Jada Thomas-Smith, MPA, MSW, LMSW
Research Associate
Contact
jtsmith@lsu.edu
225-578-3731
Education
Bachelor's Degree: Family & Consumer Sciences, Nicholls State University
Master's Degree: MSW, LSU: Public Administration, LSU
Jada Thomas-Smith, MPA, MSW, LMSW is a Research Associate with the Social Research & Evaluation Center at LSU, where she has worked since 2006. She has more than 20 years of experience in social work, program evaluation, research, community engagement, and social and behavioral health.
Jada holds a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Social Work from LSU and a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences from Nicholls State University. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker in Louisiana.
Her professional work focuses on strengthening programs and systems that support children, families, and communities. She has served in leadership and evaluation roles on initiatives addressing child welfare, mental and behavioral health, education, violence prevention, substance use, school attendance, trauma-informed practices, and youth development. She currently serves as Principal Investigator/Team Lead for the Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund and Louisiana Youth for Excellence initiatives and as Team Lead for Shaping Futures: Mental Health Leaders of Tomorrow, an LSU-based mental health workforce pipeline program designed to introduce high school students to careers in mental and behavioral health.
Jada has extensive experience in program evaluation, data collection and analysis, technical assistance, training, grant support, and professional presentations. She is particularly committed to using research and evaluation to strengthen community-based programs and improve outcomes for children, families, and communities. She has presented at local, state, and national professional conferences and has provided training on topics including trauma-informed practices, health and wellness, protective factors, program evaluation, and community engagement.
In addition to her professional responsibilities, Jada is actively engaged in university and community service. She serves as Staff Advisor for the LSU Association of Black Social Workers and is a member of the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education Engagement & Impact Committee. She is also a founding president of the Greater Baton Rouge Area Association of Black Social Workers.
Program Evaluation
Program Design & Management
Technical Assistance & Training
Community Engagement
Child & Family Policy
Behavioral Health
Youth Development
Shaping Futures: Mental Health Leaders of Tomorrow
Team Lead | 2026–2027
Jada leads this intensive and immersive program introducing high school students to
mental and behavioral health careers at LSU.
Louisiana Blue Cross and Blue Shield — Shaping Futures: Mental Health Leaders of Tomorrow
Team Member | 2025
Jada supported a five-day immersive experience introducing high school students to
mental health careers and the college experience.
Project AWARE and Louisiana School Behavioral Health Support Program
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) | Team Member |
2021–2026
Jada supports initiatives designed to increase access to mental health services in
high-need schools.
Louisiana Statewide Attendance Alliance
Team Member | 2021–2023
Jada supported an initiative addressing student disengagement and school attendance
challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Louisiana Youth for Excellence (LYFE)
Principal Investigator/Team Lead | 2020–Present
Jada oversees data collection support and technical assistance for program staff and
subgrantees.
Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund
Principal Investigator/Team Lead | 2017–Present
Jada provides program evaluation, data collection and analysis, reporting, technical
assistance, and training for grantees and applicants.
Parent University–Raising Winners!
Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund | Author/Principal Investigator | 2011–2017
Jada secured funding for parenting education classes implemented across multiple Louisiana
parishes.
Winchester, E., Thomas-Smith, J., Tran, Q., Moles, A., & Rhodes, J. (2025). Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund: 2025–2026 Mid-Year Status Report. Louisiana State University, Social Research and Evaluation Center.
Winchester, E., Thomas-Smith, J., Tran, Q., Moles, A., & Rhodes, J. (2025). Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund: 2024–2025 Annual Report. Louisiana State University, Social Research and Evaluation Center.
Winchester, E. & Thomas-Smith, J. (2024). Louisiana Youth for Excellence (LYFE): Data Collection and Technical Assistance 2024 Final Report. Louisiana State University, Social Research and Evaluation Center.
Murray, G., Picardo, R., Thomas-Smith, J., & Rhodes, J. (2022). Improving Student Attendance: An Action Planning Workbook to Address Chronic Absenteeism and the Needs of Students and Families Through Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. Louisiana State University, Social Research and Evaluation Center.
Murray, G., Gittens, O., Picardo, R., Feck, C., & Thomas-Smith, J. (2022). Summary Report for Healthy Schools: Supporting 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program: A Professional Development Series to Integrate Trauma-Informed Practices and Techniques that Support Social and Emotional Wellness into Afterschool Programs. Louisiana State University, Social Research and Evaluation Center.
Thomas-Smith, J., Rhodes, J. L. F., & Perry, K. (2020). Baton Rouge Collective Healing Initiative: Final Report. Louisiana State University, Social Research and Evaluation Center.
Rhodes, J. L. F., Colomb, K., Thomas-Smith, J., & Lee, N. (2019). United Houma Nation: Understanding the Perceptions, Resources, and Challenges Involving Opioid Use Disorder. Louisiana State University, Social Research and Evaluation Center.
Thomas-Smith, J., Winchester, E., Rizzuto, T., Moles, A., & Zhu, H. (2018). Community Based Crime Reduction: Baton Rouge Hope Zone Final Report. Louisiana State University.
Guin, C. C., Barthelemy, J., Rizzuto, T., Thomas-Smith, J., Winchester, E., Mayberry, S., & Zhu, H. (2018). Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination: Final Report. Louisiana State University.
Caring for Ourselves and Each Other: Let’s Hit the R.E.S.E.T. Button. Families in Need of Services (FINS) Conference, Lafayette, Louisiana, May 2024.
The Trauma-Informed Classroom: Supporting Students. Presentations to Avoyelles High School staff (September 2022), Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy staff (August 2022), and Cottonport Elementary School staff (August 2022).
Tips and Strategies to Enhance Health and Wellness. Child Welfare & Attendance Summit, Louisiana Department of Education Jump Start 2.0 Convention, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, January 2022.
Invalidated & Invisible: Black Women, Mental Health, & Their Struggle from Within. National Association of Social Workers–Louisiana Chapter, June 2021.
Trauma-Informed Techniques in the After School Space. Presentations to 21st Century Community Learning Centers, December 2021 and April 2022.
Addressing Chronic Absenteeism During a Pandemic. Louisiana Attendance Alliance Statewide Monthly Meeting, June 2021.
Community Engagement as an Intervention to Violent Crime. 50th Annual Conference of the National Association of Black Social Workers, San Diego, California, April 2018.
How We See Them and How They See Us: Perceptions of Law Enforcement in the Black Community. 49th Annual Conference of the National Association of Black Social Workers, Washington, D.C., April 2017.
Reducing Homicides and Nonfatal Shootings: A BRAVE Approach. 48th Annual Conference of the National Association of Black Social Workers, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 2016.