Leadership & Staff
Building Operational Infrastructure for Sustainable Reform
The Collins Institute for Child & Family Systems is supported by a growing network of operational, strategic, and specialized professionals aligned with the organization's mission of advancing accountable, implementation-focused child welfare reform.
Leadership
Chief Operating Officer (Position Open)
This position will provide operational leadership and support organizational growth, strategic implementation, and day-to-day business operations.
Director of Human Resources (Position Open)
Leads talent acquisition, onboarding, employee development, compliance, and workforce planning to support a high-performing and mission-driven team.
Director of Business Development & Partnership (Position Open)
Leads strategic partnership development, client engagement, philanthropic outreach, and revenue-generation efforts to expand the Institute’s impact and sustainability.
Family System Innovation Lab Operations Manager (Position Open)
Supports day-to-day coordination of Family Systems Innovation Lab activities, project tracking, client engagement logistics, implementation support, and operational execution across participating jurisdictions.
Dr. Kenisha Coon-Santiago Director of Policy & Research (Beginning July 20, 2026)
Dr. Kenisha Coon-Santiago is a child welfare leader, researcher, speaker, and consultant dedicated to advancing outcomes for children, youth, and families. With more than a decade of experience in systems change, leadership development, and community engagement, she works at the intersection of research, policy, and practice to strengthen child and family-serving systems.
Dr. Coon-Santiago recently earned her PhD, with research focused on belonging and permanency for youth in foster care. Her work emphasizes translating research into practical strategies that support children, caregivers, professionals, and communities.
A nationally recognized speaker, trainer, author, and host of The EKO Lens podcast, Dr. Coon-Santiago is known for her commitment to family-centered solutions, leadership development, and systems transformation.
As Director of Policy & Research, she will lead research initiatives, policy analysis, evaluation activities, and knowledge development efforts supporting the Family Systems Innovation Lab and The Collins Institute’s broader mission to strengthen child and family systems.
Phoenix Santiago, LMSW Director of Implementation & Delivery (Beginning July 20, 2026)
Phoenix Santiago, LMSW, is a child welfare leader, trainer, and systems-change practitioner with nearly two decades of experience spanning frontline practice, program development, evaluation, coaching, and organizational transformation. Her work has focused on strengthening child and family-serving systems through workforce development, youth engagement, kinship support, and implementation leadership.
Throughout her career, Phoenix has held leadership roles with organizations including Families Rising, Judge Baker Children’s Center, and Treehouse Foundation, where she developed training programs, led youth leadership initiatives, and advanced family-centered system improvement efforts.
A proud veteran of the United States Air Force, Phoenix currently serves as a Master Sergeant. She holds a Master of Social Work from Columbia University and is nationally recognized for her contributions to child welfare, youth engagement, and systems reform.
As Director of Implementation & Delivery, Phoenix will lead implementation strategy, workforce development, training, and client engagement activities supporting the Family Systems Innovation Lab and The Collins Institute’s broader systems reform initiatives.
Staff
LaRita Anthony- Executive Assistant & Administrative Coordinator
LaRita Anthony serves as Executive Assistant & Administrative Coordinator for The Collins Institute for Child & Family Systems, supporting executive operations, organizational coordination, scheduling, and administrative infrastructure.
With more than 20 years of experience across child welfare, public systems, and human services, LaRita brings expertise in operational support, systems coordination, project management, and cross-sector collaboration. Her professional background includes work supporting child welfare operations, public agencies, courts, and large-scale human service initiatives focused on improving outcomes for children and families.
LaRita’s experience spans child protection operations, systems modernization, compliance-focused coordination, and administrative support within complex public-serving environments. She has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams across child welfare and public systems to support process improvement, operational efficiency, and organizational effectiveness.
She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Illinois and has completed specialized training in trauma-informed care, safeguarding practices, and mental health first aid.
Robyn Kelly, MSW Child Welfare Specialist – Policy & Research (Beginning July 20, 2026)
Robyn Kelly, MSW, is a child welfare and human services professional with more than a decade of experience spanning child welfare, healthcare, behavioral health, and social services. She specializes in translating complex policy, regulatory, and practice requirements into effective solutions that strengthen service delivery and improve outcomes for children, families, and communities.
Her expertise includes child weltare systems modernization, business analysis, policy implementation, stakeholder engagement, research, and regulatory compliance. Recognized for her ability to bridge practice, policy, and technology, Robyn brings a collaborative and trauma-informed approach to advancing organizational effectiveness, workforce efficiency, and system improvement.
As Child Welfare Specialist – Policy & Research, Robyn will support policy analysis, applied research, regulatory review, implementation guidance, stakeholder engagement, and the translation of research and policy into practical tools and resources that strengthen child welfare systems and advance The Collins Institute’s mission of accountable, implementation-focused child welfare reform.
Natalie Saez, MBA Child Welfare Specialist – Implementation & Delivery (Beginning July 20, 2026)
Natalie Saez, MBA, is a child welfare and human services professional with experience spanning frontline practice, nonprofit operations, public sector systems modernization, business analysis, and implementation support. Her work is grounded in a practical understanding of how child and family-serving systems operate across practice, policy, technology, administration, and implementation.
Natalie specializes in translating complex operational, practice, and technical requirements into practical processes that support implementation, organizational readiness, and day-to-day execution. Her experience includes stakeholder engagement, workflow development, business analysis, training support, process improvement, compliance documentation, and implementation planning.
She holds a Master of Business Administration from Aurora University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Leadership from Bradley University. As Child Welfare Specialist – Implementation & Delivery, Natalie will support implementation planning, practice translation, stakeholder engagement, documentation, training readiness, and operational execution to advance The Collins Institute’s mission of accountable, implementation-focused child welfare reform.
