It is this unique combination of whip-smart research-based insights paired with the hard work of program delivery and fueled by unrelenting focus and enthusiasm that makes Amy a rare bird in the field and an invaluable asset to whomever is lucky enough to work with her.

I first met Amy and her team as part of a series of visits to programs around the country that were doing innovative work around pairing cognitive behavioral therapy with employment opportunities.  We have been lucky enough to have her contribute this expertise to the implementation of READI Chicago serving men at the highest risk for gun violence involvement in Chicago, where her critical insights on program design and delivery helped course correct at a critical juncture in the program’s development. From the minute we stepped onto Turning Leaf’s campus in Charleston, South Carolina, I have been continually impressed by Amy’s ability to combine evidence-based practices with thoughtful practitioner knowledge and incorporate it into program design.  If she were to stop there, it would already be a huge contribution to the field, but what is unique about Amy is that these ideas then endure a rigorous field-based trial as she and her team experiment with what works (and what does not). They are continually tweaking and improving their own facilitation skills and program model to best serve participants.  It is this unique combination of whip-smart research-based insights paired with the hard work of program delivery and fueled by unrelenting focus and enthusiasm that makes Amy a rare bird in the field and an invaluable asset to whomever is lucky enough to work with her.

 

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