SHERI ADAMS
Ms. Adams has a Master’s Degree in Social
Work from the University of Washington and has more than 18 years
experience working with diverse populations in academic, human services
and business settings. Her graduate studies focused in the mental
health field and social work administration.
She is a member of the Board of Directors of the
Center for Dependable Strengths, a non-profit dedicated to helping
others discover and apply their own human potential. As part of her
work with Dependable Strengths she authored an article that appeared
in the Fall 2003 edition of the Career Planning
and Adult Development Journal and was part of a 5-person
teaching team sent to Johannesburg, South Africa, to set up a workforce
development program in 2001 that is now a well-established non-profit
organization.
Ms. Adams is director of Homeless Services for
Metropolitan Development Council, a non-profit community action agency
that provides multi-site, comprehensive family practice health and
dental care to the homeless throughout Pierce County. She spearheaded
MDC’s effort to institute mobile dental and primary care services
for Pierce County’s homeless children/families that began in
the spring of 2002 and is now firmly established as part of MDC’s
Health Care for the Homeless program. Additionally, she leads a cutting
edge Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
collaboration that seeks to increase access to and integrate primary
care, mental health and substance abuse services for seriously persistently
mentally ill homeless people. Previously her work with welfare programs
in Eastern Washington was honored with a regional award for community
collaboration.
Ms. Adams is a member of the National Health Care
for the Homeless Council’s Clinician’s Network and Education
Committee. She actively serves the University of Washington-Tacoma
School of Social Work where she is a member of the Advisory Board,
a Field Instructor, and an adjunct faculty member. Additionally, in
2001 she was a Research Assistant on a qualitative research study
that focused upon fathers, child support, visitation and custody issues.
She presented the study’s findings at an international Human
Sciences conference in Victoria, B.C. in June 2002 and co-authored
an article that is scheduled to appear in the journal, Families
in Society.
Ms. Adams is married and enjoys spending
time with her children; going to the opera and theatre; collecting
antiques; reading and traveling.
JERALD FORSTER
Jerald received his Ph.D. from the University of
Minnesota in 1966 and joined the University of Washington faculty
immediately after graduation. He is a Counseling Psychologist who
prepared counselors and psychologists for their professional responsibilities
from 1966 until 2004. During his entire career he has specialized
in the facilitation of optimal development, focusing on the articulation
of strengths, goals, and values.
In 1987, Jerald collaborated with Bernard Haldane
to create the Dependable Strengths Project at the University of Washington
College of Education. He helped create the Center for Dependable Strengths
in 2003 and continues to facilitate workshops that help participants
articulate their Dependable Strengths.
Jerald also serves on the boards of three non-profit
organizations. He has been an active participant in the functions
of Philanthropy Northwest.