Leading the Nation’s Child Welfare System: A Conversation with Children's Bureau Associate Commissioner, Dr. Ryan Hanlon
Sellers Dorsey
45:45
The national conversation around child welfare is evolving with a stronger emphasis on prevention, family stability, and permanency. But how will that vision translate into policy, funding, and expectations that make measurable improvements in child and family well-being?
Join Sellers Dorsey for a candid, virtual discussion with newly appointed Children's Bureau Associate Commissioner Ryan Hanlon, Ph.D., MSW as we talk about the priorities, policies, and partnerships that will define the next era of child welfare.
This conversation will explore Dr. Hanlon’s leadership vision, federal priorities, and how national policy is translating into action across the child welfare continuum.
What We’ll Discuss
- Associate Commissioner Dr Hanlon’s path to leading the Children’s Bureau and the perspective he brings to the role
- Early priorities shaping the Bureau’s agenda and what leaders should be preparing for
- The White House Executive Order on child welfare: implementation expectations and potential funding implications
- The future of FFPSA: removing barriers to prevention services, use of IV-E for families at risk, and opportunities post-reunification/adoption
- Strengthening the connection between Medicaid and child welfare, especially as funding dynamics shift
- Audience questions and emerging issues from the field
Speakers
Katie Olse
Managing Director, Sellers Dorsey
Katie Renner Olse’s impactful leadership in child and family well-being for both the public and private sector has left an indelible mark on communities across the country. Before joining Sellers Dorsey, Katie served as the CEO of the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services (TACFS) where she supported the work of community organizations serving children and families in the child welfare system. Katie also served as the President of the National Organization of State Associations for Children (NOSAC) where she worked with top leaders in state child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health associations. Prior to her experience at NOSAC, Katie served as Chief of Staff for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission as well as Deputy Commissioner for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
Ryan Hanlon
Associate Commissioner, Children's Bureau
Ryan Hanlon, Ph.D., MSW serves as Associate Commissioner of the Children's Bureau within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF). In this leadership role, he provides national guidance on child welfare policy and practice, collaborating with states, tribes, and territories to promote safety, permanency, and well-being for children and youth. His work encompasses preventing maltreatment, strengthening families, reducing time in foster care, and expanding pathways to safe, permanent families.
Dr. Hanlon brings over two decades of distinguished experience in child welfare, foster care, and adoption to ACF. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of the National Council For Adoption (NCFA), where he previously led the organization's education, research, and constituent services initiatives. His career foundation includes hands-on experience in direct-service child welfare roles, including adoption and foster care practice.
As a trained social worker, Dr. Hanlon has enriched the field through teaching undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students while supervising social work interns. His expertise spans accreditation and regulatory frameworks, state licensing requirements, and federal and state child welfare policy development.
Dr. Hanlon holds four advanced degrees: an M.A. in Liberal Arts, an M.S. in Nonprofit Management, an MSW, and a Ph.D. in Social Work. He resides in Northern Virginia with his wife and their four children.
Leading the Nation’s Child Welfare System: A Conversation with Children's Bureau Associate Commissioner, Dr. Ryan Hanlon
45:45