Amanda Guarino

About Amanda Guarino

Managing Director of Policy and National Partnerships at the First Five Years Fund (FFYF) with over 20 years of experience in early childhood education policy. Leads bipartisan policy development while managing strategic partnerships with U.S. Congress and Administration, coalitions, campaigns, and national organizations to advance early education initiatives. Previously held leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, contributing to programs like Head Start and Child Care. Skilled in external communication, social responsibility, and relationship building, with a mission to elevate policies that benefit young children and their families.

Experience

1. Managing Director, Policy and National Partnerships

   First Five Years Fund

   Jan 2022 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Amanda Guarino, Managing Director of Policy and National Partnerships for the First Five Years Fund (FFYF), has twenty years of experience and policy expertise in early childhood education. At FFYF Ms. Guarino leads bipartisan policy development and coordination efforts. Additionally, she manages partnerships and strategic direction with early childhood groups, coalitions, campaigns, and other national organizations. Ms. Guarino joined FFYF after nearly twelve years with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where she held crucial roles at the Administration for Children & Families (ACF) managing programs that support early childhood education and development including Head Start and Child Care.Ms. Guarino holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the College of the Holy Cross and earned a Masters of Arts Degree in Social Work with a concentration in Administration from Columbia University in the city of New York. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and lives on Capitol Hill.

Education

• College of the Holy Cross

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Sociology (Major) - American Sign Language (Minor)

• Columbia University

  Master of Arts - MA, Social Work (Administration)

  2002 — 2004

Skills

• Government
• Nonprofits
• Program Management
• Grant Writing
• Grants
• Public Speaking
• Program Development
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Legislative Relations
• Volunteer Management
• Program Evaluation
• Policy Analysis
• Policy
• Public Policy
• Politics
• Research