News Release
ROBIN NIXON AWARDED DISTINGUISHED FELLOW GRANT
William T. Grant Foundation Recognizes National Foster Care Coalition Executive Director
July 12, 2006
Contact:
Robin Nixon
Executive Director
National Foster Coalition
rnixon@nationalfostercare.org
202.361.4046
WASHINGTON, DC (July 2006)—Robin Nixon, executive director of the National Foster Care Coalition, was awarded a Distinguished Fellow grant from The William T. Grant Foundation. As a Distinguished Fellow, Nixon received $199,902 for her research, “Making the Case for Extending Foster Care and Transition Services beyond Age 18.”
Over the next two years, Nixon will partner with researchers at the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago. She will participate in Chapin Hall projects, including:
- a longitudinal study of youth aging out of foster care in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin;
- an examination of tests of interventions directed at improving outcomes for foster care youth transitioning to adulthood; and
- an examination of how court processes affect youth aging out of foster care being conducted by the University of Chicago Law School.
“I am so honored to have been awarded this generous grant,” said Nixon. “It is critical that we understand what young adults are experiencing as they make the transition from foster care. Once we are clearer about their needs and what works, we can do more to support them.” Nixon will continue her work as executive director while she does her research.
“Our Foundation is devoted to creating stronger connections between policy/practice and research,” said Robert Granger, the Foundation's president. “By targeting these Fellowships to influential, mid-career people, we are hoping to leverage the impact of the program beyond the individuals involved.”
Since its inception in 1936, the William T. Grant Foundation has focused on furthering the understanding of human behavior through research. The Foundation's mission focuses on improving the lives of youth ages 8 to 25 in the United States. Current priorities are creating understanding and improving social settings, such as families, schools, peer groups and organizations.
National Foster Care Coalition
The National Foster Care Coalition (NFCC) is a unique partnership of more than 40 national and local organizations, as well as individuals, building public will to improve the lives of children, youth, and young adults who are, or who have been, in foster care. Through advocacy, education, and networking, NFCC works to strengthen our ability as a nation to support the positive development of every young person who must spend time in the foster care system. We believe that young people themselves are the experts on foster care, and our best allies in efforts to strengthen the services, supports, and opportunities available to them.
