Natacha Blain Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Natacha Blain, JD, PhD, serves as the Director of the Board on Children, Youth and Families (BCYF) at The National Academies of Sciences. Natacha has over 15 years of experience working with policymakers and senior legislative officials on a variety of social justice issues and campaigns including serving as a Supreme Court Fellow, Chief Counsel to Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) on the Senate Judiciary Committee and Lead Strategic Advisor for the Children’s Defense Fund’s Cradle to Prison Pipeline Campaign. Most recently, Natacha served as Associate Director/Acting Executive Director at Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families (GCYF). Natacha joined GCYF in January 2010 as GCYF's first Director of Public Policy where she launched GCYF's Policy Spotlight newsletter, a weekly publication that is read by 4,000 grantmakers and child advocates. Natacha's talents were quickly recognized and a year later, she was elevated to Associate Director. For the past year and a half, Natacha has served as GCYF's Acting Executive Director. In her various capacities, Natacha has played a critical role in helping convene and engage diverse constituencies, fostering leadership, collaboration and innovation-sharing through a network of funders committed to the enduring well-being of children, youth and families.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Directed a new CDF Campaign to stop the funneling of children and youth down paths that lead to prison. • Developed and guided the implementation of the work program at the policy, research, and campaigning level to advance CDF’s mission in developing healthy, safe and educated children. • Represented CDF externally, including with the media, speaking on key issues related to the Campaign. • Supervised the work of the Senior Policy Associate for Juvenile Justice as well as coordinate activities of other Policy staff, interns and consultants mobilized to support the Cradle work program.• Compiled and synthesized promising practices and alternative approaches to address the pipeline. • Prepared selected reports, toolkits, and speeches relating to the pipeline to prison crisis and the initiative to dismantle it for internal purposes as well as external dissemination to various audiences including parents, advocates, policymakers and others.• Provided leadership and coordinated various Cradle activities, and develop and implement strategies to promote effective policies and practices at the state and community level. • Developed grant proposals in collaboration with staff from CDF’s Development Team and participate in other fundraising activities.• Co-managed the planning and execution of a national Summit, of 500 attendees, to raise awareness and discuss solution for dismantling the Pipeline.

• Assisted in meeting the challenges of a freshman Senator’s fast-paced office, including preparing for committee hearings and mark ups, interviewing perspective staff, and meeting with constituents and lobbyists.• Supervised legislative staff, edited staff memos and lead legislative staff meetings.

• Directed, created, developed and organized a new research department responsible for preparing background information for press briefings, press releases, and legislative testimony on a variety of issues effecting the civil justice system including tort reform, medical malpractice, and asbestos. • Participated in daily political meetings in order to offer insight based on political experience and judgment as well as learning of and prioritizing emerging research needs. • Hired and managed the time of the research staff and consultants. • Researched and developed RFPs on merging complex legal issues.• Actively assisted in the creation, development and organization of weekly electronic newsletter circulated to Hill staff, press, coalition partners and organization members. • Created and implemented an on-line searchable full text website database to archive materials and assisted in fulfilling research needs. • Created and implemented electronic tracking system to monitor research requests and assignments. • Created and implemented on-line lobbying database for public affairs department to track and monitor lobbying activities.

• Directed, created, and organized a new six months initiative responsible for launching multiple web-based take action campaigns with the long-term goal of creating a cadre of activists, fostering the next generation of advocates.• Managed web consultants working to build custom websites serving as a resource of information on a variety of social justice issues including judicial ethics and encroachments on civil liberties.• Managed creative team working to develop satirical timely flash animations highlighting social justice issues including judicial ethics. • Outreach to coalition partners, legal and academic communities, to contribute content and further strengthen the public interest community's ability to influence public policy including, examination of the Abu Ghraib Prison torture memos and education regarding the importance of voting.

• One year fellowship which was extended three additional months.• Conducted evaluations of an offender re-entry program and an offender employment program.• Drafted and implemented a proposal recommending congressional outreach to assist the Center in meeting its policy needs.• Participated in various colloquia and meetings relevant to the Center’s professional interests and special projects.• Attended special luncheon seminars sponsored by the administrative assistant to the Chief Justice and lecture series sponsored by the Supreme Court Historical Society.

• Provided special legislative assistance as a Congressional Fellow on the Senator’s personal staff and Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia and elevated, after nine months, to the position of Chief Counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee. • Coordinated Judiciary Committee activities including, hearings, mark ups, and judicial/justice nominations.• Researched, analyzed, and developed various health and judiciary public policy issues including, immigration, bankruptcy, gun safety, student loan forgiveness benefits, partial birth abortion, illegal drugs, crime, and racial profiling. • Assisted in congressional hearings and debates, prepared briefing memos and wrote statements.• Actively sought legislation and functions for the Senator to co-sponsor and attend. • Actively participated in the Senate African American and Hispanic Working Groups, identifying issues and developing initiatives affecting people of color.• Actively sought to learn about areas outside field of expertise including the budget and appropriations processes.

Phd, Clinical Psychology

1 of 2 students accepted to a dual degree program in Law and Psychology

Ma, Clinical Psychology

Jd, Law

1 of 2 students accepted to a dual degree program in Law and Psychology

Ba, Psychology

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Clinical Psychology

Doctor Of Law - Jd, Law