“What gives me hope — and what keeps me waking up every morning to do this work — is the determination I see from our families. The work ahead is continuing to remove the barriers that stand between families and the dreams they’ve set for themselves.”
“When parents can return to work, our economy grows. When children are supported early, they can thrive for a lifetime.”
“That was the culmination of advocacy work I’ve been able to lead here in New Jersey, which lifted up the voices of families and providers who had seen the difference of HealthySteps. Given what’s happening at the federal level with Medicaid — and the potential for losing ground in terms of child and family health — it means a lot that this reimbursement pathway will remain available to support services for families.”
“When someone sings to their baby or responds to their baby’s cues, they’re participating in a profound biological process. Pregnancy and early parenting are filled with opportunities to move from disconnection to connection, and policies and systems can either support or undermine that potential.”
“It promotes trust and collaboration when people see that their feedback leads to real change. I can say, ‘Remember when you suggested this? I was able to put it into motion.’ You don’t do this work alone or in a silo. We all have different strengths and backgrounds, and that makes partnerships stronger.”
“When I think about this maternal and infant health work, there’s a beautiful network of engaged individuals who really want the same thing. So, we actually are all rowing the boat in the same direction.”
“I learned very quickly that we had no idea of the challenges and vulnerabilities families had in New Jersey outside the hospital walls.”
“One of the most hopeful times in anyone’s life is the arrival of a new baby — a child to take care of. And that’s perennial.”
“Core to the success of who we are and what we’ve been able to do is the trust we’ve built within the community.”
“We’re taking on an issue that we have had to figure out on our own. And we’re asking for the type of support that we deserve.”
