WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Board of Directors of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) announced that it has promoted Kate McLean to the position of Executive Director.

“We are so happy that Kate has agreed to step into this important leadership role with CCAI. She is passionate about our mission and brings a joyful and collaborative spirit to our work with Members of Congress and many strategic partners,” said Mary Landrieu, Chair of the Board of Directors. “The combination of Kate’s executive leadership and deep commitment to our mission makes her the ideal new Executive Director,” said Susan Neely, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. “With her strong engagement, CCAI has had an extraordinary year of impact. We look forward to continuing our progress with Kate at the helm.”

Kate has been at CCAI since 2017, first as an intern and then attaining a spot on the team as Policy & Programs Associate beginning in January 2018. Prior to being named Executive Director, Kate managed the organization’s outreach, development, and programming as Director of Programs where she supported the implementation of CCAI’s core programs and annual projects including the Foster Youth Internship Program®, Angels in Adoption®, and National Adoption Day.

As Managing Director and now Executive Director, Kate leads the organization in increasing CCAI’s visibility and impact among members of the adoption, foster care, and greater child welfare community; strengthening and diversifying the organization’s funding sources; and maintaining the strong relationship that exists between CCAI and Members of Congress.

Originally from New York, Kate has been a District of Columbia resident for almost eight years. She enjoys volunteering with CASA for Children of DC and has been a Court Appointed Special Advocate since 2019. Kate holds a bachelor’s degree in international affairs with a concentration in conflict resolution and minor in Spanish from The George Washington University.

“Over the past four years, I have been honored to be able to grow with CCAI and I appreciate the board’s confidence in me to lead this important organization into our third decade,” Kate said. “I believe wholeheartedly that CCAI’s resilience and relevancy will continue to build as now, more than ever, we need a world in which every child knows the love and support of a family. I look forward to continuing my work with the caucus and CCAI community to identify and remove barriers for vulnerable children and families.”

For 20 years, CCAI has been an established resource for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, the largest bicameral, bipartisan congressional member organization. CCAI works to engage Members of Congress on issues pertaining to children in need of permanency, domestic, and international child welfare, as well as to advocate for every child’s right to a safe, stable, and nurturing family. CCAI works to provide federal policymakers with the information and resources needed to make the dream of a forever family for every child a reality through its core programs, including the Congressional Resource Program, Angels in Adoption®, Foster Youth Internship Program®, and 20/20 Vision Program.

CCAI is governed by a Board of Directors whose members include The Honorable Mary Landrieu, Senior Policy Advisor at Van Ness Feldman and former U.S. Senator from Louisiana; Susan Neely, President and CEO of American Council of Life Insurers; Brian Graff, CEO of American Retirement Association; Susan Hirschmann, CEO of Williams & Jensen; Kim Carver, Vice President Governmental Relations of Gulf Coast Bank; Kelly Gage, Director of Advancement of Nomi Network; Sarah Gesiriech, Principal of 127 Strategies and Former U.S. Government Special Advisor on Children in Adversity; Rita Lewis, President of RML Strategies; Joyce Rogers, Vice President of U.S. Policy & Public Affairs at Pfizer; Rick Spielman, General Manager of the NFL Minnesota Vikings;  and Russell Sullivan, Shareholder of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.

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The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the millions of children around the world in need of permanent, safe, and nurturing homes and to eliminate the legal, social, and financial barriers that hinder these children from realizing their basic right of a family.

For more information or to learn about the work of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, visit http://www.ccainstitute.org or contact info@ccainstitute.org or (202) 544-8500.