Say It Straight Foundation is dedicated to research and training in prevention of high risk and destructive behaviors, promotion of wellness, enhancing treatment and sustained recovery, creating sustainable prevention communities and communication excellence in organizations. Say It Straight Foundation has trained over 3,000 people in the United States and abroad to work with youth, parents, couples, families, communities and organizations in many settings, such as schools, addictions treatment, prison, faith community, community service organizations. Trainers come from all walks of life and include teachers, counselors, nurses, administrators, prevention and treatment providers, community volunteers, therapists, physicians, social workers, police and probation officers and ministers. In addition to conducting SIS trainings directly in many settings, Master SIS Traine rs also are available to conduct SIS Training of Trainers Workshops at your site across the United States and abroad.

Paula Englander-Golden, PhD is Director of Training of the Say It Straight Foundation. She developed Say It Straight Training (SIS) to help people move from disempowering to empowering communication/behavior and from relationships of submission-dominance to relationships of equal value. The training has been used with thousands of students from elementary to high school and college, with students and adults in addictions treatment (including dual diagnosis), with parents and community, with people in a homeless shelter and in organizations. It has been recognized as a Research Evidence Based Program and Practice by SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence Based Programs and Practices. For more information about SIS see www.sayitstraight.org. She is a member of the Virginia Satir Global Network, the international network of family therapists and family educators founded by Virginia Satir. She has been the recipient of grants from the U.S. Department of Education, the Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (OSAP), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), and the State of Oklahoma. She is the developer of Say It Straight training. She has published numerous research articles and the book, “Say It Straight: From Compulsions to Choices, co-authored with Virginia Satir, with an accompanying CD. She has produced three DVDs used to increase effective communication/behavior and positive relationships in families, schools, student support groups in treatment and other settings. She is listed in Who's Who in the World.  She previously was Professor at the University of Oklahoma where she was the Founding Director of the Oklahoma Drugs and Alcohol Information Clearinghouse and Professor at the University of North Texs where she was the Founding Director of the Institute for Addiction Studies. While at the University of Oklahoma she regularly taught Human Relations on US Airforce and Army bases in the US and abroad.

David E. Golden, Ph.D. is CEO of the Say It Straight Foundation. He previously was a Regents Professor at the University of North Texas and also Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. He was George Lynn Cross Professor at the University of Oklahoma and has been a consultatnt to many corporations. He studied Systems Communication, Family Systems and Family Reconstruction with Virginia Satir for about 10 years and is a member of Virginia Satir Global Network where he served on the Governing Council and as Treasurer. He has served in a number of administrative positions in universities and industry. He has published more that 200 research articles and given many seminars and workshops for public and private institutions in the United States and abroad. He has been principal or co-principal investigator on more than $7M in grants from various federal, state and private organizations. He is co-founder of the Say It Straight Foundation and co-developer of the SIS training programs. He faciitates Training Workshops and works on Say It Straight research,training and the drevelopment of materials. He is listed in Who's Who in the World and American Men and Women in Science.

Master Trainers

Jaime Coates, MA, LCPC, Berlin MD. Lead Behavioral Health Therapist at Worcester County Health Department.

Matthew Clay, MS, Bloomington, IN. Manager, Centerstone, one of the largest not-for-profit community-based health care organization.

Jason Vail Cruz, BA, Phoenix, AZ. Prevention Manager at Terros, a non-profit community-based organization in Phoenix, AZ. He has experience delivering training in both the corporate and non-profit worlds.

Deborah Loesch-Griffin,Ph.D., Virginia City, NV, President of Turning Point, an organization that works with communities, schools and businesses. in the United States and abroad.

Marcy Haag, Ph.D., Argyle, TX, President, Centering Communications, Former Associate Dean and Adjunct Professor, College of Public Affairs and Community Service, University of North Texas.

Becky Hardy, Ph.D., LPC, Colleyville, TX. Counselor with expertise in addictions.She has done Say It Straight training in an outpatient addictions treatment facility.

Rebecca Jim, M.Ed., Vinita, OK. Executive Director of the LEAD Agency and has done Say It Straight training in schools and summer programs.

Howard Kairys, Psy.D., Marblehead, MA. Clinical psychologist in private practice specializing in child psychology and couples therapy and provides psychological evaluations in criminal and civil actions. He is also a Consultant to the Peabody, Massachusetts School System.

Maureen Quinlan, M.A., San Diego, CA, Teacher, Artist, Writer.

Furahaa Saba, MA, San Diego, CA. CCommunications Instructor at Southwestern Community College, Mesa Community College and Grossmont Community College. She has included Say It Straight Training as a core part of her Course.

Tom Wood, Ph.D., LPC, Malibu, CA, Clinical Director, Promises Treatment Center.

Thomas Wright, Basalt, CO, Police Officer. Works with community groups, schools, probation, parole, family counseling and juvenile justice.

We can give you names and addresses of people to contact if you wish to have information on:

SIS in Schools

SIS with Families, Organizations and Communities

SIS in Probation and with Incarcerated Youth

SIS in Addiction Treatment Settings

SIS in Alternative Schools and in Adolescent Group Homes

SIS in Prison Settings