Danette Lawrence

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with over 20 years of direct practice, clinical supervision, and program leadership experience across housing, government, education, and nonprofit behavioral health settings. Trained in EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Brainspotting, with a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive approach to individual, family, and group work. Extensive experience supervising MSW students and clinical staff, conducting psychosocial assessments and crisis intervention, and building service models that center client safety, agency, and equity.

Combines deep clinical grounding with the operational fluency to lead teams, manage risk, and sustain programs serving high-need populations.

Part-Time MSW Virtual Supervisor at Boston University School of Social Work (2025-01 – Present)

• Provide group supervision and individual clinical contact to MSW students across Online, On-Campus, and Off-Campus programs spanning U.S. time zones during practicum placements.
• Apply CSWE competencies and anti-oppressive, reflective supervision frameworks to foster students' professional identity, ethical decision-making, and clinical growth.
• Support students placed in diverse practice settings, including housing, behavioral health, child welfare, and community-based organizations.

Associate Director, Resident Services at True Ground Housing Partners (formerly APAH) (2024-01 – Present)

• Provide senior clinical leadership for resident services across multiple affordable housing communities, overseeing social work interns, resident service coordinators, and clinical case consultation.
• Direct trauma-informed, equity-centered service delivery models grounded in clinical best practice and aligned with community well-being goals.
• Build cross-sector partnerships with healthcare and behavioral health providers to expand residents' access to coordinated clinical care.
• Advance client empowerment through advocacy, restorative dialogue, and structured resource navigation supporting accountability and stability.

Services Coordination Manager at Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) (2014-08 – 2023-12)

• Directed trauma-informed, equity-centered clinical and resident services for 2000+ households across 14 communities, supervising 32 staff and interns.
• Provided clinical oversight and case consultation for complex resident situations involving behavioral health, housing instability, and family crisis.
• Led professional development and clinical training initiatives to strengthen staff practice and retention.
• Built interagency partnerships that expanded residents' access to clinical and supportive services.

Supervisory Social Work Manager at DC Department of Human Services — Family Services Administration (DHS/FSA) (2012-10 – 2014-08)

• Led a multidisciplinary clinical team conducting psychosocial assessments and triage for 100+ families daily, ensuring timely, high-quality service delivery.
• Oversaw crisis response and complex case management involving medical, behavioral health, and housing stability challenges.
• Collaborated with executive leadership to design agency-wide intake and crisis response procedures, later adopted across DHS/FSA.

Program Manager, Teen Parent Assessment Program at DC Department of Human Services — Family Services Administration (DHS/FSA) (2010-06 – 2012-10)

• Directed case management services for adolescent parents receiving TANF, providing direct clinical support around educational engagement and goal attainment.
• Supervised and trained staff in trauma-informed assessment, restorative engagement, and service planning.
• Developed partnerships with community agencies to expand prevention, parenting, and educational support programming.

Director, Parent Call Center at Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) (2008-08 – 2010-06)

Previously: Deputy Director, Office of Audit & Investigations (Oct 2007 – Aug 2008); Compliance Coordinator (Aug 2005 – Oct 2007)

• Directed compliance investigations, incident response, and restorative follow-up involving students, families, and staff.
• Oversaw behavioral intervention protocols and staff training, strengthening transparency and trust with families.

Juvenile Justice Social Worker at Suffolk University Law School — Juvenile Justice Clinic (1999-03 – 2003-03)

• Delivered direct counseling, advocacy, and trauma-informed intervention planning for court-involved youth.
• Facilitated mediation and family engagement sessions to support accountability and long-term stability.
• Collaborated with attorneys, courts, and community partners to coordinate holistic clinical service plans.

Master of Social Work in Social Work – Smith College School for Social Work

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology – University of Massachusetts Boston