Katie M. Bourgault
Hamilton,NJ
Summary
Executive leader with over 20 years of experience in human services system transformation. Proven track record in building partnerships that drive operational change and enhance service accessibility and quality. Expertise in managing day-to-day operations to improve outcomes for individuals and families.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director, Office of Family Voice
New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF)
Trenton, USA
11.2022 - Current
- Led OFV’s mission to cultivate an organizational culture of meaningful constituent engagement and establish infrastructure for constituent co-design in departmental priority setting, planning, implementation, and quality improvement.
- As a member of the Executive Management team, I collaborate on critical system-wide administrative functions in line with Division-specific operational needs to develop strategy, align priorities and resources, improve organizational readiness and staff buy-in, and ensure compelling, data-driven communication with local, state, and federal partners.
- Supervised OFV team in facilitating statewide initiatives and evaluating effectiveness of activities, including four DCF Constituent Councils (parents, fathers, youth, resource parents), Lived Experience Expert Partnership, and Powerful Families, Powerful Communities in collaboration with Parents, Inc. of NJ.
- Shared leadership with individuals and families to transform DCF into a system focused on child and family well-being.
Senior Manager of Knowledge Management/Lead Writer
ICF, International
Fairfax, USA
09.2017 - 11.2022
- Led knowledge management and research efforts at the Capacity Building Center for States, which provided technical assistance to state and territorial IV-E and IV-B agencies through contract with the federal Children’s Bureau.
- Developed the Center’s knowledge management system to best leverage knowledge and innovations from lived expertise, research, evidence-informed practice, and peer wisdom, to improve the Center’s services and impact on child welfare agency outcomes.
- Guided knowledge management research team to ensure timely and thorough responses to information requests from public child welfare agencies, enhancing service delivery.
- Consulted with public child welfare agency leaders on policy and practice change to improve system functions.
- Facilitated strategic and annual planning to define Center priorities and align resources with deliverables, driving effective goal achievement.
- Advanced federal priorities and national policy initiatives on equity, prevention of child maltreatment, and the Family First Prevention Services Act.
- Supervised team of writers and facilitated development of products and events to address critical needs in child welfare system, improving overall service effectiveness.
Director of Public Agency Accreditation/Senior Standards Associate
Council on Accreditation
New York, USA
10.2012 - 09.2017
- Directed COA’s Public Agency Accreditation Program, managing accreditation and technical assistance partnerships with 4 state-administered child welfare agencies and over forty other public human services agencies.
- Redesigned program to enhance implementation and outcomes, developing comprehensive new standards for public agencies and a streamlined public agency accreditation process.
- Managed strategic and annual planning, budget preparation, project management, staff supervision, and contract management.
- Led writing for public agency and child welfare standards development projects, conducting research, writing, editing, and collaborating with stakeholders.
Adjunct Faculty
Center for Child Advocacy, Montclair State University
Montclair, USA
08.2013 - 01.2014
- Designed and facilitated bachelor’s level child advocacy courses to support students in understanding the connection between structural and historical issues, the needs and rights of children, and public child- and family-serving system policy and practice.
Training Coordinator
Rutgers University School of Social Work Institute for Families
New Brunswick, USA
04.2011 - 06.2012
- Functioned as an implementation specialist and lead coach on the NJ Division of Child Protection and Permanency practice model, guiding front-line staff and leadership to integrate practice changes in line with the agency's court-monitored reform process.
- Facilitated statewide classroom training and live coaching in Family Team Meeting process, co-writing DCP&P Case Planning Training curriculum and engaging in statewide quality improvement activities.
Assistant Director of Treatment Homes
Children’s Aid and Family Services
Paramus, USA
08.2010 - 04.2011
- Led operational management and program development for Treatment Homes Professional Parent Program to enhance service delivery.
- Hired, trained, and supervised professional parents and youth workers; developed and implemented programmatic policies, engaged with youth to drive quality improvement, facilitated treatment team meetings, prepared state contracts, and ensured compliance with licensing standards.
Program Coordinator/Case Manager
Family Intervention Services, Inc.
East Orange, USA
11.2004 - 08.2010
- Coordinated two in-home support programs for parents and children/youth, enhancing accessibility to essential resources.
- Hired, trained, and maintained a pool of 20-25 staff while developing program procedures and strengthening the program’s relationship with DCP&P.
- Developed and implemented parent education and support group, creating curriculum to empower families with practical skills.
- Provided intensive in-home case management and supportive counseling for children in foster care facing behavioral health challenges, supporting families and caregivers in navigating complex needs.
Youth Worker
New Beginnings, Inc.
Lewiston, USA
05.2001 - 10.2004
- Managed Drop-In Center milieu and delivered training in life skills, career development, and STI/HIV prevention, empowering homeless and runaway youth with essential skills for independent living.
Education
M.A. - Anthropology and Education
Teacher’s College, Columbia University
New York, NYB.A. - Urban Studies and Puerto Rican/Hispanic Caribbean Studies
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJSkills
- Community engagement and participatory design
- Project management and implementation
- Strategic planning and partnerships
- Data-driven improvement
- Policy development and execution
- Change management and leadership
- Equity and cultural humility
- Healing-centered engagement
- Social determinants of health
- Team decision-making
- Child and family services
- Staff development and coaching
Selected Presentations Awards Publications
- Co-Design in Action: How the New Jersey Department of Children and Families’ Youth Council Led the Work to Envision, Develop, and Evaluate a Peer Mentoring Program for Youth in Foster Care., Marsh, J., Lilleston, P., Bourgault, K., et al., Child Welfare, 103, 4, 01/01/25
- Truth to Transformation: Inspiring Change in Child Welfare Systems., Bellamy, A., Bourgault, K., Clark, S., Foster, K., Jennings, D., 10/01/25, Kempe Center’s International Virtual Conference: A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare
- Supervisor/Managerial Excellence Award, 09/01/25, NJ DCF Employee Recognition Program
- Infrastructure and Culture for Shared Leadership with Lived Experts., Bourgault, K., Clark, S., Govan, T., Levy, J., 06/01/24, American Public Human Services Association, Health and Human Services Summit
- Office of Family Voice: Authentic Engagement in NJ’s Child Welfare System., Bourgault, K., Brown, T., Connor, B., Levy, J., Lovelace, K., Panzino, A., 10/01/23, Kempe Center’s International Virtual Conference: A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare
- Facing the Past and Building a Collective Future: A Path to Race Equity in U.S. Child Welfare., Bourgault, K., Gasper, L., Parsons, T., 10/01/21, Kempe Center’s International Virtual Conference: A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare
- Accrediting public agencies: Supporting public sector accountability through collaborative system review., Bourgault, K., Klarberg, R., 04/01/15, Child Welfare League of America National Conference
- Kinship Care Accreditation Standards: Models of practice and accountability to families., Bourgault, K., 09/01/14, Child Welfare League of America National Conference
- Meeting CFSR Outcomes: Getting to the Root of Practice Change., Bourgault, K., Tedesco, R., 10/01/13, Public Children’s Services Association of Ohio Annual Conference
Training Highlights
- Wicked Problems Institute, 01/01/24
- Chi By Design Co-Design Master Class, 01/01/23
- Chapin Hall and Casey Family Programs Advanced Analytics, 01/01/13
- The People’s Institute Undoing Racism, 01/01/11
- NJ Family Team Meeting Coach, 01/01/11
- Clinical Supervision Certificate, 01/01/09
Key Accomplishments
- Launched the NJ Department of Children and Families’ Lived Experience Expert Partnership (LEEP)- an innovative, replicable model for lived expert consultancy in government which was fully co-designed by agency constituents and staff., 01/01/24
- Led development of a comprehensive, multi-method national needs assessment to inform federal contractors of the priorities and technical assistance needs of public child welfare agencies., 01/01/22
- Served as project lead for the Children’s Bureau’s National Child Welfare Evaluation Summit., 01/01/19
- Provided implementation technical assistance and supported the achievement of national accreditation for the Tennessee Department of Children and Families., 01/01/17
- Developed the Council on Accreditation’s comprehensive Standards for Foster Care and Kinship Care Services., 01/01/13
Timeline
Executive Director, Office of Family Voice
New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF)
11.2022 - Current
Senior Manager of Knowledge Management/Lead Writer
ICF, International
09.2017 - 11.2022
Adjunct Faculty
Center for Child Advocacy, Montclair State University
08.2013 - 01.2014
Director of Public Agency Accreditation/Senior Standards Associate
Council on Accreditation
10.2012 - 09.2017
Training Coordinator
Rutgers University School of Social Work Institute for Families
04.2011 - 06.2012
Assistant Director of Treatment Homes
Children’s Aid and Family Services
08.2010 - 04.2011
Program Coordinator/Case Manager
Family Intervention Services, Inc.
11.2004 - 08.2010
Youth Worker
New Beginnings, Inc.
05.2001 - 10.2004
M.A. - Anthropology and Education
Teacher’s College, Columbia University
B.A. - Urban Studies and Puerto Rican/Hispanic Caribbean Studies
Rutgers University