VFA Policy Intern Introduction: Angelica Cox
My name is Angelica Cox and I grew up in Caro, Michigan. For the next ten weeks, I will be a policy intern for Voice for Adoption. As someone who has personally experienced foster care and an unsuccessful adoption, I am ecstatic to be assisting VFA this summer.
Currently, I am a senior studying Social Relations and Policy at James Madison College at Michigan State University (MSU), which explores the domain of public issues that affect different societal groups. After I graduate from MSU in December, I plan on pursuing a master’s degree in social work, so I can continue to advocate for children in the system. To help strengthen my political background, I interned at the Michigan House of Representatives for over two years. This experience increased my understanding on the legislative process, especially in regards to how state laws impact the child welfare system. Last summer, I was also chosen as a representative from Michigan to become an All Star at FosterClub, an organization that guides the efforts of young people in and from foster care to become connected, educated, inspired and represented so they can realize their personal potential and contribute to a better life for their peers. I was a counselor for hundreds of foster children from across the country and served as a role model for kids who need extra inspiration and support.
Through connections at FosterClub, I heard about Voice for Adoption. This organization’s mission inspired me, and shortly after researching VFA, I applied to become a policy intern. My academic and political background as well as my passion for child advocacy inspired me to travel to Washington D.C. this summer to strengthen my understanding on how child welfare policy works on a federal level. What I am looking forward to the most this summer is the opportunity to influence and understand how child welfare policies are shaped on the federal level.
