National Council For Adoption Welcomes Ryan Hanlon as Vice President

Media Contact:
Julie Shull
(703) 299-6633 jshull@adoptioncouncil.org

National Council For Adoption Welcomes Ryan Hanlon as Vice President

August 21, 2017 – Alexandria, VA – National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is pleased to announce that Ryan Hanlon will serve as Vice President of Education, Research, and Constituent Services, beginning August 21, 2017. Mr. Hanlon succeeds Megan Lestino, current Vice President of Public Policy and Education. Mrs. Lestino joined NCFA in 2010 and oversees the organization’s advocacy efforts at the federal and state level, as well as NCFA’s various public and professional education programs. Her time with NCFA comes to a close at the end of August.

In his new role, Mr. Hanlon will oversee NCFA’s educational projects, including the annual National Adoption Conference for adoption professionals—which in 2017 had the largest attendance of any NCFA conference to date—as well as the organization’s in person and online educational programs, trainings, and resources. He will also lead NCFA’s research initiatives, including a longitudinal foster care research project in Mississippi, and serve as co-editor of NCFA’s monthly Adoption Advocate publication. Additionally, Mr. Hanlon will serve as liaison to NCFA’s child welfare constituency members including adoption service providers, adoption attorneys, and organizations across the United States. As Vice President, Mr. Hanlon will also be engaged in NCFA’s financial operations and strategic vision, alongside president and CEO Chuck Johnson, Vice President of Development Lauren Koch, and the NCFA Board of Directors.

“Since our founding in 1980, NCFA has grown to be one of the most influential voices in the adoption community, helping to shape the policies and practices that better serve children, families, and all those touched by adoption,” says Mr. Johnson. “Ryan joins us at a great time in our organization’s history. Under Megan’s leadership, our educational and research programs are stronger than ever. I look forward to building on our success by welcoming Ryan’s insights into our work to bring timely, high-quality educational resources and research to the adoption community.” After Mrs. Lestino’s departure, Mr. Johnson will oversee the organization’s advocacy initiatives, with the assistance of Public Policy and Education Manager Erin Bayles and Director of Communications Julie Shull.

Mr. Hanlon comes to NCFA with over thirteen years of experience as an adoption professional, where he most recently served as the Executive Director of America World Adoption Agency, a Hague-accredited agency that focuses on both domestic and intercountry adoption. In addition to his adoption experience, Mr. Hanlon has experience serving as a foster care caseworker as well as with child protective services.

In the field of adoption, Mr. Hanlon has been a speaker at national conferences, and has worked on accreditation issues as well as state licensing matters. In coming to NCFA, he states, “I’m excited to continue NCFA’s legacy of caring for all those impacted by adoption and look forward to working with member agencies, individuals, and partner organizations to ensure every child has apermanent family.”

After receiving his B.A., Mr. Hanlon went on to earn three Master’s degrees, including a MA in Liberal Arts, a MS in Nonprofit Management, as well as a Master of Social Work degree. He has served as a social work field instructor to both undergraduate and graduate students and teaches social work in an adjunct capacity to both undergraduate and graduate students at a local university. Mr. Hanlon is currently pursuing his Ph.D.

Mr. Hanlon lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and three children.

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ABOUT NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION

Founded in 1980, National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is a global adoption advocacy nonprofit that promotes a culture of adoption through education, research, legislative action, and collaboration. As the authoritative voice for adoption, NCFA’s areas of focus include domestic infant adoption, adoption and permanency outcomes for youth in foster care, and intercountry adoption. Passionately committed to the belief that every child deserves to thrive in a nurturing, permanent family, NCFA serves children, birth parents, adopted individuals, adoptive families, and adoption professionals. In addition, we work tirelessly to educate U.S. and foreign government officials and policymakers, members of the media, and all those in the general public with an interest in adoption.

For more information, visit www.AdoptionCouncil.org.