Ali Caliendo

About Ali Caliendo

I am the founder and Executive Director of Foster Kinship, where my work is rooted in a simple conviction: children thrive when they are raised within their families and communities whenever it is safe to do so. That belief has guided the development of an evidence-based Kinship Navigator model that has stabilized more than kinship, adoptive, and birth families across Nevada.Under my leadership, Foster Kinship has helped reshape how our state understands and serves children in non-parental care. Our work has influenced policy, contributed to national research on kinship care, and strengthened Nevada’s child welfare ecosystem. We have secured more than $12 million in public and philanthropic funding, reflecting both the rigor of our model and the trust placed in our team’s stewardship.Alongside this work, I serve as an instructor in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Doctor of Public Policy (DPP) program, where I teach policy development, implementation, and strategic planning. In the classroom, I bridge theory and practice, helping emerging leaders understand how systems change actually happens in the real world.My career sits at the intersection of executive leadership, public policy, and human dignity. I am motivated by a sense of vocation and responsibility to build systems that honor the worth of children and families, especially those navigating crisis. As Foster Kinship enters its next stage of maturity, I am increasingly focused on how this work can be sustained, replicated, and strengthened beyond any one role so that the mission endures and grows.I remain committed to advancing evidence-based, compassionate solutions in child welfare and to shaping leaders who can carry this work forward.

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Foster Kinship

   Jan 2010 — Present · NV, US

   Developed and implemented programs supporting over families and children, including Case Management and Support Groups.• Raised over through private donors, grants, contracts, and special events for Foster Kinship.• Managed all aspects of contract compliance, budgeting, and financial management to ensure organizational success.

Education

• University of Chicago

  B.A, Psychology; psychological research; social and cognitive psychology and human behavior

  2002 — 2004

• Seattle University

  M.A, Organizational Systems Renewal

  2007 — 2009

• University of Nevada-Las Vegas

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Public Affairs

  2014 — 2019

Skills

• Facilitation
• Executive Coaching
• Team Building
• Program Development
• Management
• Community Outreach
• Staff Development
• Workshop Facilitation
• Instructional Design
• Change Management
• Organizational Structure
• Employee Relations
• Strategic Planning
• Event Planning
• Human Resources
• Fundraising
• Nonprofits
• Public Speaking
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Coaching
• Organizational Development
• Policy
• Performance Management
• Program Management
• Training
• Leadership Development
• Leadership