Ciara Collins, PhD, LMFT
ACTIVE MEMBER • Research Faculty and Program Director, Family Research Unit
Institute for Policy and Governance, Virginia Tech
ciaramcollins@vt.edu
I am a Research Faculty in Virginia Tech's Institute for Policy and Governance (IPG) and the Project Director of the Family Research Unit (FRU). As part of my project director's duties, I oversee a team co-located in Fairfax County's Department of Family Services (DFS). The FRU works closely with the Foster Care & Adoption (FC&A) and Children's Services Act (CSA) units to assess program, policy, and funding mechanisms that best support the children and families of Fairfax County.
Since joining VT in August 2024, I have been actively building my research portfolio focusing specifically on child well-being and maltreatment, foster care and adoption, behavioral health, and trauma. Previously, I have been involved in quantitative and qualitative research, program evaluation, technical assistance, and implementation activities across a range of subject areas, including but not limited to child well-being, postsecondary outcomes for youth with experience in foster care, housing and homelessness, early childhood care and education, home visiting programs, and trauma-based initiatives. I am also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with experience working in child outpatient settings and community clinics working with students, families, and court-mandated clients.
I am excited to be part of the Whole Health Consortium because I believe that transdisciplinary approaches are needed to help children, families, and communities thrive.