amazing opportunity for someone

The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation
Parent/Family Public Policy Fellowship Program 2009


The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation is seeking outstanding leaders who are parents or family members of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and who are working towards the enhancement of inclusive services and supports for people with 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. The purpose of the Fellowship is to prepare emerging leaders or experienced family advocates to assume leadership in the public policy arena, in their home state and or nationally. The coming year promises to be an exceptional opportunity to participate in the policy development process as we go through both the Presidential and congressional election processes and begin the 111th Congress.


Each year the Foundation brings talented and accomplished people to Washington for a full year, where they actively participate in public policy development in the offices of Members of Congress, congressional committees, or federal agencies. Former Public Policy 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 The Developmental Disabilities Act, special education, health and mental health care for persons with disabilities, disability civil rights, child care, housing, justice, child welfare and other areas related to improving the quality of life for individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities.


Since its founding in 1946, the Foundation has supported the creation of practical programs to benefit persons with intellectual disabilities, their families and their communities. The Foundation has always worked with national leaders who understand the realities of government. The need for skilled leadership 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 and the intensive week-long Bioethics course at Georgetown University’s Kennedy Institute of Ethics.


We seek people with outstanding experience in:

State or national level advocacy for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families;
Vocational rehabilitation, education, child care, child welfare, law, employment, community organizing, housing or development of inclusive community supports and services;
Health or mental health care for people with mental retardation; or
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 intellectual and other developmental disabilities at the regional, state or national level. The expectation is that fellows will become future leaders in the field of inclusive community supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and after their year in Washington will make significant contributions to policy and program development in their home state or continue to advance their work on the national level.


The program provides a one-year full-time exposure to the federal public policy making process, and includes a stipend and modest relocation expenses. 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. In addition, applicants have the opportunity to participate in the Intensive Bioethics Course offered at the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Institute of Bioethics at Georgetown University. For more information on this course go to http://kennedyinstitute.georgetown.edu/


Application process and guidelines:


Applicants should submit a letter of application between 2 and no more than 4 pages in length stating their interest and accomplishments at the local, state or national levels to date, as well as 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, along with three letters of support from people familiar with their work. Applications should clearly show the candidate's name, address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address on the first page. The preferred method of application, letters and résumé submission is via e-mail attachment (i.e. not in the body of the e-mail) to eidelman@jpkf.org. PDF attachments are strongly encouraged but not required. 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.


The application deadline for 2009 is August 15, 2008. The Fellowship starting date will be negotiated with the successful applicant. The Foundation anticipates one Fellowship beginning in February, 2009 and running through July, 2010. Two other fellowships will be available for the period September 2009-August, 2010. As early 2009 will be the beginning of a new administration and Congress, the Foundation may delay the starting date until congressional committees have been reconstituted. Finalists will be invited to Washington in the fall of 2008 to be interviewed by a distinguished panel of Public Policy experts.

Address letters of application to:
Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver
The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation
1133 19th Street NW, 12th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
Attention: Parent/Family Public Policy Fellowship Program