Tashira Halyard is a member of CSSP's child welfare team, leading the Alliance for Race Equity in Child Welfare. The Alliance provides national leadership in support of improved outcomes for children and families of color involved with the nation's child welfare systems. Halyard has both a direct service and policy background, having worked in the education, homeless services, juvenile justice and child welfare fields over the last decade. Prior to joining CSSP, she was the Deputy Director at Washington DC's Homeless Children's Playtime Project, leading the organization's program staff and supporting its fundraising and advocacy efforts. She's also worked as a guardian ad litem at DC's Children's Law Center where she served as a legal advocate for children involved in the child welfare system. Halyard is a graduate of Florida State University and earned a law degree from Georgetown University. She's also a member of the board of directors for DC's ACLU, serving as the affiliate's Equity Officer.