Experience

Evident Change

• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Jun 2015 - Present

  Madison, WI; Oakland, CA; Washington D.C.

• Acting President

  • Mar 2015 - Jun 2015

  Madison, WI, Oakland, CA, Washington DC

• Vice President

  • Jul 2011 - Feb 2015

  Madison, WI NCCD promotes just and equitable social systems for individuals, families, and communities through research, public policy, and practice. NCCD works with local and national agencies and organizations to develop and implement evidence-based practices in adult and juvenile justice, child welfare, adult protective services, and other social welfare arenas. Kathy is vice president of NCCD, coordinating programmatic efforts and organizational operations across NCCD’s offices in Madison, WI,… Show more NCCD promotes just and equitable social systems for individuals, families, and communities through research, public policy, and practice. NCCD works with local and national agencies and organizations to develop and implement evidence-based practices in adult and juvenile justice, child welfare, adult protective services, and other social welfare arenas. Kathy is vice president of NCCD, coordinating programmatic efforts and organizational operations across NCCD’s offices in Madison, WI, Oakland, CA, and Washington D.C. Kathy has devoted her entire professional career to making a difference in the lives of individuals, children, and families impacted by abuse and neglect. Her experience in child welfare includes provision of direct services, technical assistance and training, research, and policy. In 1992, inspired by a desire to prevent youth from escalating within and across the child welfare-juvenile justice-adult corrections systems, she began working as a child protective services front-line investigator with the Georgia Department of Human Resources, then went on to work in ongoing family preservation, supervision, and at the state’s policy unit. In 2000, she joined NCCD’s Children’s Research Center and has worked in partnership with numerous state and local social service agencies across the U.S. and internationally on the development and implementation of Structured Decision Making® (SDM) decision-support systems for child welfare, adult protection, and economic support programs to improve reliability, validity, and equity of assessment practices. Most recently she has played a key role in NCCD’s Pay for Success feasibility assessment projects in California, and is the project lead for NCCD's Pay for Success Grant, funded by the National Corporation for National and Community Service, which is part of the White House Social Innovation Fund initiative. She has a B.A. in psychology and a M.A. in Organizational Management.

• Assistant Director

  • Jul 2005 - Jun 2011

  Madison, WI Oversaw the development of the Structured Decision Making® (SDM) model; develop innovative uses for the SDM® approach in other social service fields including adult protection, placement/foster care support, and economic assistance programs; promote research-based approaches to decision making in social services and policy development; provide consultation and technical assistance to social service agencies in the implementation of SDM assessment systems.

• Senior Researcher

  • Jul 2003 - Jul 2007

  Madison, WI Designed, trained, and provided technical assistance to states and local jurisdictions in the implementation of SDM systems; monitored project work plans and developed budgets; assisted with new contract development and proposals; participated in new SDM product development such as the foster caregiver assessment model.

• Senior Research Associate

  • Sep 2000 - Jul 2003

  Coordinated the design, training and implementation of the child protective services (CPS) and juvenile justice assessment systems in various state and county jurisdictions; monitored SDM site work plans; prepared status reports on project activities; conducted SDM development and designed workgroups; developed training curricula; and conducted program training.



Pathways Transition Programs, Inc.

• Administrative Director

  • Feb 2000 - Sep 2000

  Atlanta, GA Developed and provided administrative oversight of programs for at-risk youth and their families related to maternal substance abuse, child maltreatment, and delinquency; managed state contracts for intensive home-based counseling services and state CPS training; presented workshops on model programs at various state-sponsored conferences; secured funding for program development, implementation, and evaluation; marketing.



GA Division of Family and Children Services

• Policy Consultant

  • Oct 1997 - Jan 2000

  Developed policy, practice standards, and training curriculum in CPS; managed the family preservation programs and budgets, in excess of $11 million annually; conducted statewide training of county DFCS staff in the areas of CPS policy and best practice standards.



Gwinnett County Department of Family and Children Services

• Social Services Supervisor

  • 1996 - 1997

  Lawrenceville, GA Provided supervision, training, and support in the area of CPS to a team of six case managers; improved the efficacy and efficiency of service delivery through the development of performance initiatives and application of management and leadership principles; assessed individual and team performance objectives as defined by state and local policy and practice standards.

• Child Protective Services Investigator

  • 1995 - 1996

  Lawrenceville, GA Conducted investigations on reports of child maltreatment; developed expertise in the identification and assessment of child abuse and neglect; coordinated services with various community partners including law enforcement and family advocacy agencies.

• Social Services Case Manager, Family Preservation

  • 1994 - 1995

  Lawrenceville, Georgia Provided case management to families with children identified as being at risk of abuse or neglect; assessed the continued safety and protection of maltreated children; mobilized community resources and services to stabilize family crisis and strengthen family stability.

• Economic Support Services Case Manager

  • 1992 - 1994

  Lawrenceville, Georgia Provided case management activities to determine client eligibility for public assistance benefits; assisted clients in accessing necessary community services related to housing, employment, child support, and mental health.