About I.E.T.T. Strategies

Sonja Johnson, Stella Byrd, Deborah Wade-Johnson, Linda Grasty, Belinda Small

IETT Strategies evolved in July 2009. Belinda Small and Sonja Johnson both master level social workers/therapists agreed with the belief that behaviors of any kind are not fixed and learning is a continuous process. Operating under those principles, Belinda and Sonja sought to empower families in order to strengthen communities, via putting into practice Innovative Educational Therapeutic Techniques Strategies.

Belinda and Sonja first met in 1995 when they were newly hired school social workers for Detroit Public Schools now called Detroit Public Schools Community District. Trained under the Mediated Learning Experience model, together they became instruments of change via conducting individual, group, family and classroom intervention therapy inside their designated schools. In addition, both Belinda and Sonja facilitated

numerous parent support workshops that focused on but not limited to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anger management, self-esteem building, coping and assisting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and improving academic achievement.

Thus in  2009 Belinda and Sonja felt it was time to reach beyond their designated work assignment and serve the Detroit community at large. Together from the fuel and thinking that everyone can change and achieve positive out comes, IETT Strategies was born. Currently IETT Strategies Team consists of 4 master levels social workers and 1 master level teacher whom are all committed to making Detroit and the Metro-Detroit communities stronger.

Belinda Small is a Master level Social Worker with over twenty-five years of experience, ranging from residential care to psychiatric hospital to Detroit Public Schools. Belinda has always been committed to serving families as she recognizes that all caregivers need guidance and support to tackle the many facets of parenthood. “Strong families grow and maintain strong communities. IETT Strategies want to be that supportive source that helps and build families to strengthen their communities,” said Belinda Small.

Belinda Small
CEO, IETT Strategies

Sonja Johnson is a Masters level social worker who has a strong commitment to serving parents, children, and the entire family unit. Sonja believes that parents, with the necessary resources, can be the driving force in empowering their children from the cradle to the college and beyond. It is IETT’s desire to assist parents in becoming a central force in shaping joyful productive citizens of society.

Sonja Johnson
VP, IETT Strategies

Our vision

IETT Strategies provided Saturday Programing for children, youth and their families at the former Don Bosco Hall Community Resource Center (now named St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center from 2010 to 2019. These programs consisted of culturally based character building classes, field trips, organized recreational activities and parent support groups.

From 2020 to 2023, IETT Strategies provided on going virtual workshops for children and youth ages 3 to 18 years old to assist them with improving expression of feelings and life- skills/job readiness skills respectively. 
Currently, IETT Strategies is back to providing Saturdays therapeutic fun programing for children, youth and their families. We also partner up with SKIP (Saving Kids of Incarcerated Parents) via providing monthly life skills support groups. 
 
IETT Strategies knows without a doubt that it takes a Village to Raise a Child. Thus we embrace with great pride any opportunity to empower and to strengthen families and communities.