marisa Nowitz, Vice President of Education and Training — training@thetagcenter.org
Research
Discovering the Best Treatments
The TAG Research Lab conducts ongoing research on treatment effectiveness and understanding adaptive and maladaptive responses to trauma and loss in youth.
Lasting Impact
Translating Research into Practice
TAG researchers and clinicians collaborate to apply research findings to everyday challenges. The Power of Parenting series (co-sponsored by the New York Life Foundation and National Child Traumatic Stress Network) was developed by Dr. Julie Kaplow in partnership with researchers, clinicians, and individuals with lived experience to help parents and caregivers support bereaved children.
Our Team
Leadership
Julie Kaplow, PhD, ABPPExecutive Director
Lauren RubensteinChief of Staff
Rohanna SykesDirector of School and Community Partnerships
Oscar Widales-Benitez, PhDDirector of Community-Centered Strategy
Education & Training
Marisa NowitzVice President of Education and Training
Research & Data
Lauren AlvisSenior Director of Research
Ben OosterhoffVice President of Data Analytics
Community & Cultural Programs
Priscilla MendezDirector of Cross-Cultural Programs
Stacey BrittainDirector of Special Programs
Clinical Implementation Specialists
Angeles Araujo
Laura Cornell
Gregory Gomez
Tamara Johns
Marisela Lazo
Operations
Saman EssaProject Manager