Alisa Matheson is a Child Welfare Executive Director, Therapeutic Life Story Work certificate holder, and National Adoption Competency mental health trained speaker. In 2021, she founded Power of Story, an organization that engages young people, caretakers, and professionals in the research and curation of life histories, provides training rooted in youth-centered best practices, and advocates for increased awareness and quality implementation of life histories. With the desire that young people who have experienced out-of-home placement have equal, consistent person-centered access to their history, stories, photos, and medical information.
Educationally, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Counseling, from the University of Northwestern – St. Paul and completed an Advanced Certificate in Therapeutic Lifestory Work and The National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative Courses. She has previous experience as an adoption recruiter, educator, and contractor; completed 30 Lifebooks and 80 Social and Medical Histories and has over 11 years of experience in the child welfare system. In every role, she has championed communication, relationship building, and respect for the personhood and rights of you in the child welfare system.