Sheila has a broad range of experience and knowledge in the areas of equity, social justice, and health and wellbeing. She has worked for the past thirty years in the public and human services sectors, including in community organizing, direct services, nonprofit leadership, and strategic planning and policy work. Sheila holds a Master of Public Health and a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington. She currently serves as the inaugural Director of the Department of Community and Human Services new Children, Youth and Young Adults Division. Prior to her service in the public sector, Sheila led Open Arms Perinatal Services as Executive Director, a community-based organization she helped found in 1997. She is a certified doula who, although officially retired after providing doula services to low-income families for 25 years, still occasionally attends the births of family and friends. Sheila also served in positions with the Seattle Human Services Department, Seattle City Council, Public Health Seattle & King County, Big Sisters of King County and Planned Parenthood. She is passionate about community-based efforts to create equity and social change for communities including children, youth and families in our country.