Children of Incarcerated Parents: Doctoral Fellows Program
The Children of Incarcerated Parents (CIP) Doctoral Fellows Program supports doctoral-level research and professional training that advances policy, practice, and systems change for children and families impacted by incarceration in Oklahoma.
The program invests in emerging scholars whose work strengthens Oklahoma’s capacity to design trauma-informed, evidence-based, and family-centered approaches across child- and family-serving systems. Fellows engage in applied research that informs cross-system collaboration, improves service delivery, and elevates the voices and experiences of families impacted by the justice system.
Through this program, OCCY partners with universities and community organizations to support transformative scholarship with the potential for statewide and national impact.
2026–2027 OCCY Doctoral Fellow
Elizabeth Adelson, PsyD Candidate
Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University
Elizabeth Adelson is a third-year doctoral student in the combined School-Clinical Child Psychology PsyD program at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology in New York City. She grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Yale University in 2020.
Elizabeth is currently a psychology extern at JCCA (formerly the Jewish Child Care Association of New York), where she provides trauma-informed individual and group therapy to children in the foster care system. She previously externed in the Ardsley School District, where she provided school-based counseling and conducted comprehensive psychoeducational assessments to support academic planning and accommodations for K–12 students.
Doctoral Research Project
For her doctoral research, Elizabeth is developing an evidence-based, trauma-informed curriculum designed to promote resilience in children of incarcerated parents. The project is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. David McLeod with the University of Oklahoma and New Hope Oklahoma, a nonprofit organization with deep roots in serving families impacted by incarceration.
The curriculum is currently under development and will be piloted to inform future refinement, evaluation, and broader dissemination. The project is designed to strengthen protective factors, support emotional wellbeing, and equip children with skills that foster hope, resilience, and long-term success.
Contact:
Danielle Dill, MPH, Program Manager
danielle.dill@occy.ok.gov
(405) 606-4902