The National Center for Children and Families
Frequently
Asked Question (FAQ)
What is the National Center for Children and
Families? What does it do?
• We are a non-profit, non-partisan organization
dedicated to advancing the well-being of children and families.
• We research the economic, educational, social,
and health conditions of children and families, and help
develop policies that strengthen families, nationally and
internationally.
• We are based at Teachers College, Columbia
University.
When was the NCCF Founded? Who leads the organization?
• The NCCF was established in 1991, founded by
Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, with primary support from the Marx Family
Foundation and Teachers College.
• Two Co-Directors lead the organization:
• Jeanne
Brooks-Gunn, Ph.D., Virginia and
Leonard Marx Professor of Child Development and Education
• Sharon
Lynn Kagan, Ed.D., Virginia and
Leonard Marx Professor of Early Childhood and Family Policy
and Associate Dean for Policy, Teachers College
What are the main
activities of the NCCF?
• Producing and publishing relevant research
that can advance social policy
• Training
world-class scholars
• Providing
consultative support to governments, domestic and international,
on policy issues related to the development and well-being
of children and their families
• Providing
Congressional testimony
• Informing
the media on key child and family issues of importance
to the nation
What is the size of the organization? What is
the annual operating budget?
• NCCF consists of 37 individuals, including
research scientists (post-doctoral fellows), graduate fellows
(doctoral students), graduate students (masters candidates),
research assistants, a finance director, a media specialist,
and support staff.
• The annual operating
budget is approximately $3 million, with contributions provided
by foundations, the governments, corporations, and Teachers
College.
What types of research and training opportunities
are available to graduate students at the NCCF?
We offer rich and diverse opportunities for academic research
and training, including:
Research
• Center Graduate
Fellowships
• Research Scientist/Post-Doctoral
Fellowships
• Research Practicum
• Research Assistants
• Research Affiliates
• Visiting Scholars
Program
Training
• Degree Programs
in Early Childhood Policy
• Federal Policy
Institute
• Center Teaching
Fellowships
• Policy, Legislative,
and Dissemination Opportunities
• Summer Fellowship
Program: Putting Children First
What
are some of NCCF's recent achievements?
During 2005 – 2006, highlights
of our achievements include: • Scholarly publications numbering over 30
• Distinguished awards to leadership, staff,
and research affiliates including:
• Distinguished Contributions to the Public
Policy for Children Award, the Society for Research
in Child Development, presented to Jeanne Brooks-Gunn
• Justice
Wise Polier Lecturer, Citizen's
Committee for Children, New York , NY ;
2006 lecturer was Jeanne Brooks-Gunn
• Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education,
presented to Sharon Lynn Kagan
• James Bryant Conant Award, Education
Commission of the States, presented to Sharon Lynn Kagan
• First prize, Social Issues Dissertation from
the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues,
to Rebecca C. Fauth
• Hershel D. Thornburg Dissertation Award,
Society for Research on Adolescence, presented to Margo Gardner
• Best Publication Award, American
Sociological Association/Mental Health Section, to Holly
Foster
• Betty
Fairfax Professional Development Fund grant awarded to Nitika Tolani.
• Teachers College Research/Policy Fellowships awarded
to NCCF graduate fellows Kristie Kauerz, Lizabeth Malone,
Kate Tarrant, and Nitika Tolani
• Postdoctoral fellowship from the
American Educational Research Association (AERA), to Belkis
Suazo-Garcia
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