Docs for Tots is thrilled to present the Child Care Champion Award to Jan Barbieri, who served as Executive Director of Child Care Council of Nassau 2001-2020, and was at the organization for 33 years. A true champion for children across Long Island and New York State, she worked tirelessly to ensure that families had access to high quality childcare and the supports to raise healthy and happy children.
When Docs for Tots moved to New York State full-time in 2013 Jan was one of the first to embrace the cross systems approach and welcomed us with open arms. Collaboration began with Eat Well, Play Hard in childcare, expanded to providing Pediatric residents with community experiences, and solidified with NASSAU THRIVES, a collaboration to provide social emotional support to childcare providers and families devastated by Superstorm Sandy.
Those early collaborations set the stage for building Help Me Grow Long Island, which without Jan’s leadership and support would not be what it is today. From concept to implementation Jan was the first to say, “How can we help?”; in fact, the first family resource specialists were co-located at the Child Care Council of Nassau up until the pandemic.
On a more personal note, Jan was there as a thought partner, a mentor, and a friend who could be counted on for honesty and loyalty.
Jan is passionate , committed, connected, and in relentless pursuit of doing whatever it takes for children and families. Her openness to partnership, and her vision around how the pediatric health and child care systems can achieve more together opened doors for Long Island’s children and families, and has served as a model for the nation.
Dina Lieser, former co-director of Docs for Tots and current Program Director and Team Lead of Early Childhood Systems at Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) in the Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Systems.
Jan retired on October 1, 2020 amid the pandemic, so we are proud now to provide the venue for a true celebration of her work, her life, and her legacy!
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