About CCAI:

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that was founded in 2001 by advocates of children in the U.S. and around the world in need of families. ​

OUR STORY

Established in 1985​

In 1985, a committed group of Members of Congress, including U.S. Senators Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) and Gordon Humphrey (R-NH) and U.S. Representatives Tom Bliley (R-VA) and Jim Oberstar (D-MN), discovered they had a common goal – to live in a world where every child had a permanent, safe and loving family to call their own. They also found that their shared commitment to eliminating the barriers that hinder children from realizing this basic right to a family was one that transcended party lines and geographic borders. Dedicated to making a difference, these members united to form the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA) caucus. In 1998, the CCA caucus leaders* hired a full-time fellow, Kerry Marks Hasenbalg, who worked in the U.S. Senate to carry out the important work of the CCA.In 2001, the four CCA co-chairs and Kerry Marks Hasenbalg created CCAI. 
*U.S. Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Larry Craig (R-ID), and U.S. Representatives Tom Bliley (R-VA) and Jim Oberstar (D-MN). 

Our Goal

CCAI is entrusted with the great privilege of bringing voices of experience and expertise–from foster youth in the United States to children living in orphanages around the world, from brain scientists to psychologists–to the active membership of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA) in the United States Congress. 

CCAI STAFF

Nancy Kay Blackwell
Executive Director

Nancy Kay Blackwell is a passionate child welfare professional with more than 20 years in human services for social and public policy driven organizations in Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington, D.C. Her areas of focus include child welfare, early childhood development, faith-based policy, workforce development, and family homelessness. Nancy was most recently a Special Assistant at the D.C. Department of Family Services in the Family Services Administration where she provided strategic support on complex, politically sensitive special projects and managed a portfolio that included program rules and domestic violence. Prior to this role, Nancy was the Executive Director of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Baltimore City for five years. She managed the day-to-day operations; raised the annual operating expenses through grant writing, individual, and corporate giving; and raised the voices of foster youth throughout the city. She was also very active with National CASA Association and chaired their Urban Programs Council to coordinate the views and needs of urban programs nationally. Nancy has also worked at National Association of Foster Care Children of America, D.C. Child and Family Services, Maryland Interfaith Legislative Committee, Center for Urban Families (formerly Center for Fathers, Families and Workforce Development), Baltimore City Department of Social Services, and Maryland Department of Human Services. Nancy has a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language and Political Science, Master of Public Administration, and Master of Jurisprudence. She is married to Michael, a social worker, and has two children Christian, 28, and Zoe, 13.

Kate McLean
Director of Programs

Kate came to CCAI as a programs intern in 2017 and developed a strong passion for children in need of families and improving the child welfare system through advocacy programming during her internship experience. Kate attained a spot on the CCAI team in January 2018 and now works closely with the Executive Director in outreach, development, and programming. She supports the implementation of CCAI's core programs and annual projects, including the Foster Youth Internship Program®, Angels in Adoption® Program, and National Adoption Day. Kate enjoys volunteering with CASA DC and has been a CASA advocate since December 2019. Kate received a B.A. in International Affairs with a concentration in Conflict Resolution from The George Washington University. 

Taylor Draddy
​​Director of Policy

Taylor re-joined CCAI as Director of Policy in July 2019. She previously served as the Policy & Programs Associate at CCAI from 2014 to 2017. In her role, Taylor leads CCAI’s government relations, education, and advocacy work in domestic and international child welfare policy. Taylor supports the Congressional Resources Program and in her work with CCAI’s 20/20 Vision Program has coordinated several congressional delegations. Taylor also played an instrumental role in including the Adoption Tax Credit in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Prior to re-joining CCAI, Taylor served as the Public Affairs Coordinator at Foley & Larder LLP. In her role, Taylor assisted and supported the firm and clients by monitoring and tracking federal and state legislative and regulatory policy, research, advocacy, and facilitated meetings with Members of Congress and Administration officials. She has experience in managing large client fly-ins, congressional delegations, and events. She also served in several internships on Capitol Hill. Taylor received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the Catholic University of America and a Master of Public Management from Johns Hopkins University.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Honorable Mary L. Landrieu (Chair)
Senior Policy Advisor, Van Ness Feldman LLP
Susan Neely (Vice Chair)
President & CEO, American Council of Life Insurers
​Brian Graff (Treasurer)
CEO, American Retirement Institute
Susan Hirschmann (Secretary)
CEO, Williams & Jensen      
Kelly Gage
Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Nomi Network
Kerry Marks Hasenbalg
Founding CCAI Executive Director  & CEO, Becoming Foundation, Inc.
Kim Carver
Vice President Government Relations, Gulf Coast Bank
Rita Lewis
President, RML Strategies
Rick Spielman
General Manager, NFL Minnesota Vikings
Russ Sullivan
Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP