Kelly Whitener is an Associate Professor of the Practice at the Center for Children and Families (CCF) where she focuses on pediatric benefits and managed care delivery systems as well as promoting state level advocacy to improve care for children and families. Prior to joining CCF, Kelly served as the Director of State Coverage Programs at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, overseeing the Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP) and Basic Health Program. Kelly also worked for the Senate Committee on Finance, managing the Medicaid, CHIP, and prevention and wellness portfolio from October 2008 to April 2014. During her time with the Committee, Kelly worked on the CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2009, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, and several year-end bills extending expiring safety net programs. Kelly studied psychology and Spanish at the University of Michigan and earned a Masters of Public Health from UCLA and a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown. Kelly’s work has focused on children with special needs, mental health, global public health, and domestic health policy for low-income children and families.