Policy Committee

Components
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Committee Charge

The Policy Committee, originally established in 1977 and renamed in 2024, is responsible for ongoing consultation to SRCD regarding its activities in the following areas:

  1. Supporting implementation of SRCD’s strategic plan,
  2. Linking research with global, national, and state/local policies that affect children and families,
  3. Keeping membership apprised on policy to inform science,
  4. Informing governmental decision-making regarding research on child development,
  5. Encouraging the development of leaders in the translation of research to policy and practice, and
  6. Enhancing the effective dissemination of developmental science.

The committee works through direct participation in activities and through close consultation with the SRCD Policy Director. In order to carry out this responsibility, the committee is organized in the following subcommittees:

  • Fellowship: Assist with the annual selection of the SRCD U.S. Policy Fellowship program.
  • Science Policy: Inform decision making on funding levels for research on child development, how science is conducted (e.g., human subjects and clinical trial regulations), and opportunities for future research. Ensure that developmental researchers are kept informed of science policy issues that are relevant to their ability to conduct research. For example, this work may include attending advocacy days on Capitol Hill, nominating SRCD members to distinguished federal positions and committees, and joining with other scientific societies on joint actions.
  • Social Policy: Increase the visibility and impact of developmental research for example, by providing brief summaries of key research for policymakers through the Child Policy Briefs program. Provide support and input on the Child Policy Connect program, to facilitate greater networking and relationship building between scholars and policymakers. Keep members appraised of relevant policy knowledge and training to improve partnerships between scholars and policymakers.
  • Conference: Facilitate relationship-building connections between SRCD members, policymakers, and practitioners at SRCD meetings, and build the discipline’s policy capacity through regular trainings. 

Committee Roster

Guadalupe Diaz-Lara, Co-Chair2023-2027California State University, Fullerton
Dalal Katsiaficas, Co-Chair2022-2027University of Illinois at Chicago
Steven John Holochwost2023-2027Lehman College City University of New York
Morgan Crossman2024-2027Building Bright Futures of Vermont
Matt Stagner2024-2027NORC at University of Chicago
Alaina Flannigan2024-2027Child Trends
Tanya Tavassolie2024-2027WRMA Incorporated
Ana Whitaker2025-2027University of Delaware
R. Gabriela Barajas-Gonzalez2025-2027NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Emily Herry2025 - 2029Ohio State University
Nneka Ibekwe-Okafor2025 - 2029University of Texas
Christian Clesi 2025 - 2029Special Olympics
Kevin Ferreira van Leer2025 - 2029University of Connecticut
Caroline Ebanks2025 - 2029Columbia
Lara Markovitz2025 - 2029

 

Cara Kelly, SECC Representative2025- 2029University of Oklahoma
Emilie Smith, Governing Council Representative, Ex-Officio2021-2027Michigan State University 
Lisa Berlin, Ex Officio2023-2026University of Maryland School of Social Work
Jennifer L. Brooks, Ex-Officio2025-Jennifer L. Brooks, LLC
Suzanne Le Menestrel, Ex-Officio2024-Society for Research in Child Development
Lindsay Turner Trammell, Ex Officio2022- Society for Research in Child Development
Taylor Ryan (Savage), Staff Liaison2024-Society for Research in Child Development