Nora McCarthy, Founder/Director: Nora was the founder and director of Rise, a NYC parent advocacy organization, for 16 years. Rise began as a magazine written by and for parents impacted by ACS. Nora also edited the citywide youth newspaper New Youth Connections (NYC) and a magazine by teens in foster care, Represent. She is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, wrote the Upstream City column for The Imprint, and has written for publications including the Daily News, Newsday, Slate, The Appeal and Child Welfare Watch. Nora is on the board of United Family Advocates and the International Parent Advocacy Network. Email: nora@familypolicynyc.org
Caterina Pisciotta, MSW, Pre-Doctoral Fellow: Caterina is a doctoral candidate in the Social Welfare program at the City University of New York and a pre-doctoral fellow at FPP. She has both direct practice and research/evaluation experience in the areas of child welfare and juvenile justice. Cat leads FPP’s data analysis.
Mahima Golani, Policy Analyst: Mahima has worked as an education consultant and a research assistant, focused on translating research into accessible advocacy and policy. Mahima holds a M.S. in Neuroscience and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Mahima leads FPP’s focus on cash policy and is on the Steering Committee of the New York State Cash Alliance. Email: mahima@familypolicynyc.org
LaTroya Lovell, Researcher: LaTroya is a researcher, educator, and policy advocate with a focus on participatory, youth-led, and/or community-driven research initiatives. She holds an M.A. in Youth Studies from CUNY School of Professional Studies and a B.A. in Literature & Writing, with a minor in Gender Studies from The New School. LaTroya co-facilitates FPP’s Community Research Advisory Board and is a researcher and consultant on FPP’s participatory research project with the CUNY Public Science Project. Email: latroya@familypolicynyc.org
Ihsan Al-Zouabi, Pre-Doctoral Fellow: Ihsan is a doctoral candidate in Criminal Justice at Rutgers University–Newark and a consultant to FPP. Her research examines family regulation systems through historical and contemporary lenses, using qualitative methods, archival analysis, and abolitionist frameworks. Ihsan brings experience in digital archival research, policy analysis, and community-engaged scholarship.
Ruth Horry, Policy Fellow: Ruth is an author, community advocate, and member of the Family Advisory Board (FAB) at United for Brownsville, where she previously served as a FAB Fellow. She brings deep experience in community-led efforts to expand equitable access to family supports. At FPP, Ruth is a Policy Fellow on a project focused on neighborhood conditions and community care in Brownsville. She also serves on FPP’s Community Research Advisory Board.
Georgina Gooden, Policy Fellow: Georgina is an advocate and member of the FAB at United for Brownsville. Her work focuses on addressing systemic challenges that communities face to advance equity. Georgina also serves on the Family Advisory Boards of Reach Out and Read of Greater NY. At FPP, Georgina is a Policy Fellow on a project focused on neighborhood conditions and community care in Brownsville.
Community Research Advisory Board: Comprising parents and youth impacted by NYC’s child welfare system, this paid and trained Advisory Board advises on all aspects of FPP’s research portfolio. The Community Research Advisory Board includes Christine Joseph, Daniesha Brown, Dominique Arrington, Ericka Francois, Leatha Jennings, Nathali Feliz, Ruth Horry, Rhoda Clayton, Tanesha Grant and Tony (Anthony) Turner, and is co-facilitated by LaTroya Lovell.
Research Partners
FPP has collaborated on research with Dr. Kelley Fong of the University of California; Dr. Frank Edwards of Rutgers University; Dr. Tricia Stephens at Silberman School of Social Work; Dr. Christopher Wimer and staff at the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University; NYC’s data analysis agency, CIDI; and the CUNY Public Science Project. FPP’s Participatory Action Research project with the CUNY Public Science Project is led by María Elena Torre, Maya Tellman, Mica Baum-Tuccillo, LaTroya Lovell, Naashia Bettis, Gisele Hearne and Diamin Bethea.
Coalitions
FPP is a member of the Child and Family Well-Being Fund Workgroup, the Narrowing the Front Door Workgroup, the New York State Cash Alliance, the New York CAN End Child Poverty Coalition, the End Poverty Now! Increase Cash Assistance Coalition and the Mandated Reporting Working Group.