By normalizing conversations about suicide and mental health, CFGC’s programs break down stigma and build stronger, safer communities.
CFGC has provided more than 60 trainings educating approximately 1,400 community members to recognize the signs of suicide and save lives.
Both courses are internationally recognized as effective:
• SafeTALK Suicide Prevention Training:
SafeTALK is a half day training that teaches participants to recognize subtle warning signs of thoughts of suicide and connect at-risk individuals to resources. Using both presentations and interactive elements, safeTALK participants learn how to respond to the potential for suicide and move beyond the tendency to miss, dismiss or avoid talking about suicide. SafeTALK is designed for individuals 15 years or older—regardless of background or experience—making it a powerful tool for creating suicide-alert communities.
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST):
ASIST is an intensive, hands-on, two-day workshop that prepares participants to intervene effectively during moments of crisis. Through role-play exercises, real-world scenarios and active listening techniques, trainees gain confidence in assessing suicide risk, providing immediate emotional support and developing practical, actionable safety plans. Participants become “suicide first responders” equipped to offer life-saving support when it matters most.
Breaking the Stigma Around Suicide
Talking about suicide can feel difficult, but silence only perpetuates shame and isolation. By creating a culture of empathy and openness, CFGC’s education programs encourage individuals to seek help without fear of judgment.
Participants learn the power of listening, asking thoughtful questions and being present—all of which foster trust and connection. This shift is critical in making individuals feel seen, heard and understood, which can often make the difference between despair and hope.
Measurable Impact and Real-World Change
The success of ASIST and SafeTALK is reflected in tangible results. Communities with trained individuals consistently show improved early intervention outcomes and reduced suicide rates. These programs also help alleviate strain on emergency services by enabling trained helpers to step in before crises escalate, ensuring that individuals receive support early and effectively. By equipping individuals with knowledge, skills and confidence, CFGC fosters a culture where support is accessible, stigma is reduced and lives are saved. Preventing suicide is not solely the job of professionals—it’s a shared responsibility that belongs to all of us. Whether through the foundational awareness-building of SafeTALK, or the intensive intervention strategies of ASIST.
Helping Families Access Care: CFGC’s Children’s Health Outreach, Enrollment,
Utilization and Retention
Program
For over 20 years, CFGC has had a highly successful Children’s Health Outreach, Enrollment, Utilization and Retention Program (CHOEUR). The CHOEUR program educates and assists eligible families with enrollment, utilization and retention of low-cost health coverage for their families. Obtaining, maintaining and utilizing health care coverage is critical for children and families. Our CHOEUR outreach team is expert at networking and reaching vulnerable and underserved families within our community to educate families on the importance of health and mental health services and to provide the support to access needed care. Annually, our team reaches thousands of families and assists them in obtaining coverage and using those benefits to meet the needs of their families.
Childrens Outreach and Utilization Program
The Impact on Families
IBIT recognizes the integral role that parents and caregivers play in shaping a child’s development. The program provides Parental Support, Education and Linkage to Community Resources which helps to:
• Empower Parents
• Reduce Parental Stress
• Build Stronger Parent-Child Relationships
Long-Term Benefits
The benefits of early childhood programs like IBIT extend far beyond the immediate outcomes seen in children and families. Studies show that early intervention programs are linked to long-term positive effects, including academic success, resilience, ability to develop positive social connectedness and mental well-being.
Early childhood programs like IBIT play an essential role in shaping the future of children and families. By providing timely intervention, emotional support and educational resources, these programs promote healthy development and prevent long-term challenges.
3. Building Resilience: FFT equips families with tools to handle future challenges independently, promoting long-term stability.
A Local Family’s Success Story
One family, struggling with escalating conflict and communication breakdowns, found new hope through FFT at CFGC. With the guidance of their therapist, they learned to reframe their interactions, focus on mutual understanding and rebuild their relationships. Six months later, they reported fewer conflicts, improved communication and renewed confidence as a family unit.
Expanding FFT’s Reach in the Community
As CFGC continues to grow its FFT program, the organization is committed to making these services accessible to even more families in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys. By partnering with schools, juvenile justice systems and other community organizations, CFGC aims to ensure that every family in need can benefit from this life-changing therapy.
A Commitment to Holistic Family Wellness
Functional Family Therapy is more than a service; it reflects CFGC’s dedication to holistic, family-centered care. By addressing not just individual challenges but the family system as a whole, CFGC continues to create lasting impacts that ripple through the community.
For families seeking support, CFGC offers hope, healing and a path forward—together.
INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS
Offering a Path Forward
CFGC has a continuum of care that includes intensive outpatient programs for the highest risk youth and families. Utilizing a team approach, CFGC can provide comprehensive care to meet the complex needs of families and youth who are struggling with overcoming trauma, substance abuse, school failure, multiple hospitalizations and/or are at-risk of out of home placement.
Whatever It Takes: CFGC’s Full-Service Partnership Program
CFGC’s Full-Service Partnership (FSP) program is making a profound difference in the lives of youth and families. Through its comprehensive, individualized approach, FSP has helped countless individuals reclaim their lives and strengthen their families.
What Is Full-Service Partnership?
Full-Service Partnership is an intensive specialized field-based program designed for children and youth who are struggling with severe mental health challenges. At its core is the “whatever it takes” philosophy, which provides tailored, wraparound care to address the unique needs of the youth and family. FSP employs a team approach including a therapist to provide individual and family therapy, a Child and Family Specialist (CFS) to work on skill building and a Parent Partner to provide support to parents-caregivers in making changes in the family. Family Advocates provide linkage to needed resources and, as needed, psychiatrists to provide medication support services. The FSP team is available 24-7 to provide crisis intervention. By addressing mental health and the social factors that impact well-being, FSP creates a comprehensive path to recovery and stability.
Many of the youth in FSP present with high risk behaviors (suicidal, aggressive) so a primary goal of FSP is to stabilize the youth and family (e.g., assist caregiver in providing increased structure, develop new parenting skills, support client in different manner) to reduce negative impact of symptoms (reduce hospital admissions, school suspensions, etc.) and improve adaptive functioning (e.g., improve school functioning, social and community activities, etc.)
Eager to give back, Brittney accepted and, in October 2023, committed to a one-year internship at Northpoint as a teacher’s assistant. In this role, she supported students with their assignments and activities, relishing the opportunity to help others navigate challenges similar to those she had faced. One of the most rewarding aspects of her internship was assisting a student struggling with mental health challenges during a personal crisis. “It was an amazing feeling to return to Northpoint School and help other students through experiences I once faced,” Brittney shared. Her time as an intern reinforced her career choice and solidified her confidence in her major and field.
When asked what advice she would offer future Northpoint interns, Brittney emphasized, “Remember that Northpoint School students are just kids who really want to be kids and need care and patience. Northpoint is a unique and special community for both staff and students.”
Northpoint School stands as a shining example of how tailored education and therapeutic support can transform lives. Its ripple effect—on students, families and the broader community—reminds us that the true measure of a society is how it cares for its most vulnerable members. Through Northpoint, CFGC not only changes lives but inspires a future where every child is seen, supported and celebrated.
“Having staff put their faith in me was amazing. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to return and support other students.”
Brittney
Northpoint School Information 2014 - 2024
10 Year Graduation Rate
89 High School Graduates
Continuing Education
16 graduates attended community college and/or vocational training.
2 graduated to a four-year university
1 graduated to an undergraduate degree
1 graduated to a master’s program
Staff Impact
Susan Hall-Marley, Ph.D., Senior Director of Training
Susan Hall-Marley has dedicated her career to advancing Community Mental Health and setting a high standard for training excellence. She began her journey with the Child and Family Guidance Center (CFGC) in 1983 as a psychology intern. Soon after, she became a staff psychologist and in 1993, Susan assumed her current role as Director of Training and joined CFGC’s Senior Management Team, leaving a lasting impact on countless professionals.
For those who have trained under her, Susan has been a pivotal figure, guiding their professional growth and development. Her leadership of the psychology internship program has been marked by unwavering commitment and consistency. Under her direction, the pre-doctoral internship program has gained national recognition for its exceptional quality and remains fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Susan’s influence extends beyond CFGC; she has collaborated with other agencies and universities to enhance training programs across Los Angeles County. As an APA site visitor, she has played a vital role in assisting other organizations nationwide in achieving accreditation for their pre-doctoral programs.
In addition to overseeing the psychology internship program, Susan directs the MSW internship program, which is a leading choice for second-year MSW candidates. Most recently, she spearheaded the development of a new MFT internship program, responding to the evolving needs of CFGC and the community it serves.
“At CFGC, we don’t just train clinicians; we nurture change-makers who are committed to strengthening families and communities,”
Susan Hall-Marley
Number of Clinicians Trainees
Psychologists Trained
Interns: 305
Postdoctoral Fellows: 50
Social Workers Trained Interns: 200
Marriage and Family Therapists Trained Marriage and Family Therapists: 14
UCLA Psychiatrists Trained General Psychiatry Residents: 96
