Sheila E. McCarthy, LMSW, is a Senior Program Manager for the Recovery and Reform Team

at the Center for Justice Innovation (Center). Sheila has led a wide range of projects focusing on

drug/opioid courts, teleservices initiatives, veterans treatment courts and statewide strategic

plans. Prior to joining the Center, Ms. McCarthy worked for the New York State Unified Court

System for over a decade in several capacities within family court. Her career in the court system

began as a coordinator for a program aimed at increasing accountability in intimate partner

violence cases in Queens Family Court. She then transitioned to a Citywide position with the

Child Welfare Court Improvement Project, a federally funded initiative that supports the family

court’s mandate to promote the safety, permanence, and well-being of abused and neglected

children. Her last position before joining the Center was focused on a statewide initiative aimed

at improving families involved in the child welfare system, family court, and dealing with

substance use disorders. In addition to her macro level work, Sheila has experience directly

serving clients ranging from victims of sexual assault and intimate partner violence, to assisting

criminal justice involved individuals with cooccurring disorders. She holds a B.A. in Sociology

from Boston College and a M.S.W. from Columbia University School of Social Work.