FirstFocus: Quality Research to Develop Real Solutions

First Focus Fellows Program

The First Focus Fellows Program is a two-year fellowship that houses leading policy thinkers on children and family issues at premiere policy organizations. The program aims to develop a new generation of policy experts in a dynamic bipartisan environment.

The Fellows analyze research data and policy proposals from multiple points of view and ensure leaders have the information they need to make constructive policy decisions. In partnership with FirstFocus and other experts in the field, the Fellows form a brain trust that will create innovative bipartisan policy proposals on issues related to children and families.

The first class of First Focus Fellows, launched in 2006, is placed at premier public policy organizations including:

• The Brookings Institution
• The Urban Institute
• The New America Foundation
• The Ethics and Public Policy Center
• The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

FirstFocus Fellows work on proactive and reactive opportunities, in partnership with their host organization, to further support First Focus policy objectives. They will produce evidence-based products and analysis of existing laws and pending legislation, while also thinking and writing creatively on emerging issues and trends that impact children and families. Specifically, the Fellows will:

• Write policy briefs that provide balanced arguments for and against policy proposals
• Analyze proposed legislation and regulatory policies.
• Provide rapid response analyses of new policy initiatives, bills or regulations, and respond to inquiries from legislative offices and other partners.
• Work collaboratively to develop new bipartisan proposals, including the future development of a standardized tool to evaluate the impact of new policy initiatives on America’s children.

In addition to academic excellence, First Focus Fellows bring to their work extensive professional experience in the Executive Branch, Congress, government service and the private sector. Each Fellow brings a multidisciplinary focus on children and family issues and shares his or her specific policy expertise with other Fellows to strengthen the team.

FirstFocus will expose the next generation of great thinkers to a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment that will directly impact on bipartisan policymaking. In addition, the FirstFocus Fellows Program is developing a network of future leaders with strong and direct connection to children’s and family issues.

To learn more about the FirstFocus Fellows and their work, visit www.FirstFocus.net.