Fellowship Oppurtunity, Children's Advocates for Change, Chicago

 2022 Helen R. Weigle Fellowship 

Children’s Advocates for Change

125 S. Clark Street, Chicago, IL, 60603

www.childrensadvocates.org 

Children’s Advocates for Change is an independent advocacy organization committed to the well-being of every Illinois child. We champion policies and investments to make families stronger and improve the lives of children so that they may grow up well-educated, safe, and healthy. Our goal is to see that every child is afforded every opportunity to  succeed in life regardless of that child’s race, ethnicity, or zip code.  

The Fellowship Programs honors Helen R. Weigle who worked tirelessly to address the  needs of children. Among her many accomplishments was serving on a presidential  advisory council addressing the welfare of children and families and co-founding an Illinois  children’s advocacy organization.  

Equity is at the forefront of Children’s Advocacy for Change’s efforts. The organization uses a racial, ethnic, and inclusion lens in all its policies, programs, employment practices  and operations. Disaggregating the data (whether from the Census Bureau, other federal  agencies, or state government agencies) by race and ethnicity helps us pinpoint the  barriers children may face and the solutions needed. It is through these efforts that we  develop the evidence-based policies to eliminate the racial and ethnic disparities faced by  our children. We also use this data to advocate for further state appropriations to programs  designed to improve the well-being of children and their parents.  

The Fellow will assist Children’s Advocates for Change in collecting data on child well being in the areas of health, education, and economic security with an emphasis on  existing disparities and inequities. The primary focus is on Illinois children with (depending  on available data) regional data profiles. The data collected will serve as the basis for  policy briefs, webinars, social media posts, and in-person presentations throughout the  year. Children’s Advocates for Change is also working to promote the Racial Impact Note  Act the state adopted in 2021 and encouraging other states to follow suit. The data  collected may be used to support these efforts as well.  

This Fellowship is designed for students studying or interested in pursuing academic work  regarding public policy/advocacy that strives to improve the well-being of children and their families. The Fellow could be an undergraduate senior, student enrolled in a relevant  master’s program or student enrolled in a relevant doctoral program. Children’s Advocates  for Change will also consider law school students. Fellows will assist in the collection and  analysis of data, writing policies papers and blog posts to convey the data to the general  public, and attending advocacy meetings. Other duties may be assigned by the President  and Vice-President for Policy of the organization. The Fellowship is designed to run for 20  weeks and would begin in the spring or summer depending on the student’s availability  and academic institution’s calendar.  

Qualifications 

• Undergraduate senior or graduate student in public policy/administration, childhood  education, public health, economics, sociology, social work, pre-law, or other  discipline where the student can demonstrate the connection between his/her  academic studies and the work outlined in this document. Children’s Advocates for  Change will also consider law school students.  
• Illinois resident during the Fellowship. 
• Must demonstrate familiarity with or strong interest in children’s policy and  improving the well-being of children through such measures as increased access to  health care, reducing childhood poverty, and removing barriers to early childhood  education programs.  
• Excellent written and oral skills including a background in research, data collection,  and analysis. 
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team. 
• Strong computer skills including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with  Access or statistical program a plus. 
• Ability to take the initiative and complete tasks on time. 

Terms of the Fellowship: 

• Able to commit up to 20 hours a week for 20 weeks. 
• Children’s Advocates for Change will pay Fellows a monthly stipend with the  amount varying depending on academic qualifications. (Total amount between  $6,400 and $7,000 for the entire Fellowship.) 

Upon successful completion of the Fellowship, Children’s Advocates for Change will invite  graduates of the program to become part of the Weigle Contributing Editors for policy  briefs and blog posts. Benefits will include complementary tickets to Children’s Advocates  for Change events.  

Children’s Advocates for Change is an equal opportunity employer that values qualified  applicants without regard to disability, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender  identity, national origin, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. 

Interested persons should forward a letter stating the applicant’s interest and availability and a resume to: 

Mitch Lifson 

Vice-President for Policy 

Children’s Advocates for Change 

mlifson@childrensadvocates.org 

No phone calls please.