YTFG Director

Barbara is a founder of Mainspring Consulting, a firm that works with foundation and public sector leaders to design initiatives for children, youth and families, leverage resources in support of their goals, and develop effective plans to move from good thinking to action. Barbara regularly works with funder affinity groups, technical assistance collaboratives, state networks and local coalitions to help leaders identify shared goals, strategically develop plans to leverage resources and act collectively. Barbara is a seasoned facilitator with experience designing and supporting effective planning processes focused on organizational development, strategic financing, and sustainability. Barbara is the former Vice President for Tools, Technical Assistance and Training at The Finance Project, and has held positions at Families USA, the Massachusetts State Women’s Commission, and the US Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

YTFG Fellowship Coordinator

Dianna Walters-Hartley serves as the Fellowship Coordinator for YTFG, overseeing all aspects of the fellowship program for the network. Dianna is a recognized expert in shaping national and state policy, an experienced author and a skilled educator. Content areas in which Dianna has extensive expertise include child welfare policy, positive youth development, trauma recovery, adolescent brain development, adolescent health, youth in transition and foster care and adoption. She has successfully managed major grant-funded policy and research projects and served as a national, state and local spokesperson.

Foster Care Work Group Lead Consultant

Jennifer Miller is a social worker, child advocate and founding partner of ChildFocus. Previously, Jennifer was a strategic consultant with Cornerstone Consulting Group where she led its child welfare policy and practice work in the areas of kinship care, workforce development and permanency planning. Jennifer also worked on a broad range of issues at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, including developing their approach to investment in state and federal policy reform. Jennifer began her human services career at the American Public Welfare Association (APWA), now the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), where she developed and analyzed federal legislation and regulations on child welfare issues and served as project manager for the National Association of Child Welfare Administrators (NAPCWA). Jennifer is a certified coach and works with individuals facing career and personal life transitions.

Economic Well-Being Work Group Lead Consultant

Stephanie Malia Krauss is an educator, social worker, and leading voice on what kids need to thrive now and in the future. Through her consulting shop, First Quarter Strategies, Stephanie works with US-based networks, coalitions, philanthropies, nonprofits, government organizations, schools, and community groups. She is the author of the bestselling book Whole Child, Whole Life: 10 Ways to Help Kids Live, Learn, and Thrive and Making It: What Today’s Kids Need for Tomorrow’s World. Stephanie’s work and writing have been featured on NPR, PBS, Insider, and more. Stephanie is a senior fellow with the CERES Institute for Children & Youth at Boston University and Education Northwest.

Youth Justice Work Group Lead Consultant

Carrie Rae Boatman is a strategic advisor and consultant to philanthropic and social justice organizations across the U.S., bringing three decades of experience in policy reform, philanthropic strategy, coalition-building, and organizational leadership. Since founding her consultancy in 2009, Carrie Rae has worked with a wide variety of grantmaking foundations, pooled funds, funder coalitions, and advocacy organizations to develop advanced advocacy techniques and non-traditional funding strategies to achieve policy wins that advance equity for young people. Clients have included the Youth First Justice Collaborative, Youth Transition Funders Group, Atlantic Philanthropies, Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Andrus Family Fund, Public Welfare Foundation, and others. Previously, Carrie Rae served as staff at the Annie E. Casey Foundation where she developed a new grantmaking portfolio to advance policy advocacy strategies that promoted the Foundation’s efforts to reform juvenile justice systems, and launched a national decarceration campaign strategy. She also served as a director at the Rockit Fund, a New York-based 501(c)(4) organization focused on criminal justice, juvenile justice, and electoral system reform; as the regional executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Pennsylvania; and held leadership positions at Teach for America and several other regional organizations. Carrie Rae resides in Seattle, WA with her partner where she enjoys hiking, gardening, and baking.