RÉSUMÉ — Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard

Work Experience

DIRECTOR OF POLICY & ADVOCACY
Ethical Family Building

February 2021-Present — Los Angeles, CA

Works on domestic adoption public policy issues and advocates for extensive reform in domestic private adoption. Develops media strategies, fact sheets, and manages press relations with journalists and media outlets. Plans and executes grassroots advocacy efforts, collaborating with legislative counsel, state agencies, and aides to draft bill language, federal legislation, and reporting. Hosts briefings with adoption professionals, advocates, staffers on Capitol Hill, and state agencies. Leads state-based working group pursuing enforcement in Ohio and Virginia. Successful in advocating for the prohibition of unlicensed adoption facilitators in California through AB-210 in 2023 and prompting Congress to order the FTC to investigate illegal adoption advertising in 2024. Currently advocating for the passage of the ADOPT Act (H.R. 6220) and Adoption Counts Act (H.R. 6700). Conducts research on state statutes, legislative history, and current online advertisements for all 50 states. Part of the leadership that launched AdoptChange.org in 2023.

ADVOCACY MANAGER
Alzheimer’s Association, California State Policy Office

September 2023-Present — Sacramento, CA

Works on grassroots efforts for California state legislation to expand care, and physician training, and reduce stigma and discrimination for Californians impacted by Alzheimer’s and related dementia. Assists the Government Affairs Director with developing fact sheets and messaging for policy issues. Collaborates with volunteer base to help them tell their compelling stories effectively for legislators to comprehend. Leads the Alzheimer’s State Champions program for California. Planned the California Alzheimer’s Advocacy Day, a successful event where 200 Californians traveled to Sacramento to help advance important policies for those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

CONTRACT POLICY ADVISOR
Family to Family Support Network

March 2022-February 2023 — Denver, CO

Nurtured valuable legislative relationships while advocating for the Hospital Adoption Education Act on Capitol Hill. Collaborated on healthcare relations for the Unique Families Program®, a program that empowers healthcare professionals to provide neutral, compassionate, sensitive, and respectful care for patients pursuing adoption, LGBTQ+ patients, families pursuing surrogacy and other assisted reproduction technology arrangements, incarcerated patients, and more. Led and strategized the awareness campaign in 2022, Coming Together for Families, which brought attention to issues surrounding healthcare sensitivity and adoption, health equity, maternal mortality, and more.

DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH & EDUCATION
All About Love Adoptions

September 2020-February 2021 — Exton, PA

LEGAL INTERN
TruAdopt Law

May 2020-September 2020 — Pasadena, CA

PARALEGAL
Moore Law for Children

October 2018-July 2019 — Laguna Beach, CA

DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH & EDUCATION
Adoption Support Center

April 2017-August 2018 — Indianapolis, IN

Education

MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (in progress)
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Expected to graduate in 2025

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MUSIC
South Dakota State University
2015

CERTIFICATE IN PARALEGAL STUDIES
California Berkeley Extension
2016

JURIS DOCTOR (did not complete)
Southwestern Law School
2019-2020

Left in good academic standing

  • Grassroots Advocacy

  • Stakeholder Relations

  • Legal Writing & Research

  • Media Relations & Communication

  • Legislative & Government Relations

  • Writing & Editing

  • Event Planning

  • Marketing & Social Media

  • Legislative Strategy

  • Public Speaking

  • Leadership

Skills

Community Work

BOARD MEMBER
Weaving Threads
2023-Present

FOUNDING MEMBER
Utah Adoption Rights
2024-Present