Meet your SOR Treatment and RECOVERY Teams!

Many OMNI staff support the evaluation of the treatment and recovery components of Virginia’s SOR grant. The SOR Treatment TA team has the most contact with CSB staff as they resolve technical issues and support administration of the GPRA through trainings and other TA resources. Project Oversight and Leads provide high-level support and guidance in evaluation and technical assistance. The SOR Recovery Team works with partners across the Commonwealth, from CSBs to state colleges and recovery housing programs, to evaluate all areas SOR recovery funding reaches. You can contact either team at SORSupport@omni.org.

Sor treatment ta team

CHERYL WINSTON

Cheryl (she/her) leads the SOR Treatment TA Team. She’s a researcher and has been with OMNI since 2013. She is also a TA on the SOR and Substance Abuse Block Grant Prevention teams, and has worked on other projects in the areas of racial and ethnic disparities in health care and juvenile justice. She enjoys working with grantees to provide technical assistance and training. Cheryl leads OMNI’s Survey Best Practices Team. She also has a music degree, is a songwriter, and plays guitar and piano. She and her husband have recorded a few CDs. They live in Boulder, Colorado along with Bibo and Butter, their cats. She enjoys drawing and painting, and is learning Italian. Tutto va bene!

 
 

JENNA LEE MATHEWS

Jenna (she/her) joined OMNI as a researcher in 2019 and leads the SOR Recovery team. Jenna is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and combines mental health expertise with passion for system improvement and program evaluation. Prior to joining OMNI Jenna spent five years as a therapist, specializing in individual and group therapy for survivors of sexual trauma. She believes in the power of inquiry, authenticity, and connection to move individuals and communities towards healing and wellness. Outside of work, Jenna enjoys cooking, traveling (pre-COVID!), growing veggies in her garden, and spending time in the sun with her husband and pup.

 
 

JULIA SIMHAI

Julia (she/her) has been with OMNI since 2016 and provides oversight to the SOR Treatment Team, supporting the evaluation work and CSB communications. She’s also involved in the SOR Recovery Team and has worked on several other projects in the areas of substance use prevention and community assessment. Julia enjoys helping organizations of all sizes effectively use evaluation data. She leads OMNI’s Data Visualization Best Practices Team and is always on the lookout for great graphs. Outside of work, Julia enjoys camping, hiking, and running. Indoors, she can often be found baking, doing a home manicure, or listening to podcasts. Julia lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband.

 
 

KATIE GELMAN

Katie (she/her) is a Vice President at OMNI and provides oversight for projects focused in public and behavioral health, including the overall portfolio of SOR projects. She works with the team to support contract management, deliverable development, and to be a thought partner throughout the evaluation. Katie loves engaging with clients to understand their evaluation goals, and to develop strategies rooted in best practices to support them in evaluation implementation, capacity building, and utilization of findings. Outside of work, Katie keeps busy chasing after her three small boys and enjoys being active outdoors in almost any way she can.

 
 

Leslie Garcia

Leslie has been a Research Associate at OMNI since June 2023.  She is a Technical Assistance Specialist for Virginia’s Substance Abuse Block Grant prevention project and the State Opioid Response (SOR) treatment project. Leslie is an experienced non-profit professional with project management experience and supporting various research studies phases. Before joining OMNI, Leslie was a Project Coordinator for the Social Environment and Health Program at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, where she coordinated the launch of a transdisciplinary research study on the effects of racial inequalities in sleep deficiencies. Before leaping into research, she was the Special Projects Manager with the Chicano Federation and the San Diego Latino Health Coalition initiative, an emergency public health campaign for lowering COVID-19 infections, collecting data, and distributing resources in the Latino community. This experience led her to pursue a career in research as she saw the need for data in addressing public health issues in marginalized communities. In her free time, Leslie enjoys visiting museums, discovering food spots, and going on walks with her partner and dog, Coco.  

 
 

Logan Ortiz

Logan (she/her) is a Research Associate at OMNI, where she works on a variety of public health projects. She is currently transitioning into the TA Lead role for the SOR Treatment team. Logan moved to Boulder County in October of 2021, after previously working in Maryland at Westat and getting her B.A. in Sociology and Psychology at the University of North Florida. Prior to joining OMNI, Logan provided TA work for largescale national surveys, as well as data analysis and support for Colorado juvenile justice programs. Her roles have aligned with her passion for using data and storytelling to make meaning of the world and inform decision-making. Outside of OMNI, she can be found dog-walking, biking around town, or reading a new book.

 
 

MAGGIE TAYLOR

Maggie (she/her) enjoys using her background in public health, statistics, and data storytelling to support the SOR Treatment TA team. She also contributes to other content areas at OMNI, including justice, behavioral health, and economic security. Prior to joining OMNI, Maggie worked as a data analyst supporting contacts with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. She received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania, where she developed a passion for understanding health through its social determinants. Originally from Iowa City, Iowa, Maggie has lived in many places throughout the U.S. and is happy to call Denver her home now. She loves baking (and eating) sourdough, cooking and watching chefs’ YouTube channels, soaking up the Colorado sunshine outdoors, and upcycling old clothes.

 
 

Nicole Sanchez

Nicole Sanchez (She/Her) is a part of OMNI's 2023 Fellowship program and started in June of 2023. She supports the State Opioid Response (SOR) treatment project with CSB communications, technical assistance, and evaluation. Prior to joining OMNI, Nicole assisted in research assessing the well-being of Latino adolescent immigrants in both Arizona and Florida. Outside of work, she enjoys trail running in the mountains and practicing yoga. Originally, born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Nicole is now happy to call Colorado home with her husband and dog, Sunny.

 
 

STACEY MCCLELLAN

Stacey (she/her) joined OMNI as a Researcher with a focus on public health in July 2019, providing evaluation support to substance use treatment programs. Since then, her focus has expanded to include evaluation support within the Criminal Justice field, including juvenile justice diversion and co-responder initiatives. Stacey received a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Colorado and has a passion for bridging clinical and research approaches to meet complex systemic needs. Stacey previously spent over four years in the community mental health crisis field before shifting focus to research and evaluation. You can find her in the mountains either fishing (especially ice fishing!), hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing in her free time.

 
 

Swechchha Tripathi

Swechchha (she/her) is a Research Associate at OMNI and has worked with the SOR Treatment Team since January 2023. Prior to joining OMNI, Swechchha was a Foster Care Case Planner in New York City, where she supported children in reaching their permanency goals of return to parent, adoption, or independent living. Since then, Swechchha has been focusing on pursuing a Master of Social Work degree at the University of Denver. When not at work, Swechchha enjoys watching crime shows and finding new trails to walk her dog, Luna.

 
 

LAUREN ROSENBAUM

Lauren (she/her) is a Researcher at OMNI and has been with the organization since 2019. Lauren supports several aspects of the SOR grant including quarterly surveys, collegiate recovery, peer recovery outcomes, and reporting. Lauren received her master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University and loves bringing data to life through eye-catching visualizations. Lauren previously worked as a communications and marketing specialist for non-profits and public sector consulting firms. Outside of work, Lauren loves to crochet, kayak, play tennis, and hike with her husband and Australian cattle dog.

 

J.R. Moller

J.R. (she/her) is a Researcher and joined OMNI in early 2023. At OMNI, J.R. provides support on multiple aspects of the SOR grant including surveys, reporting, and the DOC program elements. J.R. has an affinity for data and program enhancement. She received her PhD from UNC Greensboro in Educational Research Methodology - Evaluation and has a clinical degree in Forensic Mental Health Counseling from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. J.R. also obtained an MA in Psychology from New York University. When she’s not hard at work, you’ll find J.R. hiking, playing video games, or lost in a good book.

 

Christina Chavez

Christina Chavez (She/Her) is a part of OMNI's 2022 Fellowship program and started her position in June 2022. She provides support for the SOR Recovery Team through CSB communications, technical assistance, evaluation, data collection and analysis. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and has developed a passion for Research and Methods. Before joining OMNI, Christina served as a research assistant for the Sociology department at UCSB, on a study that explored the intersectional experiences of queer people of color in New Orleans. Christina's studies in Sociology have informed her advocacy for diversity and equity within the world of research. Outside of work, Christina enjoys hiking, traveling, and mountain biking.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.112 Per 2 C.F.R. § 200.112-1113 The Federal awarding agency must establish conflict of interest policies for Federal awards. The non-Federal entity must disclose in writing any potential conflict of interest to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in accordance with applicable Federal awarding agency policy. Failure to adhere to these statues will result in immediate termination of funding.

Virginia’s State Opioid Response (SOR) grant is awarded at the discretion of DBHDS and SAMHSA. All recipients of SOR funding supports evidence-based prevention, treatment and recovery services to address opioid and stimulant misuse and use disorders, including for cocaine and methamphetamine. The SOR grant is not intended to be utilized as a long-term or permanent funding source. All SOR proposals must include a realistic plan for financial sustainability beyond the grant period.