Policy & Practice | Winter 2025

staff spotlight

Name: Emily Rakes Title: Policy Coordinator Time at APHSA: I have been at APHSA since November 2025. Priorities at APHSA: In my role at APHSA, I contribute to legislative

Services. Prior to my professional life, I received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. What I Can Do for Our Members: I coordinate peer learning with state and local agency professionals across APHSA’s Child & Family Well-Being and Social and Economic Mobility Policy portfolios. Best Way to Reach Me: You can reach me via email at erakes@aphsa.org. When Not Working: I enjoy running, backcountry hiking, baking pastries, and watching movies! Motto to Live By: “Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.” —Kahlil Gibran

and regulatory analysis, support peer learning communities, and support the planning and execution of policy conven ings, webinars, and member engagement activities. Life Before APHSA: Before APHSA, I was an Analyst at ICF for four years, supporting economic mobility and family well-being initiatives on behalf of agencies such as the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Labor, and USDA’s Food and Nutrition

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