Heldman served as Associate Executive Director at the Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice at Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps in Boston, MA. In this capacity, she provided technical assistance and training to state and local jurisdictions, guiding the development of law and policy within child welfare and juvenile justice systems throughout the nation. Heldman served as a consultant for organizations including Children’s Rights in New York City, the Child Welfare League of America, and Georgetown University’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform. She has experience in representation of dependent and delinquent children in juvenile court as well as impact litigation on behalf of foster children. Heldman also worked for the law firm of Golden & Cardona-Loya, LLP in the areas of estate planning and consumer law. Prior to law school, Heldman worked as a theater educator developing and teaching educational arts programming for dependent and delinquent youth in San Diego.