Paul Ronningen
State Coordinator

Paul Ronningen is currently the state coordinator for the Children’s Defense Fund—North Dakota. He previously served as the executive director of the National Association of Social Workers, North Dakota Chapter, and was the director of the Children and Family Services Division within the North Dakota Department of Human Services for 10 years. Paul has worked in county and state government for 31 years providing services in the areas of child welfare and children’s mental health.

In 2006, the Conference of Social Welfare gave Paul its Ruth Meiers Award. He served on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Child Welfare Administrators from 2004-2008. On two occasions the North Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children and the North Dakota Family Based Services Association have recognized Paul for outstanding contributions to children and their families. At the 2009 North Dakota Indian Child Welfare Conference, Paul received a star quilt recognizing his work.