MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
October 26, 2023
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the 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 3042 of 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. Helaina Roisman
New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(Ward 1)
for reappointment as a representative from a hospital located in the District member of the
Violence Fatality Review Committee , for a term to end October 12, 2025.
Enclosed you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned
nominee, together with proposed resolutions to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser 1
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at the request of the Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
14 To confirm the reappointment of Ms. Helaina Reisman to the Violence Fatality Review
15 Committee.
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17 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
18 resolution may be cited as the "Violence Fatality Review Committee Helaina Reisman
19 Confirmation Resolution of 2023 ".
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21 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
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Ms. Helaina Reisman
New Hampshire Avenue
Washington, DC 20009
(Ward
1)
29 as a representative from a hospital located in the District member of the Violence Fatality
30 Review Committee, established by section 3042 of the Fatality Review Committee Amendment
31 Act of 2018, effective October 30, 2018 (D.C. Law 22-168; D.C. Official Code§ 5-1431.01), for
32 a term to end October 12, 2025.
33 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
34 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
35 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately. HELAINA ROISMAN
2039 New Hampshire Avenue Unit 205, Washington, DC 20009
(917) 572-0008; helainabernstein@gmail.com
E X P E R I E N C E
LICENSED INDEPENDENT CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER December
2017- Present
Licensed in the District of Columbia to practice social work independently.
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, Washington, DC May 2015 – Present
Injury Prevention and Outreach Coordinator
Work with hospital personnel as well as community and government leaders and organizations to
educate and help prevent injuries, including alcohol and drug related injury prevention, violent related injury
prevention, falls related injury prevention, and bicycle and pedestrian safety. Gather information and data from
trauma team, ICU staff and patients on injuries to inform future prevention efforts. Collaborate with local
trauma centers and community agencies on injury prevention efforts. Create and distribute educational materials
highlighting leading causes of traumatic injury and appropriate safety measures. Sit on the advisory committee
for State violence prevention initiatives, working closely with OCME and MPD on such efforts. Run the
Trauma Survivors Network at GWUH, a national program for survivors of traumatic injury, which entails
meeting with patients, offering resources, and providing forums to meet other trauma survivors.
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, Washington, DC September 2014 – May 2015
Student Intern
Work with social workers, doctors, nurses, graduate students and hospital staff to provide treatment for
individuals presenting to the hospital with psychiatric needs. Conduct psychosocial assessments of individuals
who present to the emergency department and to the inpatient psychiatric unit with psychiatric needs. Provide
ongoing psychosocial support for individuals who are admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit and facilitate
multiple process-oriented therapy groups in the inpatient psychiatric unit. Conduct discharge planning with
individuals including connection to appropriate resources in the community.
BRINTON WOODS HEALTH & REHABILITATION CENTER, Washington, DC September 2013 – May 2014
Student Intern
Work with individuals and groups to promote physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Participated
in interdisciplinary team meetings with residents and residents’ family members to discuss initial care planning
and ultimately discharge planning. Engaged and worked with government and community resources on behalf
of residents.
HEALTH COACH/NUTRITION COUNSELOR, New York, NY and Washington, DC
2010 – 2014
Worked as a Health Coach and Holistic Nutritional Counselor. Drawing on knowledge in holistic nutrition,
preventative health and knowledge of different dietary theories, worked with clients to help them make lifestyle
changes. Worked with clients individually and also performed group workshops at various organizations.
E D U C A T I O N
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, Washington, DC Master of Social Work, May
2015
Master of Social Work
NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTEGRATIVE NUTRITION, New York, NY
H.C., 2010
Received certification as a Holistic Health Practitioner.
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, New York, NY Bachelor of Arts, 2005
Executive Office of the Mayor - Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Helaina Roisman
Helaina Roisman is the Injury Prevention and Outreach
Coordinator at George Washington University Hospital. She
works to help prevent injuries including alcohol and drug related
prevention and violence related prevention. She works with
trauma teams, intensive care unit staff, and patients to gain a
better understanding of common ways to decrease injuries.
In her role at George Washington University Hospital she also
runs the Trauma Survivors Network at the Hospital, which entails
meeting with patients, offers resources, and allows trauma
survivors to meet.
A Ward 1 resident, she received a B.A. from New York University and a Master of Social Work
from Catholic University of America. GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
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The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724 -7681
To: Tommy Wells, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: July 28, 2023
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of Resolutions nominating Charlayne Hayling- Williams,
Dr. Eric Li, Dr. Erin Hall, Helaina Roisman, Joseph Richardson, Juanita Price, Kenyatta Hazlewood, and Dr. Mallory Williams as members of the Violence
Fatality Review Committee
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above- referenced resolutions and
found them to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Vanessa Careiro, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202-724-1303, or me at 202- 724-7681.
______________________________ Elizabeth A. (Betsy) Cavendish