Joanne Kelly
Former Program Manager and Collaboration Manager at American Academy of Pediatrics
Chicago, IL
Ms. Kelly has over thirty years’ experience in project management, public policy analysis, strategic planning, and technical assistance involving a broad range of primary issues affecting children and families. Ms. Kelly has worked at the national, state and community level on projects promoting early childhood cross-system integration and collaboration. Her project management experience with the All Our Kids (AOK) Early Childhood Networks in Illinois entailed program development, technical assistance, strategic planning, staff training and supervision, budget management, and family leadership/engagement work.
Ms. Kelly has extensive knowledge in areas of early care and education, maternal and child health, family support and parent education services and issues. As the Early Childhood Systems Coordinator (ECCS) for Illinois, she represented the Illinois Department of Human Services in its efforts to build and maintain a state-level integrated and comprehensive early childhood system that supports the healthy development of children. In this role, her skills in fostering interagency collaboration, innovation, and consensus building resulted in initiatives that built bridges and systems connections between and among state agencies and local providers. As the ECCS coordinator, Ms. Kelly also oversaw the implementation of the state’s Project LAUNCH federal initiative.
As the Program Manager of the Head Start National Center on Health, Ms. Kelly was responsible for the administration and implementation of the cooperative agreement between the Office of Head Start and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Her work involved program management, strategic planning, staff supervision, budget management and subcontractor relations and partnerships. Ms. Kelly also served as the Collaboration Manager for the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness overseeing the development of strategic partnerships for the Center.
“Family is about love. As an adoptive parent, I know that family is not dependent on DNA and biological connections. Family is where we rest our hearts, love deeply and support one another.”