Karina Jiménez Lewis, Associate Director, Policy Reform & Advocacy, The Annie E. Casey Foundation
As Associate Director for the state policy team, Karina leads the Foundation’s state policy reform and advocacy efforts including engaging young leaders to advocate for policies that can improve the lives of youth and families in states where the need is greatest. In her most recent role, she worked closely with state advocates to help inform policy strategies grounded in evidence and data, with an intentional focus on the wellbeing of young people of color. Her portfolio included the KIDS COUNT, Partnership for America’s Children and State Priorities Partnership networks.
Before joining the Foundation, Karina developed expertise in child welfare over fifteen years of social work policy and practice in state agency and nonprofit settings. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Social Work with a focus on Policy Practice at the University of Connecticut – School of Social Work, after completing her undergraduate studies at Elms College in Massachusetts.