معرفی
Jessica Heldman is the Fellmeth-Peterson Associate Professor in Child Rights at the University of San Diego School of Law. She holds a JD from the University of San Diego (2004), where she graduated magna cum laude and was inducted into the Order of the Coif, and a BS from Northwestern University (1995). Her career bridges academia, policy advocacy, and direct legal service, including former roles as Associate Executive Director at the Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center and consultant for organizations like Children’s Rights and the Child Welfare League of America.
Her research focuses on:
- Child welfare and juvenile justice integration, developing frameworks for system coordination
- Racial equity in dual-status youth interventions
- Trauma-informed legal advocacy for exploited children
- Innovative legal pedagogy using role-playing techniques
- Crisis response for vulnerable populations during emergencies
Her scholarly work (2013–2025) reveals concentrated expertise in juvenile system reform, with recent articles addressing pandemic impacts on child welfare, racial bias in dual-system involvement, and restorative alternatives to youth incarceration. Earlier publications established foundational guides for cross-system coordination.
Honors include:
- Magna cum laude and Order of the Coif (USD Law)
- James A. D'Angelo Outstanding Child Advocate Award
- 2014 Children’s Advocacy Institute Trailblazer Award
She contributes to policy through the Polinsky Children’s Center Advisory Board and national technical assistance programs. Her practice experience includes juvenile court litigation, impact litigation for foster children, and developing arts education for at-risk youth.
