About MDRC
Blum currently serves as the resource manager for Variations in Implementation of Quality Interventions and two projects housed under the Expanding Children’s Early Learning Network (ExCEL), as well as other projects within the Families and Children policy area. In this role, she provides day-to-day project manager support, works with project directors and task leaders to develop and manage budget and staffing plans, and serves as a liaison to consultants, subcontractors, and funding agencies. Before joining MDRC, Blum was employed at the Prevention Institute, where she worked on initiatives aimed at preventing multiple forms of violence in the United States. Blum holds a master’s degree in public health from the University of Minnesota and a BA in public health from the University of California, Berkeley.
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MDRC Publications
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Other Publications
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Projects
At the forefront of debates about early childhood education policy is a focus on raising the quality of learning environments in community-based centers and schools as a means of promoting child development, particularly for low-income children and children of color. Central to this discussion is how policymakers and practitioners can promote the quality of teachers’...
JoAnn Hsueh, Sharon Huang, Sharon Rowser, Meghan McCormick, Michelle Maier, Rebecca Unterman, Desiree Principe Alderson, Barbara Condliffe, Jocelyn Page, Amena Sengal, Sonia Drohojowska, Ilana Blum, Marissa Strassberger, Marie-Andrée Somers, Noemi Altman, Alexandra Bernardi, Mirjana PralicaWith broad support across the political spectrum, states and localities throughout the country are expanding preschool programs for low-income children. While the public will is strong and the experience to date is encouraging, there is a need for firmer evidence on the most cost-effective ways to produce lasting impacts for children, especially when programs operate...
Virginia Knox, Charles Michalopoulos, Sharon Rowser, JoAnn Hsueh, Helen Lee, Desiree Principe Alderson, Dina A. R. Israel, Erika Lundquist, Kristin Porter, Electra Small, Rebecca Behrmann, Anne Warren, Samantha Xia, Kelly Saunders, Ilana Blum, Jessica Kopsic, Noemi Altman, Caroline MageAdverse birth outcomes result in significant emotional and economic costs for families and communities. One promising avenue for helping expectant women is home visiting programs, which work with parents to promote prenatal care and improve infant health. The Mother and Infant Home Visiting Program Evaluation-Strong Start (MIHOPE-Strong Start...
Virginia Knox, Charles Michalopoulos, Sharon Rowser, JoAnn Hsueh, Helen Lee, Desiree Principe Alderson, Dina A. R. Israel, Erika Lundquist, Kristin Porter, Electra Small, Carolyn Hill, Rebecca Behrmann, Ximena Portilla, Anne Warren, Samantha Xia, Kelly Saunders, Ilana Blum, Mojgan RastegarHome visiting programs operate around the country to prevent child maltreatment, improve maternal and child health outcomes, and increase school readiness. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 authorized the creation of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, expanding federal funding of home...