Sarah S. Pearson Email & Phone Number

Alexandria, Va

• Advise federal leaders and tribal representatives on the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA) tribal action plan (TAP) to address alcohol and substance misuse.• Guide a team of Native professionals on community readiness, community systems analysis, and strategic planning to enhance outcomes for 320 urban and rural tribal youth programs that have received SAMHSA's Tribal Behavioral Health Grant, known to many as Native Connections.• Implement SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (assessment, capacity, planning, implementation, evaluation) to mobilize community systems and services.• Develop a toolkit comprising webinars, templates, examples, fact sheets, and policy and program guidance.• Conduct train-the-trainer sessions for the development, assessment, and implementation of grantee program action plans.• Initiate and launch the NC National Learning Community, a platform for peer-to-peer sharing and learning.

Rockville, Maryland, United States

• Advised SAMHSA-led interdepartmental Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse (IASA) Coordinating Committee authorized by the TLOA.• Attended TLOA-IASA meetings to enhance coordination and communication among federal departments and provide recommendations under the IASA Memorandum of Agreement.• Led seven workgroups to produce strategic work plans in areas such as TAP-Federal Response, Federal Resources, Communications, Native Youth Empowerment and Wellness, Minimum Program Standards, Data, and Public Safety and Health.• Authored articles for the IASA newsletter to tribes, promoting news on relevant federal funding.• Produced outreach materials for the Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy, including graphics and design, social media messages, and technical support for the Culture and Meth Don’t Mix initiative.• Traveled to tribal nations to lead TTA on TLOA TAP.

Alexandra, Va

• Led a national team of Natives and non-Natives to deliver TAP TTA to federally recognized tribes.• Produced culturally relevant TAP training using digital media tools for tribal teams and federal leadership.• Developed strategic action plan training for SAMHSA’s tribal behavioral health program, Native Connections.• Advised on the Indian Health Service’s behavioral health strategic plan 2015-2020.

Center For Juvenile Justice Reform

• Co-authored and managed the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Smart on Crime grant ($250K), leading to development of curriculum for the Juvenile Diversion Certificate Program.• Collaborated with state and local teams of juvenile prosecutors, law enforcement, and court professionals to provide guidance on diversion programming for at-risk and court-involved youth.• Supported Juvenile Prosecutors Leadership Network, facilitating discussions on adolescent brain development, innovative diversion programs, ethical charging decisions, school-to-prison pipeline, and application of evidence-based research.

Washington, Dc

• Advised federal leaders on responsibilities related to the TLOA TAP for Alternatives to Incarceration, Detention, and Reentry, the TLOA TAP, and the government-to-government relationship with tribes.• Participated in tribal consultations and meetings of various committees and workgroups, including the Coordinating Council for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice, and the TLOA-IASA Committee.• Developed a PowerPoint presentation and script used by the Associate Attorney General to introduce DOJ’s new Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, which consolidated multiple federal grant solicitations into one, thereby reducing the burden on tribes seeking to apply.• Collaborated with TTA providers to organize and implement the National Intertribal Youth Summit, attracting over 250 youth participants.• Assisted in the establishment of a new federal office under the TLOA and managed a $375K fellowship grant.

Alexandria, Va

The ACAs' mission is to lead and advocate for cultural development within the City of Alexandria and the surrounding region. The Commission is a grant-making advisory group for the City of Alexandria and issues annually a Guide to Funding containing information on the grant process, eligibility, and application instructions. Grants are made in support of operational, project, technical assistance, and special opportunities projects.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Fostered relationships among national, state, and local organization leaders, promoting CCS resources and events to enhance understanding and support for community schools.• Established policy advocacy workgroup of CCS partners to lead development of the Full-Service Community School Act and the DIPLOMA Act.• Led W.K. Kellogg Foundation-supported initiative national workgroup to create the Early Childhood and Community Schools Linkages Project, a framework for aligning systems and services at the state and local levels.• Managed staff, a budget of $3M, grant deliverables, and organized CCS’s first national conference, attracting over 2000 education thought leaders, practitioners, and researchers.

American Youth Policy Forum

• Awarded grant from the OJJDP to conduct original research on DOJ’s Tribal Youth Program (TYP), a culturally based prevention program for Native youth.• Produced a report with program and policy recommendations based on-site visits and interviews with various stakeholders. • The report was presented at a Senate Committee hearing in 2009, and the TYP budget has since doubled from fiscal year 2008 levels.

• Raised funds for youth and Native youth civic education programs that provide opportunities for underprivileged youth from across the United States to visit key sites in the nation’s capital.• Cultivated relationships with corporate and private foundations.

• Directed educational programming and networking events, including speakers’ panels, roundtable discussions, and site visits nationwide for Congressional and federal staff, and Washington thinktank leaders.• Produced national reports, articles, and briefs summarizing policy, practice, and research highlights.• Evaluated best practices for education, service-learning, civic engagement, and youth programs at the federal, state, and local levels and served as a grant peer reviewer for multiple federal agencies.• Acquired and managed public and private grants ranging from $35K to $450K.

• Represented America’s Choice school reform model to various stakeholders. The model has been implemented in 2,000 schools across 38 states.• Supported the development of TTA materials for a standards-driven curriculum.

M.Ed., Educational Psychology

Through this Master's program, Sarah studied education psychology and socioeconomic impact on academic achievement, and education models.

Executive Certififcate, Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management

Activities and Societies: Marketing for nonprofits, fundraising, leadership, finance, and operational practices for nonprofits..

Ba, Design

Master Of Education - Med, Education Psychology