Erica Hickey

Erica Hickey (she/her) is the Policy Fellow at the Alliance with over a decade of lived experience and advocacy for youth in foster care. Her role consists of communications with other program teams and partners, producing weekly newsletters pertaining to policy-related topics, maintaining a bill portfolio based on the Alliance’s priorities, and keeping informed with the Alliance’s Kin Caregiver Council.

Before joining the Alliance, Erica served as the Policy Director at VOICES, a Bay Area-based nonprofit, where she published critical reports including statewide recommendations developed by young people regarding how to improve the lives of youth in foster care. These reports highlighted specific recommendations on topics including how the State of California can create an inclusive system for transition aged youth with regards to the Family First Prevention Services Act and how to improve the Heart Gallery of New Mexico to better serve young people who wish to be adopted.

Since joining the Alliance in 2022, Erica has had a fast-paced work environment in which she thrives as can be illustrated by her organization of the Alliance’s annual Caregiver Day at the Capitol both virtually and in person, her ability to continue producing authentic reports and bill analyses and her engagement with caregivers.

Erica earned her bachelor’s degree in political science – public service from UC Davis. She lives with her family in the Bay Area.