Expanding Our Impact: The Policy Fellowship Program
Through the Policy Fellowship program, Youth Policy Lab places early-career policy professionals in full-time roles within state and local agencies in Michigan. The Fellows provide technical assistance and strategic support to achieve specific and measurable improvements in social policies and state programs that impact Michigan's youth and their families. From their experience and context knowledge at their placement agencies, the Fellows are able to inform YPL's research and analysis work. In turn, the Fellows gain valuable and practical experience to advance their skills and knowledge and support them in their career paths.
This past year marked significant growth for the program, as YPL welcomed two new Fellows to our team: Dimitri Przeslawski joined the Michigan Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) 60 x 30 Initiative in July 2024, and Sam Owusu came on board in April 2025 with the MiLEAP Office of Early Childhood. Altogether, our five Policy Fellows are currently engaged in critical work across varied policy areas for the State of Michigan and within Detroit's schools.
MEET OUR POLICY FELLOWS
Dipita Das
Dipita's impactful work with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Maternal Infant Health Program has helped strengthen agency capacity, address service gaps, and promote inclusive, community-centered care. She conducted a comprehensive review of MIHP agency compliance, developed and administered a language access assessment for MIHP agencies, and launched a newsletter to raise awareness about diverse birthing practices across cultures and communities. She also supported an MIHP age expansion project to meet the needs of Medicaid-eligible families with children aged 18 to 36 months.
Megan Jagolinzer
Embedded within the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), Megan has worked alongside other YPL staff on an initiative to assess the implementation and effectiveness of the TRAILS Early Intervention program. This school-based program aims to enhance the social and behavioral outcomes of students experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms. Megan's work has included communicating with school mental health professionals about the program, conducting data analysis and data reporting at the school and district levels, survey development and administration, and collaborating with the YPL project team on the write-up of research findings.
Sophie Ordway
Sophie has been working with the Office of Prosperity at the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity (MDLEO) to support efforts to improve educational and economic outcomes for Michiganders transitioning out of the justice system. Sophie actively participated in the Michigan Poverty Task Force and helped develop key recommendations based on the group's work. She drafted a landscape analysis of Michigan's reentry program and has played a key role in launching and administering the Housing Access for Justice-Involved Individuals (JII) pilot grant. In addition, Sophie has contributed to an evaluation of a pilot project regarding Counsel at First Appearance (CAFA) for juveniles charged with felonies in Michigan.
Sam Owusu
Sam recently joined YPL as a Policy Fellow to work with the MiLEAP Office of Early Childhood. To help strengthen access, affordability, and quality within Michigan's early childhood education system, he has been tasked with three objectives: (1) Conduct a landscape analysis to inform the development of a comprehensive early childhood data collection system; (2) Build evidence-based recommendations for the state to move toward a coordinated early childhood enrollment system; and (3) Research preschool and kindergarten curriculum and best practices to identify policy and/or administrative changes that will improve the transition between Pre-K and kindergarten.
Dimitri Przeslawski
Dimitri has been working with the MiLEAP Office of Higher Education, supporting the Sixty by 30 Initiative's efforts to expand post-secondary educational opportunities for Michigan residents. To advance the goals of improving student success and degree completion, he has engaged in research, data analysis, data visualization, and report development relating to transfer students as well as students required to take remedial courses. He has also conducted an insightful analysis of different outreach initiatives that the state has used to increase participation in Reconnect, a community college scholarship program.