Dinahsta Thomas, MSW

Dinahsta Thomas, MSW
Trainer Specialties
Trainer Background

Dinahsta is a licensed graduate social worker, trainer, and coach skilled in forming trusting relationships with trainees and community partners in order to advocate for their best interests. As a trainer for Elevate, she has been instrumental in as a subject matter expert in our Health and Human Services catalogue of topics. She also excels as a trainer of Active Listening, Motivational Interviewing, and Reflective Writing (there’s a poem in everyone; how to use creative writing as a self-care tool). She has worked as a training specialist, program director, and social worker at various organizations and agencies, such as the Washington D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, where she lead an agency-wide assessment and facilitated Empowerment Day for Care Planning and Coordination for staff and leaders. Dinahsta also developed the curriculum outline for a learning series for training department and agency staff, completed a Restorative Justice Train the Trainer initiative and facilitated restorative circles with youth, families and community members. She designed and facilitated the initial Care Planning and Care Coordination Training for program managers, supervisors, administrators, care coordinators and support staff, and created and implemented a workshop series on Core Values, Core Beliefs and Character Building for parents during the Agency Parent Retreat. At T.E.E.M. Leadership LLC, she presented at OSSE’s annual Federal Grants Management Conference on Family/Community Engagement and worked on programs including Baltimore City Schools’ Transition and Baltimore City Family Engagement where she assisted with the successful employment transition of teachers and educational staff for three closing schools in Baltimore City. At Community Residences, Inc. Dinahsta developed an Independent Living Curriculum for youth 18-21, co-authored an Arlington County Grant for an Independent Living Site dedicated to the housing of homeless youth with mental/behavioral health needs, and established a partnership with Spectrum Beauty Academy to provide free/reduced hair grooming services to group home residents. As Founder and Board Chair of InkWELL, she has established a reputation as the go-to for creative writing that is healing, encouraging and therapeutic. Elevate has incorporated Dinahsta’s unique skills and experience to make our Health and Human Services training more creative, community-centered, and practical to a broader population of trainees.