Sonia Alves

Sonia Alves has extensive experience in child development, education, and human services policy, with a focus on child welfare systems. Her work spans qualitative and quantitative research, program evaluation, and technical assistance, and strongly emphasizes prevention science and systems-level change.

Since joining Mathematica in 2021, Alves has supported numerous state, local, and federally funded projects aimed at improving outcomes for children and families. Currently, she is working with the University of Missouri to lead data-validation efforts for the Missouri Department of Social Services, consulting on strategies to strengthen monitoring, training, and informed consent practices for administering psychotropic medications to children in foster care.

She has also contributed to multiple child welfare projects, including developing conceptual frameworks for understanding child maltreatment incidence and surveillance, providing technical assistance for implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act, and evaluating trauma-informed prevention programs in Tribal communities. In the education space, she serves as Principal Investigator for the Pennsylvania School Climate Study, where she leads the validation of elementary student survey instruments—overseeing research design, institutional review board and data-use agreements, statistical analysis, and reporting. Her work has informed state-level decision-making and contributed to the evidence base supported by the Institute of Education Sciences.

Alves holds an EdD in human development and education from Harvard University. Her career reflects a commitment to improving outcomes for children and families through evidence-based practices, cross-sector collaboration, and culturally responsive approaches.