Jody Franklin, Child Trends’ vice president for strategic communications and outreach, is responsible for enhancing Child Trends’ impact through effective communications. Her expertise is in guiding and executing creative digital, traditional, and social media strategies for research, policy, and data—and in ensuring that Child Trends’ research resonates with both policy and general audiences. Jody’s current focus is the organization’s work to reduce child poverty and promote equity for children and youth of color. 

Before coming to Child Trends in 2017, Jody directed communications strategy for the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program and, before that, the Economic Policy Institute. She served as public relations director for the national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength, and as chief of staff in the Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor. Jody also worked for the 1992 Clinton for President Campaign as Hillary Clinton’s chief of staff. 

Jody holds a BA in political science and women’s studies from Wellesley College, an MA in public policy and management from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and an MA in writing from Johns Hopkins University.