Meet Your Instructor

Jedd Medefind
President, Christian Alliance for Orphans

Jedd Medefind serves as President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO).  Through CAFO, more than 225 respected organizations and a global network of churches unite in coordinated action to better the lives of vulnerable children worldwide – from foster care and adoption to family restoration. 

Prior to this role, Jedd led the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives under President George W. Bush.   In this post, he oversaw reform efforts across the government to make community- and faith-based groups central partners in all Federal efforts to aid the needy, from prisoner reentry to global AIDS. As described by the Harvard Political Review, these reforms "fundamentally changed the government's strategy for improving the lives of the downtrodden..."  Previously, Jedd held a range of posts in the California State Legislature.  He has worked, studied, and served in more than thirty countries.

Jedd also enjoys writing articles and books, most recently Becoming Home (Zondervan).  He’s written for and/or been quoted in publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal and NPR to The Gospel Coalition and Al Jazeera.  Jedd and his wife Rachel live near Washington, DC with their five children.