Our Team

Martha J. Henry, Ph.D.

Director, Office of Foster Care and Adoption Education and Policy
Center for Health Policy and Research

Martha Henry’s background in developmental psychology informs her work as Director of the Office of Foster Care and Adoption Education and Policy, part of UMass Medical School’s Center for Health Policy and Research. In addition to planning, implementing, and coordinating organizational and program development strategies for the Office of Foster Care and Adoption Education and Policy, Dr. Henry develops adoption and foster care curricula and trainings for medical, social service, legal, and educational professionals, as well as families.

She is the lead author of Adoption in the United States: A reference for families, professionals and students, a comprehensive book about adoption that includes information on the behavioral and medical health needs of children adopted domestically and internationally.

Dr. Henry has been involved in the design, data collection, analysis, and reporting of many research and evaluation projects at the Office of Foster Care and Adoption Education and Policy. Prior to becoming director, she served as a Research Associate and then as Director of Education and Training for the Office. She is an Instructor in the Department of Pediatrics at UMass Medical School.

Dr. Henry earned both master’s and doctoral degrees in developmental psychology at Clark University.