Muriet Bowser
Mayor
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Councilofthe District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C.
Law 2-142; D.C. Official Code 1-523.01), and pursuant to section 3042of the Fatality Review
Committee Amendment Act of 2018, effective October 30, 2018 (D.C. Law 22-168; D.C.
Official Code 5-1431.01), I am pleased to nominate the following individual:
Ms. Sara Kerai
605 Totten Mews NE
Washington, DC 20017
(Ward 5)
for appointment as arepresentative of an organization providing mental health and behavioral
services memberof the Violence Fatality Review Board, fora term to end October 12, 2022.
Enclosed you will find biographical information detailing the experienceofthe above-mentioned
nominee, together with proposed resolutions to assist the Council during the confirmation
process.
I would appreciate the Councils earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation.
Please do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor's Office of Talent and
Apppjntme uld the Council require additional information.
 hhairman Phil Mendelson
at therequest of the Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT
OFCOLUMBIA
Chairman Phil Mendelson, at the request of the Mayor, introduced the following resolution,
which was referred to the Committee on
To confirm the appointmentofMs. Sara Kerai to the Violence Fatality Review Committee.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OFCOLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the Violence Fatality Review Committee Sara Kerai Confirmation
Resolution of 2019.
Sec. 2. The Councilof the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
Ms. Sara Kerai
605 Totten Mews NE
Washington, DC 20017
(Ward 5)
as a representative of an organization providing mental health and behavioral services member to
31 the Violence Fatality Review Committee, established by section 3042 of the Fatality Review
32 Committee Amendment Actof2018,effective October 30, 2018 (D.C. Law 22-168; D.C.
33 Official Code 5-1431.01), fora term to end October 12, 2022.
Sec. 3. The Councilof the District of Columbia shall transmit a copyof this resolution,
35 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
36 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
 Sara Moore Kerai, MA, MPH, LPC
EDUCATION
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA M.A., Counseling Psychology and M.A., Pastoral Ministry
Named Outstanding Student in Counseling Psychology, 2002
Attended June 2000-August 2002.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Master of Public Health, Epidemiology
Attended August 1995-August 1997.
University of Dayton, Dayton, OH Bachelor of Science, Pre-medicine, Cum Laude
Attended August 1991-May 1995.
LICENSURE
Licensed in the District of Columbia as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Capital Caring, 50 F ST NW, Washington, DC 20001, May 2015-present/ 32 hours per week + on call
Bereavement Counselor, Point ofHope Counseling Program
Provide ongoing professional counseling and consultation services to multicultural individuals, groups,
couples, and families in a culturally competent, trauma-informed manner
Independently conduct assessments of the psychosocial functioning, risk factors, and strengths of diverse
clients presenting for grief counseling during the intake process.
Provide crisis intervention to clients experiencing intensegrief reactions.
Provide cli ical consultation in weekly interdisciplinary staff meetings to employees and managers.
Formulate, implement, and re-evaluate goal-directed treatment plans for all counseling clients
Manage the referral of clients to higher levels of care or community agencies and resources as needed and
appropriate.
Communicate and coordinate services with clients treatment providers in the community.
As part of the Community Outreach Team, plan, coordinate, and implement community psycho-
educational seminars about hospice and palliative care, with the goalofrecruiting and referring new
hospice families and counseling clients. Eleven programs have been conductedin the community as a
result ofthe teams collaborative efforts.
Created several new psycho-educational workshops to meet the unique needs of the Washington, DC
population, which are well-attended and repeated as needed.
Served Capital Caring as part of the interdisciplinary team to open a new inpatient hospice unit in a
hospital setting. Created processes and guidelines for counselors working on the inpatient unit, Attend and
participate in weekly rounds on the inpatient unit.
Lead psycho-educational seminars, community outreach presentations, remembrance ceremonies, and
support groups to diverse audiences in community-based settings, such as faith communities and senior
Citizens neighborhood villages. Facilitate staff support seminars and psycho-educational workshops to
employees at long-term care facilities.
Provide orientation, training and consultation services to new counselors and multidisciplinary hospice
staff.
Served Capital Caring as the first Bereavement Counselor superuser to learn a new electronic medical
record (EMR) system. Created procedures for documentation and creating care plans in the new EMR
system. Created a training manual and trained eight other counselors on the system. Provide ongoing
consultation to IT and counseling colleagues about how the EMR functions for bereavement counselors
clinical documentation needs.
 * Create and implement self-care/emotional support programs for hospice staff.
* Use computer software applications for drafting documents and psycho-educational materials, data
management and tracking, and maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation;
* Maintain up-to-date knowledge and understanding of existing ethical codes for licensed professional
counselors, including the ability to assist clients in making informed decisions relevant to treatment,
understanding the limits of confidentiality, and mandated reporting of potential abuse.
* Serve on the Bereavement Advisory Council and the CEOs Advisory Board for Capital Caring.
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Department of Mission and Pastoral Care, 3800 Reservoir Rd NW,
Washington, DC, 20007 2002-2013/ 40 hours per week + on call
Acting Director, Department of Mission and Pastoral Care (January 2007-August 2007 and August 2012-January
2013, April-May 2013)
+ Led and supervised a department of 12 people, including:
+ Provided orientation, training, and consultation and supervision to all staff in the department;
+ Ensured employees were following established procedures and guidelines for the effective operation of
pastoral care services and programs.
+ Assessed and assisted acutely distressed patients, families, and staff presenting to the Pastoral Care
department.
* Presented at New Employee Orientation and provided clinical consultation to multidisciplinary hospital
staff;
+ Assessed and responded to ethical issues;
+ Kept the department within the planned budget.
+ Led annual fundraiser for the Patient Sharing Fund, and broke the fundraising record by approximately
$4000;
Chaplain for Adult Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center (December 2005- May 2013)
Chaplain Resident (August 2002-August 2003)
+ Conducted assessments and provided emotional and spiritual support, advocacy, and pastoral counseling to
adult oncology and hematology patients and their families, including support during the adjustment to iliness
and treatment, survivorship, the transition to end-of-life, the time of death, and bereavement counseling and
follow-up.
+ Served as the On-Call Chaplain for the entire hospital twice per month, responding to all Code Blue calls,
patient deaths, and providing crisis intervention whenever needed during the night.
* Created and taught educational programs to all third-year internal medicine residents, all new oncology nurses,
and all second-year medical students about communication skills, grief and loss, palliative care, spiritual care
for oncology patients, and bioethics. Co-conducted an evaluation of the end-of-life educational intervention to
internal medicine residents, and co-authored a manuscript on the findings, resulting in publication in a peer-
reviewed journal.
+ Created and facilitated counseling support groups for bereavement, family caregivers, oncology staff, and
patients coping with advanced cancer.
+ Collaborated to provide holistic patient care and clinical consultation services as member of the Psycho-social
Oncology and Palliative Care Teams.
2
 Served the hospital as an active and contributing member of the Ethics Committee.
The Wendt Center for Loss and Healing, 4201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20008,
January 2011-June 2012/ 5 hours per week
Supervisor: Ms. Grace Metz, LICSW 202-624-0010
Provided assessment and professional grief counseling to individuals and couples from diverse cultural and
socio-economic backgrounds.
Facilitated weekly drop-in bereavement support groups.
Used computer software applications to maintain and submit timely clinical documentation and statistics.
Community Connections, 801 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC, 20003, October 2003-November 2005/ 40
hours per week
Clinical Case Manager, Integrated Trauma Services Team and Clinical Housing Team
Provided intensive case management, crisis intervention, and counseling to adults with serious mental illnesses,
substance addictions, trauma histories, and complex medical needs including HIV/AIDS.
Linked and referred clients to higher levels of care, substance abuse recovery programs, day treatment
programs, and community agencies and resources, and supported clients in these placements.
Collaborated with physicians, psychiatrists, hospital staff, group home staff, and other care providers for clients
in the community.
Led psycho-educational, trauma recovery, and skills training groups in womens center and residential settings.
Completed training protocol in leading the Trauma, Recovery, and Empowerment psycho-educational group
intervention.
Used computer software applications to create and document clients behavioral health treatment plans and to
complete timely clinical documentation,
Massachusetts General Hospital, 16 Blossom Street, Boston, MA, 02114, September 2001-June 2002/ 20 hours per
week
Addictions Counselor Intern, West End Clinic
Conducted intakes and in-depth bio-psycho-social assessments with clients in the outpatient clinic, Emergency
Department, and inpatient units, including dually-diagnosed clients.
Managed referrals of clients to substance abuse treatment programs.
Conducted individual therapy, brief therapy, and co-led group therapy with adult clients presenting to the
substance abuse clinic.
Used Motivational Interviewing techniques appropriate for clients stages of change.
Boston College Lynch School of Education, Campion Hall, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467
September 2000- June 2002/ 10-20 hours per week
Graduate Research Assistant
Orchestrated a research project evaluating faith-based interventions and services for persons with serious
mental illness and their families.
Developed a focus group protocol and conducted focus groups with church staff about services for persons
with mental illness.
Interviewed family members of persons with mental illness about their experience with church support.
Conducted extensive background research on church services for persons with mental illness, disability, and
the impact of religious faith on mental health, Co-authored a manuscript on the research projects findings.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Moms Demand Action for Gun SenseinAmerica, Washington D.C. Chapter October 2013-present
* Social Media Leader: June 2018-present
Deputy Chapter Leader: June 2016-June 2018
* Survivor Engagement Leader: January 2015-February 2017
* Active volunteer engaging in a wide variety of community outreach, education, and advocacy activities at
the local and federal levels.
PUBLICATIONS, PUBLIC SPEAKING AND ACTIVITIES
Coping with Loss andGrief at the Holidays. Presented several times in the Washington, DC community,
including: Bible Way Church, November 17, 2017, Northwest and Forest Hills Neighbors Villages, December
4, 2017, and Knollwood Independent Living Facility, December 15, 2017, Capitol Hill Village, November 9
2018, and Capital Caring Office, November 10, 2018.
Bereavement Support Services for Primary Family Caregivers. Presentation at the DC Caregivers Conference,
Washington DC, September 15, 2017.
Grief and Loss. Educational presentation to the University of the District of Columbia Institute of Gerontology
Respite Aide program, Washington DC, July 11, 2017.
Guest Lecturer for Dr. Jean Lynns Palliative Care Course, Georgetown University School of Nursing, Winter
2015.
Kerai, S.M., and Wheeler, M. The Forgotten Educational Needsofthe House Staff: Training Internal
Medicine Residents to Address End-of-Life Issues. OmegaJournal of Death and Dying: v. 67, no. 1-2/ 2013.
Moore, S.L., and Wheeler, M. The Forgotten Educational Needsofthe House Staff: Training Internal
Medicine Residents to Address GoalsofCare. Poster presentation at the Advocating for Clinical Excellence
Conference October 26, 2010. The poster was selected for Advocacy Honors.
Volunteer Life Skills group facilitator at Calvary Womens Shelter, Washington, DC, March 2009-2012.
Loss, Grief, and Bereavement. Presented module of End of Life Certification (ELNEC) for MedStar
Georgetown University Hospital Nurses, annually 2008-2012.
Spiritual Health, Presentation at Sisterhood: Caring for our Mind, Body, and Soul Health Fair, Calvary
Womens Shelter, Washington, DC, September 23, 2009,
Volunteer support staff at Next Step retreats for young adults with cancer and their partners/caregivers. May
4
16-18 and September 12-14, 2008.
Breast Cancer Support Services. Panelist, HIV-Cancer Awareness Day at First Seventh Day Adventist Church,
Washington DC, June 14, 2008.
Spirituality: A SourceofStrength and Hope published in Coping
with Cancer magazine, Nov./Dec. 2007.
Helping Couples Stay Connected During Cancer Treatment. Presentation to the Georgetown University
Hospital Palliative Care Forum, October 14, 2007.
LeBaron, V. T. and Moore, S. Empowering the Oncology Nurse and Caring for the Family Caregiver:
Meeting Critical Needs by Establishment ofa Formal Program ofBereavement Support on the Inpatient
Oncology Wards. Oncology Nursing Society, 32 Annual Congress; Las Vegas, NV, April, 2007.
Group facilitator of "Caregivers Forum" at Conversations about Colo-rectal Cancer Conference, Georgetown
University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, March 24, 2007.
Support for Caregivers for Young Women with Advanced Breast Cancer. Presentation with Joanne Assarsson,
LICSW, at the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Conference, Arlington, VA, February 24, 2007.
Barton, M.B., Morley, D.S., Moore, S., et al. Decreasing Womens Anxieties After Abnormal Mammograms:
Controlled Trial. Journal of the National Cancer Institute: v. 96, no. 7: April 7, 2004.
 Executive Office ofthe Mayor - Office ofTalent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Sara Kerai
Sara Kerai is a Licensed Professional Counselor intheDistrict ofColumbia
and is a graduateof the University of Dayton, the University of Michigan
School ofPublic Health, and Boston Colleges Lynch SchoolofEducation
& CollegeofArts and Sciences. She currently works as a Bereavement
Counselor for Capital Caring, the oldest andlargest provider of hospiceand
palliative care services in the Washington, DC, area. Previously, Ms.
Kerai served in the DepartmentofMission and Pastoral Care at MedStar
Georgetown University Hospital, as a Chaplain for adult oncology patients,
' families, and staff, and as ActingDirector of the Department.
Ms. Kerai has also worked as a clinician at the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing and Community
Connections inWashington, D.C. She welcomesevery opportunity to provide support in the community
to people who are grieving the lossof a loved one and/or recovering from trauma,
A Ward 5 resident, Ms. Kerai serveson the leadership team for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in
Americas Washington, D.C. chapter and has been a community activist on gun violence prevention at the
local and federal levels forthe past six years.
xk
 GOVERNMENTOF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Executive Office ofMayor Muriel Bowser
x Ok Ok
WE ARE
WASHINGTON
|
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
To: Gianelle Rivera, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Dat November 24, 2019
Subject: Legal sufficiency reviewofResolutions nominating Sara Kerai, Joseph
Richardson, Mallory Williams, Eric Li, Roger Mitchell, Setareh Walker, Forest
Hayes, and Elizabeth Wieser as membersof the Vi