Dr. Deb Johnson-Shelton is a Research Scientist at ORI and the Science Director at Saavsus, Inc. Her research is focused on evaluating and improving environments that influence developing behaviors and health at the intersection of schools, families, and communities. She has 30 years of experience as an evaluator and researcher that has addressed multiple disciplines and systems of care (e.g., special education, child welfare services, emotional and behavioral interventions for families and children, alcohol and drug recovery, child victimization prevention, and child and family nutrition and physical activity).

Her early career focused on special education services for youth with mild disabilities, parent management interventions for ameliorating child antisocial behavior, adult recovery from substance abuse for family preservation, and culturally appropriate placement of children in child protective services. Her current research is dedicated to developing and disseminating evidence-based practices that address critical public health needs in child victimization prevention, health-enhancing child physical activity, and innovative school-and community-based mental health programs and interventions for children, adolescents, and adults.