CURRICULUM VITAE
TAMARA H. NORRIS
EDUCATION:
M.S.S.W., M.P.A., School of Social Work, School of International and Public Affairs,
Columbia University in the City of New York, 1988
B.A., English, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, 1981
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT:
2015 - Present
Coordinator, Center for Aging Research and Educational Services/
Developmental Disabilities Training Institute
School of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2014 - Present
Director, Family Support Program, School of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2012 - Present
Clinical Associate Professor, School of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2010 - 2012
Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2010 - Present
Associate Director
Family Support Program, School of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2005 - 2010
Information and Referral Coordinator
Family Support Network of North Carolina, School of Medicine
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2005 - 2009
Adjunct/Contract Instructor, School of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2005
Assistant Program Officer
Family Health International
Research Triangle Park, NC
2003
Director, Family Support Programs; Manager, Literacy and School
Readiness Enhancement Project
Child Care Services Association
NORRIS, T.H. Page 1
Chapel Hill, NC
1999 - 2001
Clinical Instructor, School of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2000 - 2001
Chapel Hill Project Coordinator, North Carolina Child Welfare
Education Collaborative, School of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
1999 - 2000
Associate Director, Field Education Program; Chapel Hill Project
Coordinator, North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative
School of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
1998 - 1999
Program Manager
Orange County Partnership for Young Children
Chapel Hill, NC
1992 - 1997
Educational Research Associate; Administrative Coordinator, NC Family
and Children’s Resource Program, School of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
1990 - 1991
Director, Urban Initiatives
United Way of New York City
1988 - 1990
Program Assistant, Victim Services Agency
New York, NY
1986
Research Assistant, Brookdale Institute on Aging and Adult Human
Development, School of Social Work
Columbia University in the City of New York
HONORS AND AWARDS:
The Dean’s Recognition of Teaching Excellence Award, School of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2005 - 2006
Brookdale Foundation Scholarship in Gerontology, 1985
Cum Laude, With Distinction, University of Washington, 1981
Honors Program, Western Washington University, 1977
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
NORRIS, T.H. Page 2
Norris, T. (2009, Winter). Connecting families with information and services. UNC Carolina
Institute for Developmental Disabilities Newsletter, 1, 5.
Norris, T. (2006, November). The Central Directory of Resources: Where foster and adoptive
parents find answers. Fostering Perspectives, 11(1).
Norris, T. (2006, September). Promoting school success: Resources for child welfare workers
and families. Training Matters, 7(4).
Norris, T. (1999, May). Understanding the Needs of Los Ninos in Orange County. Chapel Hill,
NC: Orange County Partnership for Young Children.
Norris, T., Salmon, M. (1997). Patterns of Innovation in Family and Child Welfare: A Survey of
States’ Strategies for System Redesign. Chapel Hill: NC Family and Children’s Resource
Program.
Norris, T. & Williford, L. (1993). Families Count: Strategies for improving outcomes for
vulnerable families & their children in the child welfare system. Proceedings of the
PolicyDevelopment Conference of the NC Association of County Directors of Social
Services. Chapel Hill: NC Family and Children’s Resource Program.
Williford, L., Norris, T., Richman, J. & Nelson, G. (1993). Family and line worker perceptions
of the current foster care/adoption system. Chapel Hill: NC Family and Children’s
Resource Program.
McCann, A.R. (Ed.), Aaronson, A. & Felker (Norris), T. (1987). The annual clinical software
guide for the human services: 1987. New York: Brookdale Institute on Aging and Adult
Human Development, Columbia University.
Felker (Norris) T. (1986). A catalogue of courses on aging at Columbia University. New
York: Brookdale Institute on Aging and Adult Human Development.
Blatman, C.R., Stuen, C., Kaye, L.W., Felker (Norris) T. (1986). Program impact analysis
of a demonstration project of retired university personnel service to the community. New
York: Brookdale Institute on Aging and Adult Human Development, Columbia
University.
TEACHING AND COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES:
Courses taught at the School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:
SOWO 837 – Disability Policy, Spring 2011 (Co-Instructor with Dr. Irene Nathan Zipper)
SOWO 874 - Administration and Management: Theory and Practice, Fall 2009
SOWO 517 - Integrated Social Work Practice, Fall 2009 (Co-Instructor with Dr. Vanessa
NORRIS, T.H. Page 3
Hodges)
SOWO 804/239 - Organizational and Community Behavior, Spring 2006, Fall of 2007, 2008
Faculty Advisor, Community, Management and Policy Practice Networking Night, 2013
Member, Community, Management and Policy Practice Concentration Committee, 2012-2013
Field Instructor, Morgan Forrester, Advanced Standing Community Management, Policy, and
Practice Social Work Student, School of Social Work, 2014- 2015
Field Instructor, Kayleigh Williams, Advanced Standing Community Management, Policy, and
Practice Social Work Student, School of Social Work, 2013- 2014
Field Instructor, Sarah Marsh, Advanced Standing Community Management, Policy, and
Practice Social Work Student, School of Social Work, 2011- 2012
Field Instructor, Denise Lindley, Advanced Standing Management and Community
Practice Social Work Student, School of Social Work, 2010 - 2011
Field Instructor, Kiley Morgart, Advanced Standing Management and Community
Practice Social Work Student, School of Social Work, 2009 – 2010
Guest Lecturer, SOWO 874 – Administration and Practice Theory and Management, School
Social Work, Fall 2012, Fall 2014
Guest Lecturer, EDUC 695 - Introduction to Exceptional Children, School of Education, Spring
2010
Guest Lecturer, SOWO 832 - Family Policy, School of Social Work, Spring 2009
Field Instructor Representative for Council on Social Work Accreditation Site Visit, School
of Social Work, Winter 2009
Field Instructor, Anna Franklin, 2nd Year Management and Community Practice Social
Social Work Student, School of Social Work, 2008 - 2009
Field Instructor, Sarah Nixon, 2nd Year Management and Community Practice Social Work
Student, School of Social Work, 2008
Guest Lecturer, Early Childhood Education Program, Central Carolina Community College,
Spring 2007
Trained Support Person, UNC-Chapel Hill SPA Dispute Resolution and Staff Grievance Hearing
Panel, Spring 2007
Member, Search Committee for Director of Field Education Program, School of Social
NORRIS, T.H. Page 4
Work, 2000
Participant, Nonprofit Leadership and Management Program Planning Retreat, School of Social
Work, 1994
SELECTED WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS:
Norris, T. & Leach, B. “Evidence-Based Caregiver-Provider Partnerships: Working
Collaboratively with Families who have Children with Special Needs.” NC Social Services
Institute. Hickory. October 2014
Norris, T. & Leach, B. “Parents Making Dream Out of Life’s Hard Places: Dealing with the
Challenges of Raising a Child with Special Needs.” Northwest Area Health Education Center
(AHEC). Winston-Salem. March 2014
Zipper, I.N. & Norris, T. “PREParation for Emergencies and Recovery: Supporting Individuals
with Developmental Disabilities and their Families.” Social Work Social Development 2012:
Action and Impact. Stockholm, Sweden. July 2012.
Norris, T. & Leach, B. “Parents and Providers: Perspectives on Supporting Families with
Children who have Special Needs.” SEAHEC Coastal Pediatric Symposium 2012. Wrightsville
Beach. March 2012.
Norris, T. & Leach, B. “PREP: Ensuring Emergency Preparedness for Individuals with
Disabilities and their Families.” North Carolina Emergency Management Association & The
Salvation Army North Carolina Spring 2012 All-Hazards Conference. Sunset Beach. March
2012.
Norris, T. & Zipper, I. “Essential for Individuals with Disabilities: PREParation for Emergencies
and Recovery.” Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs National Conference.
Washington, D.C. February 2012.
Norris, T. “Family Support for Prader-Willi Syndrome.” UNC School of Medicine PraderWilli Syndrome Day 2009. Chapel Hill. July 2009.
Norris, T. & Leach, B. “Family Support - We All Need a Little Support in Finding Work/Life
Balance”. UNC School of Social Work Annual SPA Staff Retreat. Chapel Hill. October 2008.
Norris, T. “NCcareLINK and I&R in North Carolina”. Site visit by US Dept. of Health and
Human Services Administration on Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Morrissey.
Chapel Hill. January 2008.
Norris, T. & DuBose, E. “What’s Special about Specialized I&Rs: A Look at I&R for Families
with Children who have Special Needs”. NC Alliance of Information and Referral Systems
Annual Conference. New Bern. November 2007.
NORRIS, T.H. Page 5
Norris, T. & LeClair, K. “Connecting with Families of Children in Foster Care”. NC Chapter
of the National Association for the Education of Young Children Conference. Greensboro.
September 2007.
Norris, T. & DuBose, E. “Accessing and Assessing Information and Resources through the
Central Directory of Resources”. National Smart Start Conference. Greensboro. May 2007.
Leach, B. & Norris, T. “Family Centered Support: Coming Together in Partnership”. Annual
Coming Together Conference. Wilmington. January 2007.
Norris, T. “Central Directory of Resources: A Wealth of Support”. NC Early Intervention
Branch Statewide Communication Conference. Raleigh. September 2006.
Norris, T. “Creating the Ideal Family Support Network Local Affiliate Program”. Planning
Session with Family Support Network of Mecklenburg County. Chapel Hill. May 2006.
Norris, T. “The Needs of Los Ninos in Orange County”. Orange County Board of
Commissioners Meeting. Chapel Hill. Spring 1999.
McCann, A., Diamond, B.E., & Felker (Norris), T. “Introduction to Computers”. Columbia
University School of Social Work. New York. January 1986.
GRANTS WITH SIGNIFICANT ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITES:
2014-15
Principal Investigator, Supporting Families with Children who have
Special Needs, funded by the NC Department of Health and Human
Services, Division of Social Services, $413,333
2013-14
Principal Investigator, Supporting Families with Children who have
Special Needs, funded by the NC Department of Health and Human
Services, Division of Social Services, $400,027
2012 -2013
Principal Investigator, Family Support to Prevent Child Abuse and
Neglect: The Parent to Parent Model, funded by the NC Department of
Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, $101,341
2012- 2013
Investigator, Central Directory of Resources, Training, and Family Support
Activities, funded by the NC Department of Health and Human Services,
Division of Public Health, $454,560
2011 - 2012
Principal Investigator, Family Support to Prevent Child Abuse and
Neglect: The Parent to Parent Model, funded by the NC Department of
Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, $101,341
NORRIS, T.H. Page 6
2011- 2012
Investigator, Central Directory of Resources, Training, and Family Support
Activities, funded by the NC Department of Health and Human Services,
Division of Public Health, $454,560
2011- 2012
Principal Investigator, Enhancing Lifespan Respite Care Resources Across
North Carolina through the Family Support Network, funded by the NC
Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult
Services, $10,000
2010 - 2011
Investigator, Family Support to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect: The
Parent to Parent Model, funded by the NC Department of Health and
Human Services, Division of Social Services, $80,000
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:
Member, NC Developmental Disabilities Consortium, Raleigh, NC 2015 - Present
Member, NC Infant Mental Health Association Early Childhood Mental Health Workforce
Development Task Force, Greensboro, 2015 - Present
Member, Autism Alliance, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2013 - Present
Member, Consumer Advisory Council, North Carolina University Center for Excellence in
Developmental Disabilities at the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2013
Member, Proposal Review Committee, NC Division of Aging and Adult Services NC Lifespan
Respite Project, 2012
Member, North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities Child Care Inclusion
Grant Taskforce, Raleigh, NC, 2011 - 2012
Member, NC Dept. of Health and Human Services NC Lifespan Respite Project Advisory
Team, Raleigh, NC, 2010 - Present
Member, NC Dept. of Health and Human Services NCcareLINK Governance Committee,
Raleigh, NC, 2005 – 2011
Trained Teacher, National Alliance on Mental Illness Basics Education Program, 2009
Member, Proposal Review Committee, NC Dept. of Health and Human Services Aging
and Disability Resource Center Program, 2008
Member, Disability Rights North Carolina Information and Referral Strategic Planning Group,
2008
NORRIS, T.H. Page 7
Member, Durham Hispanic/Disability Planning Group, NC Council on Developmental
Disabilities, 2006
Member, UNC-Chapel Hill Child Care Advisory Committee to the Chancellor, 2003
Secretary, Chapel Hill Cooperative Preschool Board of Directors, Chapel Hill, NC, 2001 - 2002
Member, Duke University Diabetes Education Program Advisory Board, Durham, NC, 1993 1995
Tutor, Washington Literacy, Seattle, WA, 1982
Special Events Coordinator, Orion Industries, Seattle, WA, 1981
Lawyer Referral Specialist, Northwest Women’s Law Center, Seattle, WA, 1980
Student Member, Youth Eastside Services YES/HEADS UP Advisory Board, Bellevue, WA,
1977
NORRIS, T.H. Page 8