The Center for Child and Family Policy serves as the base for an interdisciplinary graduate certificate in Child Policy and Leadership. This selective, cohort-based certificate program trains master鈥檚 and doctoral students to develop a deep understanding of the needs of children and families; the policies which support or impede their wellbeing; and the research, advocacy, and leadership skills necessary to improve the policies and systems serving children and families.

At a Glance

How many courses?


The program consists of 3 courses, 9 credits total.听
These courses are embedded within the LSEHD and SSW degree requirements.

How long will it take?


The Child Policy and Leadership certificate is a 1.5 year cohort model, including three semesters and a summer.

Child Policy and Leadership Fellowship Program听

We are thrilled to be able to offer financial support (tuition remission) to select candidates through the听Child Policy and Leadership Fellowship.听

This fellowship seeks candidates who have navigated challenges, such as being first-generation or low-income students and those with diverse life experiences that provide unique perspectives to the field of child and family policy.听We encourage applicants who have faced barriers in their personal, academic, or professional lives, as their insights will contribute to fostering innovative thinking and solutions in child and family policy.听

Fellowship applicants are required to submit a fellowship statement that reflects on how their experiences, personal challenges, and perspectives have shaped their career goals in child and family policy and will contribute to diverse approaches and innovative solutions in this field.

Our Community

These photos were taken on a recent CCFP policy-training trip to Washington, D.C.

Curriculum & Application

Current Boston College graduate students enrolled in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, the School of Social Work, or the Connell School of Nursing with a demonstrated interest in research, leadership, and policy related to the early childhood field are encouraged to apply for the certificate program. Other prospective students may also be eligible; please contact the director.

Requirements


  • Credits: 9
  • Paid Internship
  • Capstone
  • Monthly Seminar

Explore how you can incorporate this certificate into your current graduate program:

Lynch School of Education
and Human Development

School of听
Social Work

Center Fellows

As fellows of the Center for Child and Family Policy, certificate students will be supported by faculty mentors and complete one-and-a-half years of rigorous training that will prepare them to analyze policies, conduct cutting-edge research, and translate scientific findings into policy and practice in the child and family policy field. Fellows will be part of a robust and expanding regional, national, and international network of child researchers, practitioners, and policy leaders, which will lay a strong foundation on which to build their careers.

Meet Our Students: 2026 Cohort

Maya Dayan
Maya Dayan
Clinical Social Work, M.S.W
Stephanie Edick
Stephanie Edick
Macro Social Work, M.S.W.
Hannah Goodman
Hannah Goodman
Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology, Ph.D.
Ashley Harris
Ashley Harris
Social Work, M.S.W.
Rachel Markowitz
Rachel Markowitz
Clinical Social Work, M.S.W.
Aysenur Ozgoztasi
Aysenur Ozgoztasi
Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology, Ph.D.
Tanmaiyee Vaddepati
Tanmaiyee Vaddepati
Nursing Practice Program, D.N.P.
Shophika Vaithyanathasarma
Shophika Vaithyanathasarma
Curriculum & Instruction, Ph.D.

The goal of this training program is to develop a new field of leaders in research, policy, and practice.
Rebekah Levine Coley , Professor, Applied Developmental & Educational Psychology; Director, Boston College Center for Child and Family Policy (CCFP)

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Application & Deadlines

Please contact us for additional info.听

Applications will open in Fall 2026.

Personal Statement

听A personal statement is to be uploaded to your online application form.

Please structure your personal statement in two sections, including a paragraph to address each of the following:

  1. Describe your interest in and prior experience in early childhood policy and leadership.
  2. What do you hope to gain from the ECPL certificate program, and how will this program support your educational and/or career goals? Describe your academic and professional goals, any experience relevant to this program, and your future plans, expectations, and aspirations.
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