“Fighting For Our Youth”

Ms. Melissa Rock will talk about how Advocates for Children and Youth improves outcomes for Maryland’s foster youth through policy advocacy. She will explain how they leverage their relationships with state agencies and use the state legislative process to improve the lives of foster children.

Melissa Rock is the Child Welfare Director for Advocates for Children and Youth. She works with the statewide child welfare administrators and stakeholders to improve the experience of children and families involved with the abuse and neglect system. In 2012, Melissa was appointed to the Department of Human Resources’ Alternative Response (AR) Advisory Council, to oversee Maryland’s implementation of AR and made a co-chair of the AR Evaluation Workgroup. Melissa graduated from the George Washington University Law School in 2001, with high honors, from Brandeis University in 1998.