Consultants

Lisa Gennetian, Ph.D
Pritzker Professor of Early Learning Policy Studies, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University

Dr. Gennetian is an applied economist whose research straddles a variety of areas concerning child poverty from income security and stability to early care and education with a particular lens toward identifying causal mechanisms underlying how child poverty shapes children’s development.

LaShawnda Kilgore, Ph.D
Children's Defense Fund

 Dr. Kilgore's work focuses on family communication, foster/adoption studies, community engagement, student success, and retention.

Darcey Merritt, Ph.D
Professor, Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice, University of Chicago

Dr. Merritt's research focuses on child neglect and poverty and the lived experiences of racially marginalized parents and children impacted by the child welfare system. 

Clark M. Peters, Ph.D
​​Associate Professor, School of Social Work
​University of Missouri

Dr. Peters' research focuses on helping vulnerable young people transition to adulthood domestically and internationally. His research examines child welfare services, judicial oversight and strategies to increase wellbeing for young people in state care..