Jennifer Gootman is a Study Director at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., where she directs research studies on issues related to youth, family, community development, and well-being, including reporting on community programs for youth and family work policies and benefits. Prior to this she was a Policy Analyst with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Jennifer also manages committees of experts in various disciplines to develop policy, practice, and research recommendations around issues related to children, youth, and families.
During her fellowship, Jennifer was based at the Ministry of Youth Development in Wellington where she examined the design and implementation of New Zealand's National Youth Development Strategy. She conducted site visits to local communities engaged in implementing the strategy where she interviewed various stakeholders engaged in youth development, including policymakers, service providers, youth workers, and young people. The paper that resulted from her project is titled "Whakamanawa te Hou Ora I nga Rangatahi: Lessons from New Zealand's National Youth Development Strategy."