Kristen Torres (Former Staff) Senior Policy Advisor, Immigration and Child Welfare

Kristen is the Senior Policy Advisor for Immigration and Child Welfare at First Focus on Children where she leads the cross-sector federal policy work that impacts migrant children and children of immigrants. In addition, her focus includes issues related to the domestic foster care system and preventing child abuse and neglect. Kristen leads the State Policy Advocacy & Reform Center (SPARC), a coalition of state child welfare policy advocates.

Prior to joining First Focus, Kristen earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Alabama. She was a HRSA grant recipient and selected for a competitive policy fellowship in Washington D.C. As an undergraduate, she completed her field practicum at the Hinds County Public Defender’s office in Jackson, Mississippi where she advocated for policy changes related to mental health, criminal justice reform, and family economics. Before finishing her bachelor’s degree, Kristen worked in healthcare for long-term and memory care patients.