Julie Blechman, MPH, CHES, is a research communications specialist II in the client communications program area at Child Trends. She is an experienced health education specialist who designs and implements strategies to engage with a variety of audiences. Ms. Blechman manages a range of communications activities for the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Population Affairs’ (OPA) website and communications contract, including strategic planning, content development, website management, and social media strategy. Blechman plans OPA’s communication strategy and ensures that communications activities are aligned with OPA’s mission and goals.  

Ms. Blechman also serves as the dissemination task lead for the Advancing Latino Parents’ Access and Engagement with Science-Based Strategies project, funded by National Science Foundation. In this role, she plans strategic communications and dissemination activities, including overseeing updates of Positive Parenting website, social media accounts, newsletter, and media tracking. Previously, she served as the dissemination task lead for Activate: The Center to Bring Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Research to Youth-Supporting Professionals, an OPA funded research-to-practice center. She has also provided dissemination support to the Marriage Strengthening Research & Dissemination Center, the National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families, and the Office of Planning, Research, & Evaluation. 

Before joining Child Trends, Ms. Blechman was the manager of communications for an infection prevention professional association where she led the strategic development of their flagship patient safety campaign. She worked to grow the organization’s social media presence and newsletter subscribers. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) and has earned a Master of Public Health degree from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science degree in health science from the University of Miami.