Jordan Hynes

Program Director, Children and Families

Jordan Hynes serves as the Director of the Children and Families program at the NGA Center for Best Practices, encompassing areas of focus concerning human services and early childhood education and care. Jordan oversees research, policy guidance, and technical assistance provision to governors and state leaders on social service programs, specifically on improving delivery systems, reducing barriers to access for services, and administering programs and activities to strengthen children and families.

Jordan brings nearly a decade of experience drafting and negotiating federal policy in early childhood development, social issues, and human services. Prior to joining NGA, Jordan served under the leadership of Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. During her tenure with the Committee, she worked to secure bipartisan support and served as the lead negotiator and drafter of the Back to Work Child Care Grants Act of 2020, Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, and shepherded the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act and the CARES Act. Before joining the HELP Committee, Jordan worked under the leadership of Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) where she advised the Senator on education and labor policy and assisted in securing passage of legislation on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Childcare Development and Block Grant Act of 2014. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Vassar College.