Carole Shauffer became Youth Law Center’s Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives in 2012 after serving as its Executive Director for 26 years and a staff attorney since 1981. Her experience in systems change and as a Zero to 3 fellow, led to the creation of the Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI). Prior to working at the Youth Law Center she was a staff attorney at the Louisiana Center for the Public Interest and the ACLU of Louisiana.
Brandy Hudson works as the National Director for the Youth Law Center’s Quality Parenting Initiative, Birth and Foster Parent Partnership, and the CHAMPS Campaign to transform foster care systems across the nation so every child and youth can thrive. Brandy previously worked as a technical assistance project manager for Casey Family Programs and spent five years at the District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency serving in various roles, including program supervisor and special assistant. Brandy draws on her own experience as a former foster and probation youth, child welfare involved parent and licensed kinship provider, working to elevate and center the voice and expertise of those most impacted by child welfare and juvenile justice systems as leaders and designers of system transformation.
Jennifer Rodriguez, J.D., is Executive Director of the Youth Law Center (YLC) and a leading advocate for transforming foster care and juvenile justice systems across the country so youth can thrive. Jennifer spent many years of her childhood in foster care and juvenile justice facilities, and has spent most of her life advocating to ensure justice, compassion and opportunity for youth touched by these systems. Jennifer’s advocacy has resulted in significant national policy, practice and culture changes. She joined the Youth Law Center as an attorney in 2007 after eight years working at the California Youth Connection, a nationally recognized foster youth advocacy organization. Jennifer was appointed by President Obama to the National Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities, which released a report promoting strengthening families parenting the most vulnerable children.
