Laura Matthews-Jolly joined the CCFH Board as a North Carolina Central representative in 2023. Ms. Jolly is an assistant professor of law at North Carolina Central University. Prior to entering academia, she was a public defender in the family defense practice at Brooklyn Defender Services, where she represented hundreds of parents at risk of losing their children to foster care. She also was an Equal Justice Works Fellow at the City Bar Justice Center, representing immigrant youth survivors of labor and sex trafficking. Professor Matthews-Jolly additionally served in the Office of General Counsel at the New York City Department of Education and as law clerk to the Honorable Melvin Gelade in New Jersey Superior Court.
“I have worked with families experiencing trauma throughout my legal career and observed a dearth of trauma-informed therapeutic support. It is an honor to be a part of this unique organization committed both to treating the public health problem of childhood trauma and creating systemic solutions. All families deserve to receive the support they need to thrive.“