Born and raised in Harlem Elaine attended P.S. 125 and J.H.S. 43 (now know as Adam Clayton Powell). Throughout her youth, she attended the after school program located in her junior high school. In 1981 became the first person to hold the title of School–Age Specialist in the country. As The School-Age Specialist for The Agency for Child Development (ACD) of New York City she wrote and implemented the policies and standards which are still being used as the benchmark for quality in the administration of publicly funded school-age programs in New York City . Elaine has with the National Black Child Development Institute, the National School-Age Care Alliance (NSACA). She has a BA Degree from Hunter College and MS.Ed from The City University. She has received numerous awards, including outstanding commitment from the ACD School-Age Sub Committee and The Mary Bethune Legacy Lady Award from the Northeast Bronx Chapter of The Negro Council of Negro Women