Advocacy Fellowship

Participate in a Fellowship that makes a difference in the lives of children and teens in the US foster care system.

NAA is seeking an Advocacy Fellow!

Applications Due September 23, 2025.

Overview: 

The selected Advocacy Fellow will gain valuable experience by supporting the National Adoption Association (NAA) to advance youth-focused advocacy initiatives nationwide. The Fellow will advocate on behalf of youth and families and raise lawmakers’ consciousness around the importance of increasing family connections. This Fellowship is designed for an individual with excellent writing skills, experience in policy work, and lived experience—particularly from communities disproportionately impacted by the child welfare system.

The Fellow will represent NAA in national advocacy spaces such as: Voice for Adoption (VFA), National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC), Congressional Coalition of Adoption Institute (CCAI) and other efforts. They will create impactful policy briefs, and support events and initiatives that elevate the voices of youth and families.

This Fellowship opportunity is set to begin on Friday, October 24, 2025, and conclude on July 31, 2026. DMV area residency preferred for participation in DC-based events. This is a full-time remote opportunity with required travel for approximately 4-6 times throughout the course of the Fellowship to participate in events as needed.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, social work, political science, communications, or a related field OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.


• Master’s degree in public policy, social work, or a related discipline preferred.


• Lived experience, particularly from disproportionately impacted communities OR experience working with opportunity youth or adults who have been affected by the criminal justice system or child welfare system, ages 16 – 24.


• Coursework or training in policy analysis, advocacy, or youth development is a plus.

Key Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Exceptional writing skills with the ability to produce professional policy briefs.


• Knowledge of youth advocacy, adoption, and child welfare policy.

• Passion about the children, families, and jurisdictions served by NAA.

• Strong communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills.

• Strong organizational and multitasking skills.


• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite products.


• Results-oriented with a high attention to detail, ability to multi-task, and meet deadlines in a demanding, fast-paced environment.


• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.


• Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic environment.

• Ability to travel for events as needed (light travel).

Role and Responsibilities:

1. Advocacy
   
   
   
   • Represent NAA at Hill Day activities in Washington, DC (such as the Hill Day coordinated by NYEC each November) and other national advocacy events as identified by Program Director and CEO.
   
   
   • Support affinity space by facilitating discussions and creating safer, braver spaces using a trauma informed lens during facilitation.
   
   
   • Attend in-person or virtual grantee meetings upon request of the Ujima National Director.
   
   
   • Contribute to strategic advocacy efforts throughout the U.S.
   
   
   
   


2. Policy Development
   
   
   
   • Develop clear, persuasive state and federal policy briefs based on research that align with the Ujima purpose and the mission and philosophy of NAA.  
   
   
   • Engage with national partners such as VFA, CCAI and NYEC to advance policy goals.
   
   
   • Attend briefings on our issue areas as approved or referred to by Program Director and CEO.
   
   
   • Participate in monthly Voice for Adoption member meetings to learn more about upcoming policy changes and legislation.  
   
   
   • Translate policy discussions and stakeholder input into actionable recommendations.
   
   
   • Offer training to lawmakers and their staff to educate them on our policy briefs and the impact of our work.
   
   
   
   


3. Collaboration
   
   
   
   • Work closely with NAA staff and consultants to fill gaps and provide event or project support.
   
   
   • Assist with virtual Level Up and Learn events by refining curriculum, assisting with strategic outreach and dissemination, and providing post-training feedback.
   
   
   • Participate in relevant Ujima office hours to learn from Ujima Leaders about their work and challenges.    
   
   
   • Assist with hosting and facilitating one monthly office hour and group coaching session with Opportunity Youth aged 16 to 24.  
   
   
   • Collaborate on an annual joint activity for National Adoption Month.
   
   
   
   

Additional Notes:

NAA conducts child protective services and sex offender registry checks on all Fellows. Occasional evenings and weekends may be required in addition to travelling up to 4 to 6 times for events throughout the course of the Fellowship. This Fellowship is funded through July 31, 2026.

Compensation: 

The Advocacy Fellow will receive a salary of $47,000-$56,000, commensurate with experience. NAA will cover all Fellowship-related travel costs. This Fellowship offers an opportunity to engage in meaningful work while joining a dedicated community of professionals committed to making an impact.

NAA is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce.  We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. 

What You’ll Gain:

The Fellowship offers experience in advocacy, policy development, and collaboration while building connections across national child welfare and youth-focused networks.

Fellows can expect to:

• Participate in national advocacy spaces and engage with lawmakers.


• Strengthen skills in policy research, writing, and communication.


• Gain experience in coalition-building and cross-sector collaboration.


• Practice trauma-informed facilitation with youth and families.


• Expand professional networks and prepare for future roles in public policy, advocacy, or nonprofit leadership.

How to Apply: 

Apply online at Advocacy Fellowship
by September 23, 2025 with a resume, cover letter, and a brief writing sample that demonstrates your ability to communicate policy or advocacy issues clearly and persuasively. This may include a policy brief, op-ed, position paper, or an excerpt from academic or professional work. No phone calls please.

Please note - applications without cover letters and a writing sample will not be considered.

About the National Adoption Association (NAA):

The National Adoption Association (NAA) is the national leader advancing best practices in adoption from foster care. www.adoptnaa.org

Our Philosophy:

We believe that adoption is addition, not subtraction. We unite birth, kin, and adoptive families for the benefit of children and youth. Our approach honors cultural identity, familial connection, and youth voice—supporting healing, belonging, and stability for children in foster care.

NAA Racial Equity Statement:

As leaders in child welfare, we recognize systemic racism creates disparities that negatively impact our staff as well as the children and families we serve. NAA is committed to listening, learning, and taking actions to advance racial equity by:

• Continually and intentionally recruiting, hiring, and supporting diverse staff, including consultants and vendors;


• Using a racial equity lens in all of our programmatic work;


• Evaluating our organizational policies and procedures to ensure that they are antiracist[1];


• Allowing staff to be their authentic selves.

[1] Anti-Racism is defined as the work of actively opposing racism by advocating for changes in political, economic, and social life. Anti-racism tends to be an individualized approach and set up in opposition to individual racist behaviors and impacts.  Source: ProInspire sourced
Race Reporting Guide by Race Forward_V1.1.pdf