Remembering Dr. Staci Perlman
It is with a heavy heart that we share with you the news of Dr. Staci Perlman's passing due to cancer.
Staci was a long-time friend, colleague, and a supporter of PEC.
As PEC's first Visiting Scholar, she worked closely with PEC on clinical research, policy, and advocacy work on behalf of homeless children and families.
Staci was a fierce
advocate for the need for quality early childhood education services for all children -- especially for those living in shelters -- and made significant contributions to both the literature and the public discourse regarding this topic.
As PEC's Visiting Scholar, she conducted research in partnership with PEC staff; helped PEC leadership think about research that can be applied to policy and best practice; hosted forums and gave presentations of research on child and family homelessness; participated in regional and statewide networks of nonprofit agencies working with people and families experiencing homelessness; and provided feedback to PEC's policy office and its publications.
She played a pivotal role in advocating for key legislation passed this past year that requires early intervention screenings for the 6,000+ children who are living in emergency shelters in Pennsylvania. In that campaign, she coined the phrase "Yay Babies!" that became the rallying cry of the advocates.
She researched the effectiveness of the parenting program "Together We Play" designed by Dr. Chiara Nuzzo and piloted the program at PEC. Together with Dr. J.J. Cutuli and Dr. Janette Herbers (also PEC Visiting Scholars), she conducted an investigation into two other parenting programs (Family Care and Babies First Teacher), hoping to strengthen the literature on parenting in the context of family homelessness.
Other accomplishments during her career include:
- Co-edited the book "Promoting Positive Parenting in the Context of Homelessness" along with Dr. Mary Haskett and Dr. Beryl Cowan in 2013.
- Served as the primary evaluator for a process and outcome evaluation of an initiative to increase access to quality early childhood education and early intervention for young children involved with the Philadelphia child welfare system.
- Very recently provided testimony on homeless education practices to the state of Florida on a lawsuit with the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty.
- Served on numerous board and commissions, including the Early Childhood Committee of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, the PA Joint Commission Task Force on Homelessness, and co-chaired both the Philadelphia Children's Work Group Early Childhood Committee and the American Psychological Association Division 37 Taskforce on Homelessness and Child Maltreatment.
Dr. Perlman was an Assistant Professor at the University of Delaware, Department of Human Development and Family Studies and the Delaware Education Research and Development Center. She was a dedicated teacher and mentor and had a way of inspiriting all of those fortunate enough to have experienced her.
This past summer, she was on the path to reforming how homeless young children ages 0-5 are being served by Philadelphia's homeless and early childhood systems.
Staci will be deeply missed by many and will certainly leave a void at PEC because of the relationships she forged here, and because she was still intricately involved in a number of projects and advocacy efforts.
We ask you to please keep her 9-year old son Matthew and the rest of her family, friends and colleagues in your thoughts.
Yay Babies!
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