About

I help behavioral health and child welfare providers implement evidence-based and community-defined programs with rigor, cultural integrity, and towards sustainability.

I specialize in bridging:

Implementation science and EBP fidelity
Purveyor standards and evaluation requirements
Trauma-informed systems
Culturally specific and community-defined practice

Get in touch

Agencies are often asked to do many things at once: implement with fidelity, demonstrate measurable outcomes, reduce disparities, center trauma-informed values, and honor community voice.
Too often, these pressures compete. I can help team’s move forward balancing these priorities.

Community voice is evidence and I help agencies structure it into defined core components that lead to:

Measurable outcomes
Replicable manuals
Evaluation partnerships
Sustainable funding pathways

My work ensures programs are rigorous, relevant, fundable, and built to last.
I bring disciplined systems thinking, mission-driven leadership, and accountability to every engagement.

Many consultants bring one lens:

EBP specialists focus on fidelity but struggle with adaptation.
Community-based advocates elevate culture but may lack implementation infrastructure.
Evaluators prioritize measurement but may not understand operational realities.
Purveyors protect models but may not navigate system constraints.

I have had the privilege to work across all of these domains and understand:

Core component protection
Implementation drivers and staged rollout
Evaluation design and reporting alignment
Cultural adaptation strategy
Community-defined evidence development
Public-sector funding realities

I consider myself a broker among many and help teams align their actions towards a shared and reachable vision.

My Background

I am a nationally recognized implementation science leader specializing in trauma-informed behavioral health and child welfare systems. I currently lead national implementation and technical assistance initiatives across public systems.

My work includes:

Helping community based organizations manualize their programs, to include building fidelity tools and evaluation plans.
Leading large-scale workforce development initiatives in child welfare and behavioral health

Designing and overseeing implementation plans, readiness assessments, fidelity monitoring systems, and evaluation protocols
Supporting agencies in operationalizing implementation frameworks and competency drivers
Conducting systematic research on evidence-based implementation in child welfare settings
Developing strategies for culturally adapting EBPs to improve outcomes and allocate resources effectively
Examining structural inequities impacting LGBTQ+ youth of color in child welfare systems.

I hold a Doctorate in Business Administration and a Master of Public Administration. My scholarship and practice experience uniquely position me to operate at the intersection of research, policy, evaluation, and frontline implementation. I am known for my ability to translate complex implementation science into clear, operational tools, while elevating cultural integrity and community-defined evidence.

Select Publications

Mountz, S., Weeks, A., Khavar, V., & Fletcher, D. (2024). Unpacking Assumptions About Disproportionate System Involvement Among LGBTQ+ Youth of Color. Studies in Clinical Social Work: Transforming Practice, Education and Research, 94(4), 381–404. https://doi.org/10.1080/28376811.2024.2427685

Matarese, M., Greeno, E., Weeks, A., Hammond, P., Smith, L. K., & Wilson, B. D. M. (2024). The Cuyahoga youth count: one county’s prevalence of and experience data from LGBTQ+ youth in out-of-home placements. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2024.2375309

Matarese, M., Greeno, E.J., Weeks, A., Lorthridge, J., Hammond, P., & Deinhart, S. Building connections between chosen family and kin: A culturally adapted program for LGBTQ+ children, youth, and their families. Families in Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894231204538

Matarese, M., Betsinger, A., Weeks, A. (2023). The influence of juvenile justice workforce’s knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs on behaviors toward youth with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions. Children and Youth Services Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106917

Weeks, A. (2022). Culturally adapting evidence-based and informed practices to meet client population needs and ensure appropriate allocation of scarce resources: A systematic review. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance. DOI: 10.1080/23303131.2022.2033902

Weeks, A., Altman, D., Khavar, V., Lorthridge, J., & Irons, A. (2021) What Human Service Leaders Need to Know about Supporting Staff to Implement Evidence-Informed Programs, Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance. DOI: 10.1080/23303131.2021.1967824

Weeks, A. (2021). Important factors for evidence-based implementation in child welfare settings: A systematic review, Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 18:2, 129-154, DOI: 10.1080/26408066.2020.1807433

Matarese, M., Greeno, E., Weeks, A., Hammond, P. (2021). The Cuyahoga youth count: A report on LGBTQ+ youth’s experience in foster care. Baltimore, MD: The Institute for Innovation & Implementation, University of Maryland School of Social Work. Retrieved from https://theinstitute.umaryland.edu/our-work/national/lgbtq/cuyahoga-youth-count/

Weeks, A., Altman, D., Stevens, A., Lorthridge, J., Heaton, L. (2017). Strengthening the Workforce to Support Youth in Foster Care who Identify as LGBTQ+ through Increasing LGBTQ+ Competency: Trainers’ Experience with Bias. Child Welfare League of America, Special Issues Volume 96, Number 2: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity/ Expression, and Child Welfare. Found at https://netforum.avectra.com/eweb/shopping/shopping.aspx?site=cwla&webcode=shopping&shopsearch=journal&prd_key=a2ea4925-d30f-4325-a117-93ae4462a0dc.

Weeks, A., Irons, A., Parrish, L., Altman, D., Stevens, A., Vitorino, S., Hsu, A. 2016. Outreach and Relationship Building Program Manual. Los Angeles LGBT Center. Found at https://files.lalgbtcenter.org/pdf/rise/Los-Angeles-LGBT-Center-RISE-Outreach-Relationship-Building-Program-Manual-Vol1.pdf.

Austin, A., Craig, S., Matarese. M., Greeno, E., Weeks, A., Betsinger, A. (2021). Preliminary effectiveness of an LGBTQ+ affirmative parenting intervention with foster parents. Children and Youth Services Review, 127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106107.

Greeno, E., Matarese, M., & Weeks, A. (2021) Attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of child welfare workers toward LGBTQ youth, Journal of Public Child Welfare, DOI: 10.1080/15548732.2021.1940415

Media Appearances

Podcast

Interviewed and facilitated through October 2022. Collecting Data on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Expression in Child Welfare: Episodes 1-4. James Bell Associates. Stream James Bell Associates | Listen to Collecting Data on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Expression in Child Welfare playlist online for free on SoundCloud.

Interviewed on May 22, 2023. Allies United. Strong Talk Podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_itfBCYZUM&feature=youtu.be

Interviewed on November 17, 2022. Adopting and Fostering a Child Who Identifies as LGBTQ+. Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption & Foster Care. Adopting or Fostering a Child Who Identifies as LGBTQ+ – Creating a Family.

Interviewed on May 6, 2022. The National SOGIE Center. The University of Maryland Pulse Podcast. https://www.umaryland.edu/pulse/

Print

Matarese, M. and Weeks, A. (October 11, 2021). National Coming Out Day: For many LGBTQ youth in foster care, ‘coming out’ isn’t an option. Opinion Editorial. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/10/11/national-coming-out-day-foster-care/6026035001/

Quoted and featured on August 5, 2022. New LGBTQ Youth and Family Resource: Culturally-relevant information support parents in caring for LGBTQ children and youth. RISE. https://www.risemagazine.org/2022/08/new-lgbtq-youth-and-family-resources/

Quoted and featured on June 29, 2022. How to support your LGBTQ child’s mental health. CNN Health. https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/29/health/parents-lgbtq-mental-health-support-wellness/index.html

Quoted and featured on June 18, 2021. New report shows LGBTQ+ youth overrepresented in Cuyahoga county foster care system, experience disparate outcomes by Vince Grzegorek. Cleveland Scene. https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/new-report-shows-lgbtq-youth-overrepresented-in-cuyahoga-county-foster-care-system-experience-disparate-outcomes/Content?oid=36120981

Quoted and featured on June 2021. Study finds overrepresentation of LGBTQ+ youth in Midwest foster care system. Erie Gay News. https://www.eriegaynews.com/news/article.php?recordid=202107midwestlgbtqyouthfosterstudy

Selected Presentations

Weeks, A., Matarese, M., and Greeno, E. (2022). A national effort to improve mental health and well-being for LGBTQ+ youth in the U.S. Presented at the 3^rd International Conference on LGBT+ Psychology and Related Fields conference, Lisbon, Portugal.

Matarese, M., Weeks, A., and Greeno, E. (2022). Best practices in supporting LGBTQ+ youth and their families. Accepted for the National Council for Mental Well Being NatCon 22 Redefined, Washington, DC.

Greeno, E.J., Matarese, M., Weeks, A., Hammond, P., Betsinger, S. A., Schisler, L, & Smith, L. (January, 2022). The prevalence and experience of LGBTQ+ youth in a midwestern foster care system: The Cuyahoga Youth Count. Virtual eposter presented at the 2022 Society for Social Work and Research conference. Washington, DC.

Matarese, M., Greeno, E.J., & Weeks, A. (2019, March). Grounded in implementations science: The development of evidence-informed interventions to improve stability, permanency, and well-being of youth with diverse sexual orientation, gender identify and expression in foster care. Discussion presented at the 32^nd Annual Research & Policy Conference on Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Behavioral Health, Tampa, Fl.

Weeks, A. & Irons, A., (2018, July). Reducing Anti-LGBTQ+ Bias Through Training and Coaching. Presented at the Training Institutes Conference, Washington, DC.

Weeks, A. & Altman, D. (2016, October). Using Data to Decrease Anti-LGBTQ Bias. Presented at the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

Weeks, A. (2016, February). The Dangers Facing LGBTQ Youth in Systems of Care. Presented at the Human Rights Campaign Time to Thrive Conference. Dallas, TX.

Weeks, A., Vitorino, M. & Hsu, A. (2016, March). The Dangers Facing Transgender Youth in Systems of Care. Presented at the True Colors Conference. Storrs, CT.

Weeks, A., Vitorino, M., Hsu, A., & Irons, A. (2015, August). LGBTQ Youth: From Invisibility to Permanency. Presented at the California Department of Social Services Professional Symposium, Sacramento, CA.

Weeks, A. (2015, June). Internalized Bias and Treating LGBTQ Patients. Cultivating LGBTQ Competency, Community Presented at the Service Providers Summit, Kaiser Permanent, Los Angeles, CA.

FAQs

What is your process for working on smaller projects?

Smaller projects are my specialty. I work on several large national projects and those are typically publicly funded. On my off time, I like to help smaller organizations that wouldn’t normally have the resources to access the kind of support that’s offered by big universities and firms. The first step is the chat about your project-make sure there is no conflict of interest- and that I am the right fit for your needs.

Do you specialize in any particular population?

Yes! A large part of my career has been focused on LGBTQ+ populations and building programs specifically for that group and for young people experiencing foster care. I have also done some race equity work, community work with tribes, and have lived experience as a caretaker with someone with dual diagnosis SDD and IDD.