Two-Term State Representative Serving the People of Chester County’s 167th District

First elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2018, State Representative Kristine Howard has distinguished herself in many ways. Her background in child welfare and personal experiences raising seven children have made her the go-to person in the House Democratic Caucus on legislative and policy matters affecting children and families. During her legislative tenure, Kristine has served on the Children & Youth, Human Services, Finance, State Government, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Veteran’s Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committees.  She was also appointed by Governor Wolf to the Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Task Force. 

Kristine’s array of committee assignments has given her a broad understanding of the legislative process and state government. In addition to her work with child welfare issues, Kristine has been particularly active on environmental issues earning her the honor of being named a Pennsylvania Environmental Hero by Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania. She has also been engaged with issues affecting women and is currently the prime sponsor of the bill to codify the protections guaranteed by Roe v. Wade in Pennsylvania law. 

Graduate of the University of Pennsylvania & Rutgers University School of Law

Kristine was born and raised in the New Jersey suburbs of the greater Philadelphia area in a family that valued education and public service. Kristine’s mother worked as an administrator for the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine while her father worked in the criminal justice system as a probation officer. 

Kristine attended The University of Pennsylvania where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy. She later earned her law degree from Rutgers. While at law school Kristine focused a large portion of her studies on the specifics of tax law, which remains a significant asset in her role as state representative.

A Career Built Out of Advocating for Women & Children

After graduating law school, Kristine worked in New Mexico, where she ran a non-profit legal and social services organization serving the low-income communities of Northern New Mexico with a focus on the indigenous population. 

Beginning with her work in New Mexico, Kristine continually pursued opportunities to help women and children, culminating in working as a child abuse investigator for Chester County Department of Children, Youth and Families. Kristine also served as a volunteer attorney for the Support Center for Child Advocates where she represented children in foster care in the justice system. In her work as a child welfare advocate, Kristine regularly witnessed how poverty, mental health issues and drug abuse serves as a catalyst to violence, abuse, and neglect. 

From her own experiences, Kristine knows all too well the challenges many women face when they pause their careers to raise their families. She experienced first-hand how the work and activities associated with full-time motherhood are devalued in the job market. Rather than being discouraged by the difficulties she faced when trying to return to work, Kristine embraced her invaluable background as a mother and an attorney to pursue opportunities as a professional child welfare advocate.

Work in Social Justice Led to Political Activism

While Kristine was building her career, she also worked to hone her skills through civic engagement and social activism. Kristine has spent the last 12 years as a political activist and social advocacy leader who served as a Member of the Chester County Democratic Committee which led her to work as an active volunteer in several political campaigns beginning with the Obama reelection campaign of 2012. 

Kristine brings her deep understanding of the challenges facing women and children to her job as State Representative where she has served on the Children & Youth and Human Services Committees and the Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Task Force advocating for changes in the law to protect our community’s most vulnerable citizens. 

Currently in her second term in the Pennsylvania State Legislature, Kristine is seeking a third term representing the newly redrawn 167th Legislative District comprised of the municipalities of Charlestown, East Caln, East and West Whiteland, Malvern, West Pikeland, West Vincent and a portion of East Goshen.

Family Matters

A long-time Malvern resident, Kristine, her beloved dog Daisy and three youngest children (two of whom attend West Chester University and the third attends Saint Joseph’s) now live in East Whiteland. As for Kristine’s four older children, one daughter, a resident of Malvern, is pursuing a career in the arts. One son and daughter are well ensconced in their professions in finance and business development while their sister is currently serving as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

Graduate of the University of Pennsylvania & Rutgers Law

State Representative Kristine Howard was born and raised in New Brunswick, New Jersey in a family that valued education and public service. Growing up, Kristine’s mother worked as an administrator for the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine while her father worked in the criminal justice system as a probation officer. As outstanding members of the community who were the first in their families to earn college degrees, Kristine’s parents impressed upon her the value of education and giving back to the community.

After graduating from public high school Kristine attended The University of Pennsylvania where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy. She later earned her law degree from Rutgers, while having and raising two young children. While at law school Kristine focused a large portion of her studies on the specifics of tax law, which remains a significant asset in her role as state representative.

Helping Indigenous
People in New Mexico
Escape Generational
Poverty

After graduating from law school, Kristine traveled to New Mexico with her husband, where she ran a non-profit legal and social services organization called Self Help Inc. (SHI). SHI is an organization dedicated to creating pathways for Indigenous people in Northern New Mexico to become self-reliant. At SHI Kristine specialized in helping underprivileged individuals from indigenous communities in New Mexico gain access to legal services, state-funded social services, small business grants, and financial assistance. She did all of this while caring for her growing family. She then came back to live in Malvern, Pennsylvania, where she successfully guided her children through school. At the end of 2020, all of her children will have graduated or be enrolled in college with one of her daughters serving as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

Built a Career Out of Advocating for Women & Children

Even while Kristine was having and raising children, she consistently looked for opportunities to grow her network and build her career. Early on in her career, Kristine found that despite her extensive background, her skills as a mom were viewed as an impediment and at one point was even refused a position with Target. Like many highly educated women who become Moms, Kristine consistently faced disproportionate responsibilities at home, limited access to affordable childcare options, inadequate pay, and poor management within the businesses that employed her.

Throughout her 25-year career, Kristine worked on child welfare issues culminating serving as a child abuse investigator for Chester County Children & Youth Services for nearly three years before being elected State Representative. In that capacity, she gained an inside perspective on the impact government systems have on Chester County children and their families. Kristine also worked for the Support Center for Child Advocates where she represented children in foster care in the justice system. In her work as a child welfare advocate, Kristine regularly experienced how poverty, lack of affordable housing and drug abuse serves as a catalyst to violence, abuse, and neglect.

From a Career in Social Justice to Political Activism

While Kristine was building her career, she also worked to hone her skills through civic engagement and social activism. Kristine has spent the last 10 years as a political activist and social advocacy leader who served as a Member of the Chester County Democratic Committee, and currently serves as the vice-chair of the Chester County Democratic Women’s Leadership Initiative (CCDWLI) an organization committed to creating pathways for women to obtain critical leadership roles within their communities and raising awareness for the issues that impact working families. Kristine brings her deep understanding of the challenges facing women and children to her job as State Representative where she serves on the Children & Youth and Human Services Committees advocating for changes in the law to protect our community’s most vulnerable citizens. Kristine also contributes her expertise gained from the study of tax law in her role as a member of the House Finance Committee.