Alfred Pérez, Ph.D., MSW
Director of Community Science & Impact/Senior Research Scientist
Biography
Alfred G. Pérez, Ph.D., MSW (he/him/his) is an applied social scientist specializing in the experiences of young people with foster care histories. He is deeply committed to advancing health, racial, and social equity for young people with foster care histories. His work is viewed through a tripartite lens integrating social science, policy, and his lived foster care experience.
Alfred joins ETR as a Senior Research Scientist serving as the inaugural Director of Community Science and Impact. In this pivotal role, he is firmly dedicated to bolstering ETR’s standing in Health Equity, particularly emphasizing advancing the cause of Black and BIPOC Health Equity and integrating meaningful youth engagement in the decision-making process.
Before joining ETR, Alfred held diverse roles across academic, government, non-profit organizations, and policy institutions. Some noteworthy highlights include his time as a founding faculty member of Seattle University’s Master of Social Work Program, the significant contributions he made to Arizona’s child welfare reform and overseeing the state’s Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) programs, his role as a policy analyst with the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care, his notable keynote addresses including speaking at the White House bill signing ceremony of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, and his role as an integral part of the team creating the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD).
Alfred is an alumnus of the University of Chicago, where he received his Ph.D., the University of Michigan, where he received his master of social work (MSW) degree, and San José State University, where his bachelor’s degree was conferred.
As a hodophile and a running enthusiast, Alfred spends his time outside work traveling to experience as many cultures, cuisines, and scenic running routes as possible!
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Koh, E., & Pérez, A.G. (Under review). Transitioning to adulthood: Benefits and challenges of kinship families. Journal of Public Child Welfare.
Pérez, A.G., Ocasio, K., White, K., Farina, A., & Rolock, N. (2023). Family well-being after adoption and guardianship: Considerations for engaging families across the life course. In R.W. Denby & C. Ingram (Eds.). Child and Family-Serving Systems: A Compendium of Policy and Practice, volume III. Child Welfare League of America
Pérez, A.G., Harris, R., & Chor, B. (2019). Factors predicting patterns of service use among Chafee independent living service recipients. Child Welfare, 97(6), 21-51.
Chor, B., Petras, H., & Pérez, A. (2018). Youth subgroups who receive John F. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program services. Journal of Child and Family Studies, doi 10.1007/s10826-017-1004-1
Pérez, A. G. (2017). Classifying relational permanence among young adults who exited foster care through legal permanence as adolescents. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 98(3), 179-189. doi 10.1606/1044-3894.2017.98.31
Gill, E., Christensen, C., & Pérez, A. G. (2017). The sale of the Atlanta Hawks: Is it racism or white ownership playing the race card? Journal of Sports Media, 12(1), 113-140. doi 10.1253/jsm.2017.0005
Rolock, N., Pérez, A.G., White, K.R., & Fong, R. (2017). From foster care to adoption: A 21st century challenge. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. doi: 10.1007/s10560-017-0499-z
Rolock, N., & Pérez, A.G. (2016). Three sides to a foster care story: An examination of the lived experiences of young adults, their foster care records, and the space in between. Qualitative Social Work. doi:10.1177/1473325016666410
Christensen, C., Gill, E., & Pérez, A. G. (2016). The Ray Rice domestic violence case: Constructing black masculinity through newspaper reports. Journal of Sport & Social Issues, 40(5), 363 -386. doi:10.1177/0193723516655576
Pérez, A. G., & Teasley, M. (2015). Improving educational outcomes of school-age children and youths involved in public systems. Children & Schools, 37(4), 195-197. doi: 10.1093/cs/cdv029
Pérez, A. G. (2014). Are we putting the cart before the horse? Understanding legal and relational permanence among young adults with foster care histories (Publication No. 3668285) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Chicago]. ProQuest Dissertations Global.
Courtney, M. E., Lee, J., & Pérez, A.G. (2011). Receipt of help acquiring life skills and predictors of help receipt among current and former foster youth. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(12), 2442-2451. doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.08.026
Dworsky, A. & Pérez, A. G. (2010). Helping former foster youth graduate from college through campus support programs. Children and Youth Services Review, 32(2), 255-263. doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2009.09.004
Pérez, A. G. (2004). Five commentaries: Looking to the future (Commentary #2). The Future of Children, 14, (1), 175-189.
Reports, Book Chapters, Book Reviews, Editorials & Other Publications
Banks, S., Walker, S., & Pérez, A. G. (2023). Anti-oppressive and antiracist strategies in unified courts. In W. Ashley (Ed.), Antiracist social work practice: Beginning and advanced knowledge and skills and techniques. DIO Press.
Pérez, A.G. & Ross, T. (2022). Propensity score matching: An alternative method for assessing the impact of NYC’s direct transfer pilot. Brooklyn, NY: Action Research Partners.
Pérez, A.G. & Ross, T. (2022). An evaluation feasibility assessment of the Children’s Law Center of California pre-filing programs. Brooklyn, NY: Action Research Partners.
Simon, J. & Pérez, A.G. (2022). Evaluating eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) implementation in ACS foster care. Brooklyn, NY: Action Research Partners.
Pérez, A.G., Mortega, J. P., Ponce, O., & Ross, T. (2022). Ohio legal representation evaluation. Brooklyn, NY: Action Research Partners.
Rolock, N., White, K.R., Pérez, A.G., & Fong, R. (2020). Post-adoption and guardianship experiences In M. Hanna, R. McCoy, R. Fong, & N. Rolock (Eds.), Introduction to child welfare. San Diego, CA: Congella.
Faulkner, M., Belseth, T., Adkins, T., & Pérez, A. (2018). Authentic relationships matter most: A new model for permanency. Austin, TX: The University of Texas at Austin Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing.
Adkins, T., Faulkner, M., & Pérez, A. (2016). Texas Youth Permanency Study: Literature Review. Austin, TX: Upbring.
Pérez, A. G. (2015, April 15). Children living in transition: Helping homeless and foster children and families. [Review of the book Children living in transition: Helping homeless and foster children and families, ed. by Cheryl Zlotnick]. Journal of Children and Poverty, 21, 71 -73. doi: 10.1080/10796126.2015.1031729
Pérez, A. G. (2014). Does legal permanence translate into relational permanence among young adults with foster care histories? The National Resource Center for Adoption’s Roundtable, 27(2), 10 – 11.
Dworsky, A. & Pérez, A. G. (2009). Helping foster youth graduate from college: Campus support programs in California and Washington State. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago.
Courtney, M., Dworsky, A., Ruth-Cusick, G., Havlicek, J., Pérez, A., & Keller, T. (2007). The Midwest evaluation of adult functioning: Outcomes at age 21. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago.
Emig, C., Badeau, S., Gesiriech, S., Murry, K., Outley, A., Russo, G., & Pérez, A. (2004). Fostering the future: Safety, permanence and well-being for children in foster care. Washington, DC: Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care
Hines, A., Lee, P.A., Drabble, L., Lemon, K., Chow, J., Pérez, A., & Snowden, L.R. (2003). An evaluation of factors related to the disproportionate representation of children of color in Santa Clara County’s child welfare system. San José, CA: County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency.
Pérez, A. G., O’Neil, K., & Gesiriech, S. (2003). Demographics of children in foster care. Washington, DC: Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care.
Pérez, A. (2003). Family preservation initiatives: Foster youth share their perspective for change. San Francisco, CA: California Youth Connection.
Pérez, A. (2003). Forgotten teens: Social workers can make a difference. Ongoing. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan School of Social Work.
Pérez, A. (2000). Sink or swim: Foster youth staying afloat in the adult world. Daily Living: A Quarterly Devoted to Adolescent Independent Living. Tulsa, OK: National Resource Center for Youth Services, University of Oklahoma, 14(2), 4-6.
