Tamara McQueen
Biography
Tamara joined the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice in July of 2023. In May 2023, she graduated from Wayne State University’s Master of Social Work program on the Innovations in Community, Policy, and Leadership track, focused on Holistic Defense. She completed her second field practicum at the State Appellate Defender’s Office where she worked with juvenile lifers and their support systems to develop commutation petitions and comprehensive reentry plans. Tamara also worked with Project Reentry on developing their Reentry Guidebook. She has worked in very diverse fields including a domestic violence shelter, the Ingham County Friend of the Court, as a contract program coordinator for Michigan Women Forward, and as a foster care child welfare specialist. During her bachelor’s program she interned for Ingham County Pretrial Services and with an Ingham County Juvenile Court Officer. Through her professional experiences, Tamara has grown her passion for working with individuals who have been involved with the criminal justice system and looks forward to aiding social reforms within our criminal/legal systems through research.
Responsibilities
Tamara currently serves as a program assistant for the Crisis Response initiative. Her responsibilities include coordination, communication, organization, and data collection efforts between CBHJ staff and county partners across the state, as well as coordination and support of meetings and evaluation and research activities at the CBHJ.
Degrees and Certifications
- Limited License Master of Social Work, LLMSW
- MSW, Wayne State University
- B.A. Criminal Justice, Michigan State University
- Certified Restorative Justice Facilitator, International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP)