The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Congressional Fellowship Program allows researchers to learn firsthand about the federal policy process and enhance their understanding of the different kinds of research that contribute to policy. SRCD Congressional Fellows are members of the Science and Technology Fellowship Programs of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Fellows participate in training sessions run by AAAS and SRCD and are then assigned to 12-month staff positions in either the Senate or House. Fellows are integrally involved in preparing for hearings, discussing legislative options with the staff in their Congressional or committee offices, developing legislation, and writing memos and speeches for their Senators or Representatives. They also learn about factors that facilitate or impede the use of research and how to communicate effectively with non-researchers. Fellows are often early-career scholars who have doctoral degrees in psychology, human development, education, or a similar field. They have an interest in youth and want to connect research and public policy. Many Fellows have become leaders in their fields and influence both research production and how people think about its use. The William T. Grant Foundation and the Foundation for Child Development first funded the SRCD Fellowship when it was initiated in 1978. Since that time, the Foundation has funded the program for various periods and supported the placement of more than 70 Fellows.
This grant will support the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Congressional Fellowship Program to expand the pool of leaders who understand how research can contribute to the policy process.
