My interest in child and family well-being started early. My mother was an amazing early childhood educator who directed several high-quality childcare centers, many of which I worked at as a teenager and college student. Those experiences solidified my passion for early childhood and gave me a firsthand look at how important quality care and support are for children and families.
That interest stayed with me academically. I wrote both my undergraduate and graduate theses on childcare policy in the U.S. before beginning my career in state government working in childcare regulation. From there, supporting children and families became the throughline of my career.
I retired from my state government career in 2025 and took a sabbatical before deciding what I wanted to do next. During that time, I heard about the amazing work happening within the Sellers Dorsey Child and Family Well-Being team. When a position opened up, I jumped at the opportunity. It felt like a great way to bring my state experience to a new setting while continuing to work on issues I care deeply about.
You should read my blog about the intersection of Medicaid and child maltreatment prevention! It’s a topic I could go on and on about.
Before child welfare involvement occurs, parents are usually trying to be the best parents they can be, but many need additional support. Medicaid can play an important role in funding services that help families earlier, including prenatal care, childbirth support, pediatric and postpartum care, and mental health services for both moms and dads. It can also support more specialized programs, such as home visiting, where nurses or other professionals connect with parents, provide support, and help them access additional resources.
That’s why the intersection between Medicaid and child welfare is so important. When we think of Medicaid not only as a healthcare program but also as a tool for supporting families earlier, we can help parents and children before challenges escalate.
The sheer number of changes across safety-net programs is a major challenge. So many changes are happening at once that it can be difficult for service providers to keep up while continuing to meet the needs of children and families.
At the same time, I’m excited by the growing momentum around supporting parents as well as children. Parents are often a child’s greatest asset, and there is a real opportunity to strengthen families by making sure parents have the resources and support they need. That focus on preserving and strengthening families can make a meaningful difference.
I enjoy working with a variety of states and on a wide range of topics. That variety makes the work both exciting and challenging, and there is always something new to learn.
I’m also excited about the continued growth of the Child and Family Well-Being team. We’re getting closer to achieving the scale that will allow us to specialize even further, expand the work we’re doing, and support even more clients. I’m looking forward to seeing where that growth takes us.
Both of my children are attending college in foreign countries. Apparently we instilled a love of travel and/or they wanted far away from us! My daughter is getting her degree in Wales and my son is working on his in Madrid, Spain.
In addition to babysitting my way through high school and college, my first official payroll job was working in the infant room of a childcare center. In some ways, I guess I’ve been working in child and family well-being my entire life!
International travel whenever I can. My most recent trip was to Colombia, and I love getting the opportunity to experience new places and cultures. When I’m closer to home, you’ll usually find me enjoying live music, reading, or having dinner with friends.
These questions are so hard! I’ve read a lot of books and watched a lot of movies, so choosing just one is nearly impossible. But one of my favorite books is The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. For a favorite feel-good movie, I’d have to go with About Time.