ph P. Kennedy Jr Foundation--seeking parents for Public Policy Fellowship

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The ph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation

Parent Public Policy Fellowship Program 2007

The ph 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 person 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 an advocacy training workshop, national

disability policy seminars the intensive week-long Bioethics course at

town University’s Kennedy Institute of Ethics.

We seek parents or other family members with outstanding experience in:

1. State-level advocacy for persons with intellectual and developmental

disabilities and their families, beyond the level of advocacy to benefit solely

the candidate’s own child;

2. vocational rehabilitation, education, child care, child welfare, law,

employment, community organizing, housing or development of inclusive community

supports and services;

3. health or mental health care for people with mental retardation; 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 regional, 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

making process, and includes a stipend and relocation expenses. Program

applicants must be from the United States. Selected fellows must be prepared to

live in the Washington, DC area during their fellowship year and to devote

themselves full-time to the fellowship.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS:

Applicants should submit a letter between 2 and 4 pages 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 three letters of support

from people familiar with their work. Please direct any questions about the

application process to Eidelman at 302-831-2574. 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 Steve Eidelman at

sme@... 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.

Applications must be sent to the Foundation’s

office by September 15, 2006.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible,

since a postmark of September 15 is the absolute deadline for the receipt of

completed applications. 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, but is expected to begin in January of

2007. 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 the Foundation’s administrative offices:

MRS. EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER

The ph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation

1133 19th Street NW, 12th Floor

Washington, DC 20036

ATTENTION: Parent Public Policy Fellowship Program