Sheila E. McCarthy

Sheila E. McCarthy, LMSW, is a macro social worker and Program Director of Training and Technical Assistance in the Center for Research and Collaborative Partnerships at American University. Previously, Sheila was a Senior Program Manager with the Office of National Initiatives at the Center for Justice Innovation. She led local and national efforts to improve justice system responses to individuals with behavioral health needs, with a particular focus on justice-involved veterans. Sheila has led statewide projects to enhance Veterans Treatment Courts in five states and organized a National Veterans Treatment Court Summit to strengthen veteran-centered practices. Her work also spans community courts, family-serving systems, drug treatment courts, opioid response initiatives, and domestic violence prevention through training, strategic planning, and grant management. Grounded in procedural justice, collaboration, and trauma-responsive practice, Sheila brings nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of justice reform, behavioral health, and public systems change. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Boston College and an M.S.W. from Columbia University School of Social Work.