Jill Lefkowitz

Senior Research associate

Jill Lefkowitz is a child welfare analyst, program developer, and system reformer with two decades of experience in public and private child welfare agencies.

At Action Research, Jill oversees and supports federal court-appointed monitoring teams in Texas, Michigan, New Mexico, and Kansas—partnering with court monitors, validating state performance, and assessing compliance through administrative data analysis. Her work includes analysis of AFCARS and NCANDS data, with a focus on key CFSR measures such as permanency and maltreatment in care.

Previously, Jill served as Chief Performance Officer at a leading New York City child welfare service provider, where she led performance measurement, supported innovation efforts, and advised senior leadership. She also worked in the Office of Research and Evaluation at New York City’s public child welfare agency, helping design and implement a performance measurement system for contracted foster care and preventive agencies.

Jill brings expertise in facilitating multidisciplinary planning with case managers, youth mentors, clinicians, and other staff to support the well-being of high-needs children and youth while in foster care. A graduate of Clark University, Jill holds an MSW and a certificate of business excellence from Columbia University. 

In all her work, Jill focuses on the lives and stories behind the data and the importance of evaluation and analysis in ensuring that parents, children, and youth have access to high quality services. In addition to her analytic work, Jill has expertise and experience in facilitating planning with case managers, youth mentors, clinicians, and other staff to support the health and wellness of children and youth while in foster care. This work includes initiatives that create safe spaces for collaborative approaches to support high needs children and youth. 

A graduate of Clark University, Jill received a master's degree in social work and a certificate of business excellence from Columbia University, and is a Licensed Master Social Worker.