Debra Jenkins-Kearney, JD
Senior Consultant
Pronouns: She/Her
Debbie’s life changed twenty-four years ago when she began interning at the Defender Association of Philadelphia’s Child Advocacy Unit as a second-year law student. Her commitment to helping children and families involved in the child welfare system was realized and fueled by the disproportionate representation of families of color. Debbie’s experience as a practicing child welfare attorney contributes to her understanding of the challenges, biases, and systemic barriers that exist within human service organizations. She has co-created and implemented training on child welfare and the legal process for new social workers employed by the D.C. Child and Family Services Agency and through her role as a staff attorney with the American Bar Association’s Center on Children and the Law, Debbie worked to analyze and identify the cause of permanency delays; developed recommendations for reform; established written protocols and procedures; and provided multidisciplinary training and technical support to judges, attorneys, and social service agency staff. Debbie prioritizes relationships, inclusion and collaboration when delivering technical assistance to support leadership and strategic development; strengthen youth engagement best practices; and increase equitable permanency outcomes for youth and young adults involved in child welfare systems. Debbie is an attorney and Senior Consultant with Maddy Day LLC & Associates and an Advanced Results Count Practitioner.