Profile Information
Location
Spring Lake, MI
Country
United States
Postal Code
49456
What is it you do for a living? (Parenting, volunteering, CEO of social service organization, etc.)
My most proud and important job is being a mom to our 4 children and a host mom to our exchange student. They bring the joy and the chaos! I spent the first 4 1/2 years of my professional career as a pediatric nurse and the next 12 years as a pediatric nurse practitioner. In 2019, personal life circumstances provided reflection and inspiration that led me to shift into a public health focus and pursue a Master of Public Health. Adverse childhood experiences and the impact on lifelong health and wellness was finally apparent to me as the work I am meant to do. This brings me to my current role as a Clinical Program Specialist with Reach Out and Read Michigan, but also my most recent role as an Intern with PACEs Connection to further my research and contribution to public health regarding how Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) impact children through many domains and can set, or offset, their health and life trajectory. I am also a trained volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for children of Ottawa County, Michigan.
What organization(s) do you volunteer or work for?
Reach Out and Read Michigan / Ready for School
PACEs Connection
CASA of Ottawa County
What is your interest in PACEs and resilience science?
Adverse childhood experiences and the impact on health across the lifespan is the sole reason I began my pursuit of a public health degree. I developed a nudge to further my contribution to pediatric healthcare in a way that was separate from clinical care, yet incredibly connected to health promotion and disease prevention. As a pediatric nurse practitioner, my hope has always been to keep kids healthy and to return those who are not healthy to a healthy state. It just took me a while to identify what exactly this meant for me. People I love have ACE scores that are far too high and their health is impacted. I also watch those I love endure ACEs and I know what that could mean for their future. We know that positive can combat adverse. I want to bring the positive experiences and the healing potential to those who have had and continue to have adversity in opportunity. Every child has a right to be loved and a right to reach their desired potential. We, as adults, have an obligation to provide that to them...not alone, but collectively.
If you're part of a community-based PACEs initiative, which one?
I am a part of several PACEs communities out of interest, but not any officially as a member. I would love to have a PACEs community in my geographical community.