About
Fulfill Your Dreams
"Having feelings isn't a sign of weakness — they mean we're human."
A Trusted Behavioral Health Clinic in Washington, D.C.
Paving the Way MSI was born from a deep passion and a sense of urgency to support underserved communities in Washington, DC that often faced significant barriers to accessing quality behavioral healthcare.
Our co-founder and CEO, Paulette Jones, saw firsthand through her educational background and work with youth how many children entered school eager and ready to learn, but often became withdrawn, disengaged, or unable to focus due to the challenges and stressors they faced outside of the classroom. Recognizing that many of these struggles extended beyond education alone, she became determined to find a way to make a lasting impact through behavioral health support and community care.
Built on the belief that supporting children helps strengthen families and ultimately creates healthier communities, Paving the Way MSI began from humble beginnings within Matthew's Memorial Baptist Church in Southeast Washington, DC. What started as a community-focused effort to provide support and hope has since grown into a trusted behavioral health organization serving children, adolescents, adults, and families throughout the District of Columbia.
For years, PTW MSI served as one of the only free standing behavioral health clinics within the community, working to ensure that children youth and families had access to compassionate, culturally responsive, and high-quality care close to home.
Today, PTW MSI is a Free Standing Behavioral Health Clinic and Core Service Agency providing evidence-based behavioral health services across the lifespan, with a specialized focus on children, adolescents, and young adults (ages 5–21). Our goal is to support healthy emotional development, resilience, and successful transitions into adulthood while helping individuals navigate challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and life stressors. We also support adults and families through compassionate, community-centered care designed to strengthen overall wellbeing and long-term success.
Our Mission
To stabilize and empower children, adolescents, adults, and their families so that they may become self-sufficient in their lives, community, and beyond.
Our Goal
To enable our consumers to establish and maintain the requisite mental balance that will allow them to live and achieve a successful life for themselves and their family.
Having feelings isn't a sign of weakness — they mean we're human.
Nikki Webber Allen / TED Talk
Living Our Values TWICE
By removing barriers that take focus away from care, we empower our staff to center their energy where it matters most: on the people we serve. Together, our values form the word T.W.I.C.E. — a reminder that we live our values twice: once through our words, and again through our actions.
T.W.I.C.E. is more than a word — it's a promise. A promise to ourselves and to the people we serve to be twice as compassionate, twice as caring, and twice as committed, so that every person who leaves PTWMSI walks away twice as confident in their future.
Team Spirit
Commitment to Team Success
We are stronger together. Every voice, every effort, and every act of teamwork helps us build a culture where trust can thrive, collaboration is natural, and successes are shared and recognized.
— We turn challenges into opportunities and success into celebration.
Walk the Talk
Leading by Example
Every action impacts the well-being and safety of those around you. When decisions are guided by respect, compassion, good judgment, and professionalism, they inspire others to follow your example and help build a culture of integrity, quality, and safety.
— Live with integrity. Lead by example.
Impactful Stewardship
Responsible Leadership
We lead with purpose. Every decision and resource is used wisely to create lasting impact and healthier futures for the people and communities we serve.
— Lead with purpose. Create lasting impact.
Community Unity
Collective Understanding
We break down stigma and build bridges. By uniting families, partners, and communities, we expand access to care and strengthen mental health awareness for all.
— Break stigmas. Build bridges.
Excellence Everywhere
Commitment to Quality Care
Excellence isn't a moment — it's our standard. We deliver exceptional, person-centered care at every touchpoint, raising the bar for ourselves and for the communities we serve.
— Raise the bar in every interaction.
PTWMSI Partners
We are proud to work alongside leading community and government organizations committed to health, equity, and community well-being.
DC MAP
Mental Health Access in Pediatrics
DC Public Schools
District of Columbia Public Schools
NHSC / HRSA
National Health Service Corps
Unity Health Care
Healthier You. Healthier Communities.
DC.gov
District of Columbia Government
DC Dept. of Behavioral Health
DBH – Behavioral Health Services
The Joint Commission
National Quality Approval
OVSJG
Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants
DC Dept. of Parks & Recreation
DC Department of Parks and Recreation
Psychology Today
Verified by Psychology Today
Leadership
Meet the dedicated professionals leading Paving the Way MSI.
Paulette Jones
Chief Executive Officer
Ashlee Barros
Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Asha Davis, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Jermaine Wyatt, Ph.D, LICSW
Compliance Officer
Kevin Clarke, MPH
Director of HR & Quality Assurance
Staff Spotlight
The dedicated professionals making a difference every day.
Karla Rodriguez
Case Manager
Victims of CrimeZoé Bright
Care Coordinator
DC MAPRussell Brown, LGSW
Free Standing Mental Health Clinician
Free Standing ClinicHanna Bratt, LG
Trauma Based Therapist
Victims of CrimeJoint Commission Accredited
Paving the Way MSI has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval, recognizing our commitment to the highest standards of healthcare quality and patient safety.