In Loving Memory - Elaine Leader, PhD
- Teen Line
- Apr 27, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 12, 2024
Founder, Teen Line
Dr. Elaine Leader, Founder and Director Emeritus of Teen Line, passed away at the age of ninety-five on April 27, 2023.
Born in Ilford, England, Dr. Leader emigrated with her family to Los Angeles in 1965, subsequently completing an education she had begun with a Diploma in Social Work from the University of London. She earned both BA and MSW degrees from UCLA, and a PhD from the California Institute for Clinical Social Work. Dr. Leader’s theoretical orientation was psychodynamic. Her writings have appeared in such publications as the Clinical Social Work Journal and The Journal of Child and Adolescent Group Therapy, among others
Dr. Leader maintained a private practice well into her ninety-fifth year, specializing in individual, family and group psychotherapy with adults, children, and adolescents - with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ youth. Her interest in adolescent group dynamics led her to Cedars Sinai, where she was the Coordinator of Adolescent Group Psychotherapy Training and a clinical social worker from 1972-1994. It was her observations of teens’ peer-to-peer interactions that led Dr. Leader to collaborate with her colleagues Dr. Terry Lipton and Miguel Ramirez MSW, to create the Center for the Study of Young People at Cedars, from which work they developed Teen Line and its training protocol. Teen Line is a national and international hot line for young people staffed by other teens trained in “active listening” techniques. Since its inception in 1980, thousands of local area young people have received the Teen Line training and answered calls, texts, and emails from their peers; and the peer-to-peer structure has launched other such lines, including CopLINE, a cop-to-cop hot line based in New Jersey created by Teen Line alumna, Stephanie Samuels.
In 2015, Dr. Leader stepped down as Executive Director of Teen Line to assume the Emeritus mantel. During the last six years, she has worked with her successors Michelle Carlson and Cheryl Eskin and the Teen Line Board, to expand the reach of Teen Line’s work through outreach initiatives to LAUSD, LAPD, LA Sherriff’s Dept., and Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, with which Teen Line recently acquired by.
To memorialize her contributions to Teen Line and the young people of LA and around the world, Teen Line has established the Dr. Elaine Leader Memorial Fund to which donations are being accepted at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/TeenLine.
Dr. Leader is survived by her four children: Denise Leader Stoeber, Malcolm Leader-Picone, Brian Leader, and C.N. Gordon, their children and grandchildren. She will be sorely missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and all of those who sought her wise counsel.
Donations received: $28,024.08
Raised 23 donors
Recent Donations
Jill Spivack
April 27, 2023
In Memory of Elaine Leader
Angela Gee
April 27, 2023
May Her Memory Be A Blessing
Julie Taren
April 27, 2023
In Memory of Elaine Leader
Nancy Levy
April 28, 2023
In Memory of Dr Elaine Leader
Patrice Ablack
April 28, 2023
Thank You For the Wisdom, Friendship and Your Love
Dylan Brackpool & Patrice Ablack
Brackpool Family Foundation
April 29, 2023
In Loving Memory Of Elaine Leader From Dylan Brackpool
Carey Simon
April 30, 2023
With Thanks For All She Accomplished.
Molly England
April 30, 2023
Linda Meixner
May 1, 2023
In Memory of Elaine Leader
Angela Griffith
May 1, 2023
In Loving Memory Of Elaine. Her Life Made A Difference In So Many Other's. Rip, We Will Miss You, Elaine.
Ellen Ruderman, PHD, Lcsw
May 1, 2023
In Loving Memory Of Elaine Leader - Ellen Ruderman
Ben Pomeratnz
May 1, 2023
It's An Honor To Donate To Teen Line and Elaine LEADER...A Valued Teacher Of Mine.
Kenneth Uslan
May 2, 2023
Michele Saffier
May 8, 2023
In Blessed Memory Of Dr. Elaine Leader.
Megan Lipton
May 9, 2023
I will miss you Elaine.
Rita Schneir
May 12, 2023
Michele W. Andelson
June 19, 2023
Nelson Skip Riddle
July 4, 2023
Denise Stoeber
August 22, 2023
Betsy Breen
August 30, 2023
Denise Leader Stoeber
November 28, 2023
Brian Leader
December 4, 2023
In honor of Elaine Leader and Teen Line as beneficiary.
Denise Leader Stoeber
December 4, 2023
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