Former Fellows
Candace Putter has worked for many years to improve the education and training that delinquent youth receive in placement, and to strengthen the services provided to them by the probation, human services, behavioral health, and education systems. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council of Chief Juvenile Probation Officers, Candace started the Pennsylvania Academic and Career/Technical Training (PACTT) Project in April 2008.
Julie Cousler Emig is a Public Policy Fellow who worked with the City of Philadelphia to dramatically improve the city's graduation rate by developing a citywide truancy plan. She worked with the Mayor's Office of Education, the Philadelphia School District, Philadelphia's Department of Human Services, and Philadelphia Family Court to assess, enhance and coordinate existing prevention and intervention efforts related to truancy. The overall goal of the fellowship was to improve the educational outcomes of Philadelphia's public school students.
Heather Rouse is a Public Policy Fellow who worked with the City of Philadelphia to establish a Policy and Analysis Center (PAC) to improve health, education and social services for Philadelphia residents. The Center analyzed routine administrative data gathered by the City, School District and other public entities to inform policy and practice with evidence-based research, drawing upon the City's state-of-the-art database and computer system, CARES. The Center will help the City to advance strategic, collaborative decision making.
Our first fellow appointed through the 2007 competitive application process is Christine Trinkl Dougherty, a public interest lawyer sponsored by the Support Center for Child Advocates. Christine sought to improve the well-being of abused and neglected children by ensuring that the legal community advocates for the physical and mental health needs of these vulnerable young people.
Leslie Acoca is dedicated to identifying and meeting the needs of women and girls in the criminal (adult) and juvenile justice systems. Her fellowship addresses the physical and mental health needs of the fastest growing segment of the juvenile justice population: girls. In collaboration with the Philadelphia-based Juvenile Law Center, Leslie initiated the National Girls Health Screen Project (NGHSP). In 2008 she became a Stoneleigh Foundation Fellow to continue her work.
Liza M. Rodriguez is our first Public Policy Fellow. Starting in December 2008, she developed cross-systems partnerships to increase the capacity of the Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS), School District and Mayor's office to better serve the educational needs of students involved with DHS. Her goal was to improve educational outcomes for system-involved youth.