Erika Nowakowski has a master’s degree from the UConn School of Social Work with a focus on Policy and Planning. She is the Executive Director of the Tow Youth Justice Institute at the University of New Haven and oversees the institute’s operations. Erika has extensive experience working with Legislators, state agencies, non-profits, and many other stakeholders on improving child services systems, facilitating, and coordinating system wide legislative and policy reforms. Prior to arriving at TYJI, she worked for 8 ½ years for the State of CT Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division managing several statewide initiatives focused on gender-responsive services, quality assurance, training, and program development and implementation. She also worked for four years with the Council on Accreditation in New York City and provided Technical Assistance to private nonprofit and state agencies seeking accreditation. She also has six years of experience in non-profit direct services as a case manager with the Emergency Mobile Psychiatric services, managing and coordinating system of care community efforts, and developing and implementing foster care best practices for recruiting foster parents. Erika is a wife, mom of three active boys, and is elected to the Farmington Board of Education.