State Agency Placements
If you want to implement policy and programs, the state fellowship is for you. State fellows often assist in the design, implementation or analysis for program evaluation. NEW for the 2025-2026 cohort, apply to work in New Hampshire or apply with a state placement already identified.
State fellows experience the day-to-day life of agencies that are tasked with delivering services and programs to support children and families. If you work on child welfare issues, early care and education, or parental leave policies; this is the place for you.
Over our eight year history, SRCD has supported fellows in 21 states across the country. Many state alumni have gone on to do impressive work in academe, research firms, and state agencies.
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"I received exceptional mentorship from my supervisors at the state, my academic mentor, and SRCD. For me, state policy was really the main draw. I always was most interested in state policy, because the state policy landscape is so rich and exciting. There's a lot happening. A state like Michigan, for example, is very diverse, politically, socially, and economically. And it's been really exciting to get to work in this very active team."
– Lara Markovitz, State Agency Fellow (2022-2024)
About the State Agency Placements
Fellows have worked on a wide range of projects on children’s well-being and learning. Recent fellows have participated in task forces and facilitated inter-agency listening sessions. They have helped redesign how the state works with Medicaid to ensure home visiting can be billed. And, they have helped design formal pre-K evaluation systems to assess program quality. Fellows work on topics that are determined jointly based on the agency’s needs and the fellow’s skill set.
State agencies differ in their working arrangements. Depending on the agency, you might work full-time in the office or in a hybrid pattern. Some state agencies are still fully remote.
We support placements in any state. As an applicant, you will identify a state agency placement that is happy to participate before you apply. SRCD can help prospective fellow find a placement. On this page we provide information about state agencies that have expressed interest in hosting a fellow. We’ve also provided information about all of the early childhood agencies in states in the U.S.
State agencies interested in becoming a placement location can learn more here.
How to Find a State Agency
Starting for the 2025-2026 cohort, there are two ways you can apply to be a state fellow. You can only select one of these options:
- Apply with SRCD to be placed in New Hampshire’s Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration. With this option, you do not need to identify a placement agency before applying to the fellowship. This is a similar process to our federal or Congressional fellowship. If you are selected by SRCD, you will go on to interview with the agency to see if it’s a match. Read on to learn more about why New Hampshire might be the place for you.
- Find your match in any other state. As an applicant, you will identify a state agency that wants to host you before you apply. This is different to the federal, Congressional, or New Hampshire placements, where you match with the placement after your initial application. Read on to find a list of state agencies that have expressed interest in hosting a fellow. We’ve also provided information about all of the early childhood agencies in states in the U.S. SRCD can help you find a placement so please reach out if you get stuck.
State agencies interested in becoming a placement location can learn more here.
New Hampshire Placement
If you want to work in a state agency but do not want to find an agency, or have an interest in New Hampshire, this is the opportunity for you. Starting in the 2025-26 fellowship cohort, you can apply directly to work in New Hampshire’s Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration.
Based in Concord, NH, this opportunity will give you a unique lens to early education policy in the state. The New Hampshire fellow will be an integral team member who will assist in strategic planning and implementation of improvements to New Hampshire’s early care system, conduct analysis of state child care data and the state’s Grantie Steps to Quality Rating and Improvement System, and participate in established research to practice partnership initiatives.
You don’t have to live in New Hampshire yet to apply! SRCD supports fellows with a relocation allowance to help you move to Concord. Learn why Robert Frost was inspired to write some of his most iconic poetry. See fall foliage that is the envy of other states. Take a steam automotive up the iconic Mount Washington. Enjoy hiking in the gorgeous White Mountains, apple picking and cideries, culture, maple syrup, skiing, and even sleigh rides in a state that has a little of everything.
This partnership is made possible by the generous support of the Couch Family Foundation.
Learn more about 25 Fun Things to do in New Hampshire!
“Do not let a lack of experience in policy stop you from applying. The fellowship is designed to help you build those skills. Also, if you are interested in the State Policy Fellowship but do not have a connection with someone who works in a State government, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone new through an email! It never hurts to ask!”
– Isabella Sciuto Ozenbaugh, SRCD State Policy Fellow, Oregon, 2023-2025.
Finding Another Placement
We also accept placements in all 50 states (and DC!). Applicants must pre-match with an agency before they apply. To help you do that, here is a list of state agencies that want to host a fellow this coming year. They want you to reach out to them to start a conversation!
| State Agency | Title | First Name | Last Name | Email Address | Phone Number | Brief description of potential projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Department of Education, Early Education Division | Deputy Superintendent | Sarah | Neville-Morgan | Deputysuperintendent-OFAB@cde.ca.gov |
Universal preK, dual language learners, preventing suspension and expulsion, children with disabilities, quality measurement, data infrastructure, and racially-marginalized learners. |
|
| Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Early Childhood | Director, Division of Community and Family Support | Kendra | Dunn | kendra.dunn@state.co.us | Child abuse prevention, home visiting, early childhood mental health, or early intervention (IDEA Part C). | |
| Connecticut Office of Early Childhood | Chief of Staff | Katherine | Devine | katherine.devine@ct.gov | 860-810-0641 | Childcare and Pre-K education for low-income families. |
| DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education | Director, Quality Initiatives | Kathryn | Kigera | Kathryn.Kigera@dc.gov | 202-412-0013 | Child care, pre-K, early childhood workforce supports. |
| Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Childhood | Assistant State Superintendent | Shayna | Cook | shayna.cook@maryland.gov | 410-767-0821 | Child Care/PreK. |
| Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care | Deputy Commissioner for Workforce, Program Support and Innovation | Jocelyn | Bowne | jocelyn.bowne@mass.gov | 617-483-3712 | We have a broad range of early childhood system focused development work in process (educator credential, quality system, UPK, operational funding, child care subsidies) that a policy fellow could support. |
| Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families | Assistant Commissioner, Family Well-Being Administration | Shaneen | Moore | shaneen.moore@state.mn.us | The fellow would work across multiple policy areas as needed by the four administrations that include: child safety and permanency, family well-being (economic assistance and child support), early childhood (early learning and child care assistance), and economic opportunity and youth services (food support and youth justice). | |
| Michigan Department of Lifelong Education Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) | Deputy Department Director | Emily | Laidlaw | Laidlawe1@michigan.gov | 517-899-1848 |
1.Implementation of PreK for All, including legislative and implementation manual revisions, home based PreK, and exploring different models for expansion. 2.Child Development and Care policy around scholarship (subsidy) eligibility. Working across departments to process applications, redetermination, and other issues 3. Expanding inclusive environments for young learners |
| New York State Office of Children and Family Services | Deputy Commissioner | Nora | Yates | Nora.yates@ocfs.ny.gov | 518-486-6247 | Early childhood program quality improvement and coordination across the child care/Pre-K spectrum. |
| Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care | Senior Data Analyst | Jaiya | Choles | jaiya.choles@delc.oregon.gov | 503-507-4991 | The Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) oversees Oregon’s childcare licensing division as well as state-funded programs for infants, toddlers, and prekindergarten children. The fellow will be based in the agency’s newly established Data, Analysis, and Research Office and will primarily work on policy and research projects related to state-funded early learning programs for children from birth through age five. Specific project opportunities will involve using data collected from DELC’s early learning programs to evaluate policy and implementation practices, with chances to collaborate closely with teams across the agency. |
| RI Department of Health | Chief of Perinatal and Early Childhood Health | Blythe | Berger | blythe.berger@health.ri.gov | 401-222-5949 | Early childhood mental health and /or home visiting |
| Virginia Department of Education | Assistant Superintendent of Early Childhood | Erin | Carroll | erin.carroll@doe.virginia.gov | 804-292-4149 | Birth-to-five policy and programming (child care, family day homes, and public school) with work related to access and quality. |
| Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families | Director- Office of Innovation, Alignment & Accountability | Sarah | Veele | sarah.veele@dcyf.wa.gov | 360-688-3465 | Early learning as child welfare prevention / early intervention. Possible areas for research and policy recommendations include: Identify populations best suited to be targeted for intervention and barriers to access; identify EL interventions most effective at supporting family functioning; examine barriers between EL and CW coordination and propose solutions. |
When you reach out to a perspective placement, we suggest you include this flier in your email, to help the agency learn more about what you are offering. You can always reach out to policy@srcd.org if you or your potential placement has a question.
You can also talk to a former state fellow. Previous fellows found it helpful to speak with fellow alum about the application process. If you would like to reach out to a former fellow, you can view list of previous fellows or email policy@srcd.org to set up a connection with a former fellow.
Want More Options to Find a State?
We will accept other states too, so don’t limit yourself if your state isn’t on our list. Use this list of all early childhood state agencies to start a conversation in your state:
All U.S. State Early Childhood Agencies
Find a State Placement – Webinar (November 2024)
The state placement is generously supported by the Heising-Simons Foundation, whose investment strategy focuses on early childhood development (ages birth through eight), so the work of state fellows must align with that area of work. You will need to ensure that the work the state agency has in mind will meet this focus. For example, systems that touch young children such as health systems, child welfare, childcare, and programs that touch low-income families.
Want more tips and resources? Try these:
- When you reach out to a perspective placement, include this flier in your email, to help the agency learn more about what you are offering.
- Ensure that your work focuses on early childhood development (ages birth through eight). For example, systems that touch young children such as health systems, child welfare, childcare, and programs that touch low-income families. State placements are generously supported by the Heising-Simons Foundation and the Couch Family Foundation, whose strategy focuses on this age group.
- Talk to a former state fellow! View a list of previous fellows or email policy@srcd.org to set up a connection.
- Always reach out to policy@srcd.org if you or your potential placement has a question.
Specific Eligibility Requirements
View the How to Apply page for specific eligibility requirements, including citizenship and a focus on early childhood (ages birth through eight).
Why should you apply?
State fellows experience the full gamut of the policy world. They see how the federal government tries to influence a state’s policy decisions, and they are often directly responsible for implementing programs on the ground. It is a perspective that you won’t find anywhere else. If you are willing to learn and grow, you will be rewarded with ample opportunities to take leadership opportunities in new areas in most state placements.
States have a great deal of discretion in how to implement most federal social programs, and they often have state-specific programs as well. State placements give fellows a view of policy that is closer to the “ground level” where policy reaches children and families.
Here are a few other things to consider:
- State fellows are often on the implementation side of policy, assisting in the design, implementation, or analysis for program evaluation.
- Because many state agencies have limited resources for staff, fellows are often given significant opportunities for leadership after an initial adjustment period.
- Prior state fellows have participated in taskforces, supported family and community input into policymaking, designed key initiatives and strategies for departments, designed evaluation approaches, and analyzed state data to inform improve program performance.
Learn more about the work current state agency fellows did in their Spotlight posts.