PolicyLab

Tara Dechert (she/her) is a senior program manager at PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She leads the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative models that integrate pediatric primary care with community-based early childhood services to improve health and developmental outcomes for children and families.

Ms. Dechert's work focuses on advancing integrated systems of care by embedding early childhood development expertise within pediatric practice through home visiting integration, child care navigation, multidisciplinary care teams and cross-sector care coordination. She also supports PolicyLab's early childhood policy portfolio, working with health systems, state agencies, advocates, and community partners to translate implementation evidence into policy, financing and systems strategies that strengthen early childhood services and improve access for children and families.

Ms. Dechert brings a unique combination of implementation, policy, and operational expertise, helping to translate research into scalable models that inform healthcare practice, public policy, and systems change. Her work spans implementation science, integrated care delivery, maternal and child health, early childhood policy and sustainable financing strategies that strengthen connections between healthcare and community-based services.

Prior to joining PolicyLab, Ms. Dechert held positions in state government and the nonprofit sector focused on public policy, prevention, and implementation of evidence-based programs for children and families. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Elizabethtown College and a Master of Science in Administration of Justice from Shippensburg University.