Dr. Ravita Maharaj is the Director of AAIDD's SIS Programs.
She is a licensed, clinical social worker in the District of
Columbia, with extensive experience in program development and
implementation for adults with developmental disabilities, mental
illness, and substance abuse. Her previous employment includes 12 years
at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Institute, Washington, DC, in the position
Director/Division Director, and three years as a Research/Evaluation
Coordinator at Community Connections, Inc., the largest mental health
agency in Washington, DC.
Dr. Maharaj earned a doctorate in social work at the Catholic University
of America, with a research interest in organizational factors that
influence the implementation of evidence-based practices. She also holds
an MSW from Howard University and a bachelor's from the University of
Manitoba, Canada. Originally from Trinidad, she has worked for over 20
years in human services in Washington, DC.