Tricia Sarahs, MSW, LSWAA, (she/her/hers) brings close to fifteen years of experience working in the human services field in private, state, and non-profit capacities serving diverse and marginalized communities. Tricia has worked in a variety of roles for the Department of Children, Youth & Families over the past six years in the child welfare, adoption, and licensing divisions. During her time with the Department, she has engaged in multiple work groups focused on creating more equitable and inclusive policy, supervised social workers, facilitated workforce development trainings, mentored CWTAP students in the field, and worked to keep children and families connected through a kin-first cultural lens.  

Tricia received her MSW from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2013 and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Nevada State College. Prior to her work with the Department, Tricia worked in areas of grant funded research and policy advocacy aimed at improving the lives and welfare of children through the creation of data driven community-based programs. She also helped to lobby for policies impacting families and children in legislative sessions and helped to coordinate the Prevent Child Abuse Nevada Chapter, Pinwheels for Prevention, and Choose Your Partner Carefully campaigns. Tricia also has experience advocating for children’s best interest as a King County Guardian ad Litem in the family court system, worked in the hospital setting providing clinical services to critically ill children, and worked in the educational setting advising students in eligibility programs including High School Completion, Running Start, and vocational retraining programs.