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M
URIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
November 5, 2025
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section
2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1- 523.01), and pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 16 -1053, I am pleased to
nominate the following individual:
Ms. Shannarese Sims
N Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(Ward 6)
for reappointment as a community representative member of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review
Board, for a term to end July 20, 2028.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-m entioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel B owser
Mayor
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Chairman Phil Mendelson
at the request of the Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
10 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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15 To confirm the reappointment of Shannarese Sims to the Domestic Violence Fatality Review
16 Board.
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18 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA , That this
19 resolution may be cited as the "Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board Shannarese Sims
20 Confirmation Resolution of 2025".
21 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
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23 Shannarese Sims
24 N Street, NE
25 Washington, DC 20002
26 (Ward 6)
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28 as a community representative member of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board,
29 established by D.C. Official Code§ 16-1052, for a term to end July 20, 2028.
30 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
131 upon its adoption, to the nominee, and to the Office of the Mayor.
32 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
SHANNARESE SIMS, MA
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR
PROFILE
= LicensedProfessionalCounselorwith10+yearsofexperienceinvictimservices.
_— J Dedicatedtoeradicatingpower-basedviolencethroughadvocacy,educationand
trauma-informedsupportservices.
||
Ee
bl WORK EXPERIENCE
= DirectorofTherapeuticServices 2023-Present
es ManagerofTherapeuticServices 2021-2093
[rT VolareformerlyknownasNetworkforVictimRecoveryofDC;Washington,DC
Location:Washington,DC + Promotedtoseniorleadershipforleadingoptimalprogramming.+ Developedatherapyprogramtosupportsurvivorsofviolence;overseeall
aang operationsandactivitiesfortheprogram;superviseTherapeuticServices
supportstaff,includingtherapistsandgraduate-levelinterns.
+ DetailOriented + Carryacaseloadoftherapyclients;integratethetherapeuticorientationsof© CulturalHumility CognitiveProcessingTherapyandHumanisticTheorywiththePhasesof
+ SocialMediaSavvy ‘TraumaRecoverymodeltosupportsurvivors;provideEyeMovement+ EventCoordination DesensitizationandReprocessing(EMDR)Therapytosurvivors.
+ Innovative&Adaptable + Createandfacilitatesupportgroupsandstaffsupportsessions.+ Maintainacomprehensivetherapyresourceguideforcommunityreferrals;
generateinformationalmaterialsforclientstoutilizeaspartofatherapeutic
EO LON toolkit;empowerclientstomakeinformeddecisionsabouttheirmental
‘MasterofArts: health.CounselingPsychology + ChairtheDCVictimAssistanceNetwork’sTrauma-InformedMentalHealth
BowieStateUniversity Committee;collaboratewithcommunityagenciesandmaintainstrategic
2017-2019 partnerships.MeritScholarship + ContributetoVolare’sTrauma-InformedEducationProject;presenttrainingsasrequestedforstaffandexternalstakeholders.
Bachelorof Science: . weeFama ecology2) FoundingClinician[PT] 2020-PresentCommunityHealth HiwaTherapy;Washington,DC
TheOhioStateUniversity2008-2012 + Providetherapytotraumasurvivorsandthoseexperiencinganxiety.
MorrillScholarshipFellow + IntegratetheoreticalframeworkssuchasInternalFamilySystemsandAdlerianTherapytosupportclientsinaddressingissuespresented.
+ GreateandfacilitatepsychoeducationalpresentationsandtrainingstoLIGENSURE communityorganizations
LicensedProfessional .Counselor (LPC) Contractual Therapist [PT] 2020 -2023
RPRrsCCGeTreT) ChaseCounselingServices;Washington,DC
YahingtonBe + Offeredstrengths-basedtherapyservicestoadolescentsandadults.
+ AidedtheCEO withspecialprojectsandadministrativetasks.
ve
SHANNARESE SIMS, MA
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR
LEADERSHIP
LEAPFellowOfficeonViolenceAgainstWomenvia ValorUS
2024
+ Selectedtobuildexecutiveleadership
skillsthroughaninteractive,comprehensivetrainingand
practicumexperience.
CommunityBoardMemberOfficeofVictimServices& JusticeGrants
DomesticViolenceFatalityReviewBoard
2098-Present,
+ AppointedbytheMayorto
characterizethescopeofdomesticviolence fatalitiesin the Districtof
Columbia.+ Providerecommendationsto
improvethesystemicresponsetovictimsofdomesticviolence.
ForensicTeachingAssociateDC ForensicNurse Examiners
2021-Present
+ Instructnovice clinicianson best
practicesforcompletingamedical-
forensicexam.
+ Emphasizetrauma-informedlanguageandactionstouse
throughouttheexam.
InternshipCounselorYoungLadiesofTomorrow2019 - 2020
+ Reducedrecidivismforat-risk
adolescentgirlsviatrauma-informedtherapy.
+ Leadpsychoeducationalgroupsat
theBalanceandRestorativeJustice
Drop-InCenter.
WORK EXPERIENCE CONTINUED
Senior Advocate 2021
Advocate& CaseManager 2019-2021
VolareformerlyknownasNetworkforVictimRecoveryofDC;Washington,DC
+ Advancedclientadvocacyandprovidedtrauma-informedsupport
servicestosurvivorsofcrime.
+ Onboardednewteammembersandassistedleadershipinresearch,education,andimplementationofbestpracticesforvictimservices.
+ Providedsupportservicestosurvivorsofviolence;workedcloselywith
ForensicNurseExaminers,EmergencyRoom Personnel,andtheDG
MetropolitanPoliceDepartmenttocoordinateaseamlessresponseprocess.
+ Referredsurvivorstoappropriateinternalandexternalresources;
attendedhearingsinthecriminallegalsystemtosupportandadvocatefor survivors.
LeadCaseManager
HouseofRuth;Washington,DC
2018-2019
+ Supportedvulnerablepopulationsinthehousingprogrambyassessing
strengthsandneeds,collaboratingongoals,andimplementingservice
plans.+ Createdandfacilitatedavarietyofpsychoeducationalandpsychosocial
groupsforresidentsoftheprogram.
Hotline& ResidentialCoordinatorManager 2016-2017
‘MySister'sPlace;Washington,DC
+ ImprovedfunctioningoftheHotlineProgram;ensured<2000
communityreferralswereprovidedperyear.+ Interviewed, trained,and supervised 14 Hotline & Residential
Coordinatorstaff.
+ Demonstratedspecializedknowledgeanddomesticviolencesupport
skillstoassistsurvivors.
SafeHelplineAssistantManager[PT]
RAINN;Washington,DC
2014-2017
* Monitoredanetworkofsupportspecialists;offeredfeedbackand
guidanceoncounselingskills.
+ Utilizedcrisisinterventionbestpracticestooffercompassionate
supporttomilitaryhotlineusers.
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xecutive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Shannarese Sims
S
hannarese Sims is a Li censed Professional Counselor based in
Washington, DC. Ms. Sims most recently created and developed a
therapeutic services program at a crime victims’ rights organization,
Volare, for which she serves as Director.
Ms.
Sims currently serves on the District’s Domestic Violence Fatality
Review Board; is certified as a Forensic Teaching Associate, which she
utilizes to she instruct novice nurses on trauma -informed practices for
completing a medical-forensic exam; and is a Cohort 10 member of the
Office on Violence Against Women’s LEAP fellowship (via ValorUS).
M
s. Sims has worked at various victim service organizations in the District and has accumulated
over a decade of experience working with survivors of power -based violence. This experience
includes survivor-centered program development, crisis intervention and response, psychosocial
case-management services, sexual assault support services, and group facilitation.
A
Ward 6 resident, Ms. Sims earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology/Community
Health at The Ohio State University and her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from
Bowie State University.
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Kimberly A. Bassett, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: October 28, 2025
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of a resolution reappointing Shannarese Sims as a
member of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced resolution and
found it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Michael Porcello, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at
202-727-0872, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth Cavendish