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Parenting & Families

UCP’s Parenting Channel provides information and resources for your family on living with disabilities and learning together.

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Parenting & Families

General Information

Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Parent Public Policy Fellowship Program

The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation is seeking parents of persons with mental retardation, intellectual and developmental disabilities for an intensive one-year Public Policy Fellowship in Washington, D.C. During this one year Fellowship, the successful applicant will learn how legislation is initiated, developed, and passed by the Congress, or how programs are administered and regulations promulgated by federal agencies.

Each year the Foundation brings a parent or close family member of a child with a disability to Washington for a full year, where they actively participate in public policy development through work on the staff of a congressional committee, or a federal agency. Former Parent Fellows describe the Fellowship as a major turning point in their lives. The coming year offers exciting opportunities to be involved in policy and legislative development in key areas such as special education, health and mental health care for persons with mental retardation, child care, housing, justice, child welfare and other areas related to improving the quality of life for individuals with mental retardation (intellectual disabilities).

Since its founding in 1946, the Foundation has supported the creation of practical programs to benefit persons with mental retardation, their families and their communities. The Foundation has always worked with national leaders who understand the realities of government. The need for skilled leadership in government and public policy has never been greater. In response to this need, the Foundation initiated the Public Policy Fellowship Program in 1980. Fellows receive first-hand knowledge and experience in the development of public policy and the opportunity to participate in the intensive week-long Bioethics course at Georgetown University’s Kennedy Institute of Ethics.

We seek parents or other family members with experience in:

  1. State-level advocacy for persons with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities and their families;
  2. Vocational rehabilitation, education, child care, child welfare, law, community organizing or development of community supports and services;
  3. Health or mental health care; or
  4. Development of family training or family support services.

The successful applicant's background will include distinguished involvement in efforts to improve the lives of persons with mental retardation and other disabilities at the local, state or national level. Salaried experience in the field is NOT a requirement. The expectation is that fellows will become future leaders in the field of disabilities, and will return home after their year in Washington to make significant contributions to policy and program development in their home state.

The program provides a one-year full-time exposure to the federal public policy decision making process, and includes a stipend, and relocation expenses. Program applicants must be from the United States. Selected fellows are expected to live in the Washington, DC area during their fellowship year.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS:

Applicants should submit a 2-4 page letter stating their interest and accomplishments to date, and what they hope to do with the knowledge and experience gained from the fellowship. They should also attach either a résumé or a summary of their involvement in the field, and at least three letters of support. Please direct any questions about the application process to Jill Fosse, 301-565-5476. Applications should show the candidate’s name, address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address on the first page. The preferred method of sending application letters and résumés is via e-mail attachment (i.e. not in the body of the e-mail) to jfosse@jpkf.org. Applicants may follow up with hard copies via regular mail if they wish. Letters of support are also encouraged via e-mail but a hard copy on letterhead with the supporter’s signature must follow in the mail.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible. Any applications that are still incomplete or postmarked after the deadline will not be considered. The Fellowship starting date will be negotiated with the successful applicant. Finalists will be invited to Washington in the Fall to be interviewed by a distinguished panel of Public Policy experts.

Address letters of application to:

    Eunice Kennedy Shriver
    Executive Vice-President
    The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation
    1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 650
    Silver Spring, MD 20910
    ATTENTION: Parent Public Policy Fellowship Program