Nurture Connection is honored to welcome Colleen Andrews to our Family Network Collaborative (FNC)!
Colleen is a parent leader who currently represents children and families with special healthcare needs. Located in Wasilla, Alaska, she hopes to eventually represent families across the state. Right now her focus is on the Mat-Su Valley, where she lives and works closely with the community as a project manager for R.O.C.K. Mat-Su (Raising Our Children with Kindness), a cross-sector collaborative of community members designed to promote family resilience and decrease child maltreatment in Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
This March, which is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, Colleen shares some reflections about the important role that Early Relational Health (ERH) plays in supporting children with special healthcare needs and their families. Read on to learn more about Andrews and her journey to championing ERH as a parent leader.
What does Early Relational Health mean to you as you enter into this new parent leadership role with the Nurture Connection Family Network Collaborative (FNC)?
To me, Early Relational Health means intentionally building connection with our children early and often in ways that create safety, security, and emotional regulation. Entering this parent leadership role with the FNC means I strive to embody those values in my own life while helping create spaces where other parents can learn about ERH and discover what it looks like for their own families.
“Being a mother to a child with special medical needs is a unique and powerful experience. It’s not an easy path, but it’s one that brings deep purpose. I believe parents carry wisdom that deserves to be heard, and I’m honored to bring that perspective to this work and create a sense of belonging for families.”
—Colleen Andrews, Parent Leader, Nurture Connection Family Network Collaborative (FNC)
Why is ERH so important when it comes to supporting children with special healthcare needs and their families?
ERH is especially important for families with children who have special healthcare needs because these children often experience medical procedures, hospital visits, and situations that can feel confusing and frightening. They need a strong and safe landing place where they feel secure and deeply connected to their caregivers. That secure attachment helps regulate the nervous system, supports coping, and ultimately contributes to overall health and well-being for both the child and the family.
Read more about R.O.C.K. Mat-Su, a cross-sector collaborative of community members designed to promote family resilience and decrease child maltreatment in Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
Anything else that you would like to share with us about your journey as a parent leader?
From the day my son was born, I knew he had special medical needs. Since that day, our journey has included many challenges — mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and through navigating systems that are not always designed with families in mind. Before I even realized it, I had stepped into the role of protector, provider, and my son’s voice. Over the years I taught myself how to advocate for him — to make sure he had the care, equipment, and support he needed to live as full a life as possible.
Through that process, something shifted in me. I realized our story wasn’t unique; there is a whole community of families facing similar challenges. That realization lit a passion in me. If I can use my voice in spaces that can influence systems and create change, then that’s what I want to do. Being a mother to a child with special medical needs is a unique and powerful experience. It’s not an easy path, but it’s one that brings deep purpose. I believe parents carry wisdom that deserves to be heard, and I’m honored to bring that perspective to this work and create a sense of belonging for families.
My journey as a parent has taught me that relationships are at the heart of everything. Early Relational Health highlights the importance of nurturing those connections from the very beginning. As a parent leader, I’m honored to share my experiences and help ensure that the voices of families — especially those navigating complex health needs — are part of the conversations shaping our communities.
Discover more reflections from our Nurture Connection community:
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- Parent leader and Nurture Connection FNC member Randall Baylor reflects on how ERH helps support families with children who have special needs, including his daughter.
- Mia Halthon Jones (Parent Leader, Nurture Connection FNC) and Bryn Fortune (Nurture Connection Ambassador for Parent Partnership) share their ERH parenting journeys in disability, caregiving, and special health needs.
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