Allon Kalisher

Allon Kalisher is a nationally respected expert in child welfare systems, with more than 25 years of experience spanning frontline practice, public agency leadership, and national research and technical assistance.

As a Senior Researcher at Mathematica, Allon leads initiatives that help child welfare agencies across the country use data, evidence, and continuous quality improvement to strengthen services and improve outcomes for children and families. Throughout his career at Mathematica, Kalisher has directed and contributed to a wide range of projects funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including efforts to improve cross-program data infrastructure and implement predictive analytics. He has led technical assistance and evaluation efforts related to the Family First Prevention Services Act and the development of national data resources such as the State Child Abuse and Neglect Policies Database.

Before joining Mathematica, Kalisher served in multiple leadership roles at the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, including Regional Administrator and Acting Director of Research and Evaluation. In these roles, he oversaw large-scale operations, implemented system reforms, and built a strong quality improvement infrastructure. His leadership contributed to measurable improvements in permanency outcomes, kinship care, and reductions in congregate care placements.

Kalisher holds an M.S.W. from the University of Connecticut. He is a frequent speaker at national conferences, a published author, and has served on numerous advisory boards and expert panels focused on child welfare data and performance measurement.

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