Executive Director
Matthew Claps, MSW
Matthew Claps
As a senior leader in human services with more than twenty-five years’ experience as a practitioner, administrator or consultant working across philanthropic, not-for-profit, and both state and federal government, Claps has successfully led initiatives to advance the quality of practice and improve outcomes for youth and families involved with child welfare and behavioral health systems.
Claps has led the development and implementation of a variety of program and practice models and the associated practice infrastructure and support needed for their effective implementation. His experience includes developing continuous quality improvement processes and conducting program evaluations, designing and launching staff training and professional development initiatives, developing policy and procedures, and building the data and reporting systems needed to draw insights into their effectiveness. Claps also brings a wealth of experience in conducting both qualitative and quantitative monitoring and oversight, largely in litigation-driven system reform contexts. He has developed key performance qualitative review methods and tools and is recognized nationally for expertise in practice model implementation and continuous quality improvement in human services. He led implementation of Quality Services Reviews (QSRs) and developed other monitoring methodologies to assess services’ effectiveness and adherence to standards.
Currently, Claps is providing technical assistance and consultation support to several child welfare and behavioral health systems. He is leading program evaluation efforts and assisting states with their implementation of CQI initiatives, including use of the QSR. He also provides expert witness and testimony on issues related to child welfare systems improvement. Previously, Claps was a Principal and Technical Assistance Consultant at the American Institutes for Research (2023-2025) where he was a subject matter expert in child welfare and children’s behavioral health. He was also the Senior Director of Practice for Casey Family Programs (2011-2023). In this capacity, he and his team were responsible for all program infrastructure for direct services across ten services sites in five states with a target population of older youth in foster care and a vision that no youth should age out of foster care. He also consulted nationally on behalf of Casey. Claps previously held senior state government leadership positions (2006-2011) in both child welfare and developmental disability services systems and has experience working as a management consultant in human services settings with more than twenty-five states, counties and tribes. He earned his MSW from the Florida State University School of Social Work in 2000.
Beginning in January 2026, Claps will assume the Executive Director role of the Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group (CWG) where he will lead a team of ~ 20 independent contractors who bring significant experience in technical assistance, capacity building and quality of practice case reviews. CWG has a long history of providing technical assistance in litigation-driven systems reform efforts in child welfare and children’s behavioral health systems.
You can read more about Matthew here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-claps
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Executive Assistant
Shawanda Peterson, LBSW
Shawanda Peterson
Shawanda Peterson is a United States Air Force retired veteran and a native of McKenzie, Alabama.
During her BSW practicum at Troy University, she worked as an intern at the Child Welfare Policy and
Practice Group. She earned her BSW from Troy and her obtained LBSW after graduating. She is presently
enrolled in Troy University's MSW program and is expected to graduate August 2024.
Senior Advisor
Cornelius R. Bird, BA
Cornelius Bird
Cornelius R. Bird is a trainer, coach, curriculum developer and quality service reviewer with more than thirty years of experience in providing consultation services to human service organizations.
Cornelius has led projects to improve the quality of child welfare and children’s behavioral services in multiple states. Cornelius was a co-curriculum developer and facilitator of the New Jersey DCF Fellows program titled, “Managing by Data to Improve Child and Family Outcomes.” He also served as the Project Director for Western Washington University’s Children and Family Services Training Academy where he supervised new worker training and advanced training programs for child welfare personnel.
Additionally, he was a group facilitator at the Domestic Violence Resource Center Men’s Program and is a contributor to the Guidelines for Facilitating Child and Family Team Meetings with Families that have a history of domestic violence.
Senior Advisor
Margaret Bonham, MSW, LCSW
Margaret Bonham
Margaret Bonham brings over 40 years of experience in child welfare, having served in a wide range of roles including direct casework, supervision, consultation, and administration. Prior to retirement, she served as the child welfare director in Alabama during its massive system reform under a federal consent decree.
Following this work, she was a consultant for the Center for Support of Families from 2009 until 2015 where she was involved in implementation of child welfare practice models in several states. Bonham became certified to conduct functional assessments of youth in out-of-home care in Alabama prior to joining CWG. She assisted CWG in 2018 with an assessment of one state’s child welfare system and then joined CWG in 2021. She attained certification as a trained professional coach in 2020 from the Butler Institute for Families.
Senior Advisor
Sue Steib, PhD, LCSW
Sue Steib
Sue Steib has over 50 years of child welfare experience including direct practice, agency administration, research, and consultation.
Prior to joining the Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group as an independent consultant in May 2016, she was a Sr. Director of Strategic Consulting at Casey Family Programs, a position she held for eight years. During that time, she led CFP’s work in two states and served as part of a consulting team providing support to child welfare systems in 15 states.
From 2001 to 2008, Steib was Director of the Research to Practice Initiative at the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), leading work to synthesize current research in child welfare and related fields while making it accessible to agency leaders and direct practitioners through papers, workshops, and direct consultation.
Steib began consulting following a 31-year career in Louisiana’s child welfare system where she served in positions ranging from caseworker to supervisor, ultimately serving as the statewide Child Welfare Program Director.
Our Consultants
Wendy Alexander
Wendy Alexander
Wendy is a global business strategist, certified AI consultant, and international mental health expert with 20+ years of leadership in child welfare, systems of care, and behavioral health—having lived and worked in Dubai and across Africa, Asia, and the U.S. She has led cross-sector reforms through director-level roles and specializes in trauma-informed, culturally responsive care.
Wendy helps organizations integrate AI and cross-cultural strategies into mental health and human service systems. As a global speaker and trainer, she delivers practical insight that drives systems change and sustainable impact.
Alan Butera, MSW
Alan Butera
Alan has developed and delivered new curriculum to a variety of child welfare professionals in many important practice areas. He is also a practice coach who supports caseworkers and supervisors in real time with families. Alan often manages training scenarios with groups using a variety of web-based learning application systems. Alan has served as an adjunct professor at The University of Pittsburgh's School of Social Work since 2012.
Valencia Coleman
Valencia Coleman
Valencia lives in New Jersey, where she retired from the New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency. In addition to having a Masters in Psychology, she is also an Adjunct Professor and has 36 years of experience in service to families and children in child welfare. Coleman is solidly grounded in community service and astutely aware of disparities in services available to children and families - and the impact of the lack of services on their lives. Coleman is dedicated to assisting government agencies and non-profits to strengthen services to families.
Michael Fleischman
Michael Fleischman
Michael has worked extensively with children, families, and systems. He has been an instructional facilitator and equity advocate, and is known for creating welcoming and productive spaces for all people. He is a training specialist and skilled coach for child welfare staff, modeling service and compassion.
Phil Goldstein
Phil Goldstein, BSW
Phil brings 32 valuable years of experience in the child welfare arena in the Greater New York City Area. From working "boots on the ground" to serving as Associate Commissioner in Westchester County, he has shown success and outcomes at all levels. He is a skilled trainer and leader in child welfare.
Gabe Gomez, MS
Gabe Gomez
Gabe Gomez is a therapist and consultant living in Seattle, Washington. He has a Master's degree in Clinical Child and Youth Work, and has worked with children and their birth, foster, and adoptive families for over 38 years.
Kai Guterman
Kai Guterman
Kai has been working in child welfare for 22 years, including in direct service, policy research, management consulting, and leadership roles, at local, state, and federal levels. His current work in knowledge management seeks to connect people to people, and people to knowledge in order to harness collective intelligence to solve complex problems. He believes that in these times of mounting problems, we need to rapidly develop and spread solutions that match the scale of these problems.
Mason Hobbie
Mason Hobbie
Mason brings 33 years of service in child welfare. Upon his retirement from Alabama State Department of Human Resources in 2023, Mason was Program Manager for the Office of Quality Assurance. He also had success as a trainer. Mason has particular expertise in the Child and Family Service Review process, and served as a Consultant Reviewer during Round 2.
Steven Little
Steven Little
Steven has filled many roles in the child welfare space, from overseeing the case practice unit of New Jersey’s child welfare system to supporting systemic sustainability and direct family support. He is skilled at program implementation and an advocate for evidence-based practice.
Angela McClintock, MSW
Angela McClintock
Angela received her Master of Social Work from the University of Alabama in 2002. She is currently the owner of Willow Tree Family Counseling, where she also serves as a certified clinical trauma specialist.
Tonita Phipps
Tonita Phipps
Ms. Phipps began her career as a frontline worker and worked her way to administration quickly. She worked as a supervisor, Program Manager and Conversion Manager during implementation of Alabama’s child welfare consent decree, as well as Assistant Director of Child Welfare. Tonita brings critical context from many levels and angles; from line worker to implementation of a consent decree to managing a large child welfare agency.
Tori Gariepy Russell
Tori Gariepy Russell
Tori is a nationally recognized leader in child welfare, bringing over 20 years of experience driving transformation across federal, state, and local systems. She blends expertise in change management, CQI, and equity-focused practice improvement with a deep commitment to inclusive, trauma-informed service delivery. Known for securing multimillion-dollar grants and building strong partnerships, Tori leads cross-functional teams to implement sustainable solutions. Her data-driven approach guides executive leadership through complex reforms that improve outcomes for children, youth, and families.
Beatrice Salazar, BSW, MA
Bea Salazar
Bea is a committed human services professional who has 25+ years of experience in the areas of child welfare, juvenile probation, behavioral/mental health, and holistic community health and wellness.
Sophy Shore
Sophy Shore
Sophy Shore has been a child welfare advocate in many roles. She is committed to trauma-informed, culturally connected, and family-centered practice. As an experienced resource parent trainer, she is passionate about adequate preparation for these families as system partners, and aims to reduce the gap in mental health and wellbeing outcomes for children with trauma as a mental health provider for children and families.
Rachael Stinson, MSW
Rachael Stinson
Rachael is an LMSW with 15+ years of experience leading training, program implementation, and advocacy in education and human services. Skilled in designing and delivering impactful curricula, managing cross-functional projects, and mentoring staff to achieve professional growth. Bilingual in Spanish and English, with proven success in building partnerships, advancing policy initiatives, and expanding access to equitable services for children, families, and communities.
Cathy Walker
Cathy Walker
Cathy has worked in child welfare for over 33 years, beginning as a protective service worker with the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) in 1989, and retiring as a Consultant Manager in 2022. She has particular expertise in coaching caseworkers and supervisors. Cathy led her consultant team as they supported the Federal CFSR and the Program Improvement Plan (PIP).
CWG Supports Field Placement Opportunities
CWG is honored to support students with a field placement as they pursue a BSW or MSW. A placement with the Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group provides students with a macro-level view on current and historical child welfare policy and practice. CWG offers students the opportunity to engage with a variety of organizations and individuals across the U.S. who are working tirelessly to improve outcomes for children and their families.
CWG has hosted students from Alabama State University, Auburn University, Troy University, and the University of Alabama.
CWG's Board of Directors:
Stephanie Wander
Rose Johnson
Tom Bernier
Freida Baker