Child advocate returns to Philadelphia

LIFELONG public-education advocate Donna Cooper is coming back to Philadelphia after 12 years working on state and national issues.

Cooper will succeed Shelly Yanoff in January as head of Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY), a nonprofit children's advocacy group.

Cooper served as secretary of policy and planning for eight years under former Gov. Ed Rendell and as deputy mayor for policy and planning when he was mayor.

In her new role, she plans to focus on hunger, health care and homelessness of children.

PCCY lobbies for better children's health care, especially for CHIP and Medicaid, public education, early-childhood development and child care.

Cooper worked on the Pennsylvania Cover All Kids program, which extended health insurance to all Pennsylvania children. She designed Greater Philadelphia Works, a program helping single mothers become self-sufficient. Her work also has included fostering youth job-training and career education programs and creation of standards for early-childhood education.

"We're delighted to welcome a successor to Shelly who possesses such passion for improving children's lives, such deep knowledge of the Philadelphia region, and years of experience working effectively on behalf of children's policies," says Carolyn Adams, chairwoman of the PCCY Board of Directors.

"Donna will bring new ideas and boundless energy to our mission to promote greater opportunities for the children of the city and region."