D. Crystal Coles-Quander, Ph.D.
Senior Research Associate
D. Crystal Coles-Quander has nearly 20 years of experience in applied social science research and evaluation in child welfare and maternal child health, including more than 13 years of direct practice experience as a child welfare social worker. She brings to JBA technical expertise in research design and methods, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and social justice approaches to research implementation science.
Coles-Quander served as a principal investigator on the Effects of Prenatal Alcohol and Other Drug Programs on Foster Care Prevention and Rapid Reunification project. She leads the evaluation for the project Identification and Care of Children With Prenatal Alcohol and Other Drug Exposures: Prevention Strategies and previously, for Prenatal Alcohol and Other Drug Exposures in Child Welfare.
Prior to joining JBA, Coles-Quander worked as a social work professor and served as a project director and lead evaluator of state, county, and community-based projects in Kansas, Michigan, Virginia, and Maryland. Her past work included several statewide initiatives to improve public child welfare systemic efficiency and effectiveness, and the impact of foster care system operations on communities.
Coles-Quander is a licensed clinical social worker and received a Ph.D. in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University.