June Simon

senior Research Associate

June Simon is a Senior Research Associate at Action Research, where she leads mixed-methods evaluations and applied research on child welfare programs and systems. She oversees study design and implementation using administrative data, program data, and stakeholder insights; leads research teams from project launch through dissemination; and works with service providers and government agencies to translate findings into strategies for improvement. She also contributes to staff development, business development, and organizational strategy.

Her recent portfolio includes multi-year evaluations of multidisciplinary parent legal representation programs, behavioral health training for child welfare clinicians, and mentorship initiatives for youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood. She also led a statewide assessment of mandated reporter training and practices. June previously directed Action Research’s monitoring efforts under Michigan’s federal class action settlement, developing metrics and analyzing MISACWIS data, and continues to support similar work in Texas.

Before joining Action Research, June led or contributed to research efforts with Casey Family Programs,the University of Washington School of Social Work, and the National Council for Adoption. Her projects have included a first-of-its-kind analysis of federal and philanthropic investment in child welfare research; national and state-level evaluations of support programs for resource families; and a systematic review of foster parent retention. At the Joshua Center for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention, she also studied policy and practice strategies to prevent child sexual abuse in out-of-home care settings.

She holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Washington and a Bachelor’s degree inPolitical Science and Business Administration from Northeastern University.