Kelly Crane

Kelly Crane has worked in the field of prevention and child welfare for nearly 20 years. Her policy activities center on providing leadership, strategic planning, guidance, and support to advance the goals and mission of Prevent Child Abuse America and Healthy Families America. Kelly facilitates informative advocacy and educational campaigns, cultivating positive public and political will, and connecting allied political champions and stakeholders to each other. She supports the federal policy team and distills national priorities into effective state advocacy strategies for the PCA America network.

Prior to joining PCA America, Kelly worked at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, where her policy and research activities centered on providing consultation and capacity building to states and jurisdictions with a focus of promoting improved outcomes for the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families. Kelly also worked for the National Conference of State Legislatures, where she provided customized facilitation, technical assistance, and testimony to senior state policymakers, addressing policy and systems reform issues related to child welfare. She also brings experience working within a state system involved in program development, program implementation, and evidence-based practices through her tenure at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.

Kelly holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and BA in Psychology and Business Administration from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana.