Posted on March 25, 2025
By Habibah Johnson
Co-Chair, ACNJ Parent Leadership Council (PLC)
For more information on the Parent Leadership Council, contact acnjplc@acnj.org.
Last month, Advocates for Children of New Jersey and a team of New Jersey home visiting advocates traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the National Home Visiting Summit, a multi-day conference dedicated to advancing the field of home visiting. Among the many voices present were two passionate NJ parents, Faryal Najeeb and Nicole Gendin, who shared their personal home visiting experiences with our Congressional Delegation.
Faryal Najeeb has been a long-time advocate for home visiting programs, inspired by the support she received from a Nurse-Family Partnership program when she was pregnant with her first child. As an active member of ACNJ’s Parent Leadership Council (PLC), she recognizes the power of personal storytelling in influencing policymakers.
"I have shared my story many times over the years because I realize that personal experiences and ‘putting a face’ to where the funds are going, make a difference," she shared.
Her advocacy has earned much attention and support from NJ legislators and their staff, who strongly recognize the importance of home visiting programs. However, in meeting with the congressional delegation during this year’s trip to the Capitol, Faryal was struck with a distinct feeling.
"I could feel the difference in the Capitol – there is tension and concern regarding potential cuts to social programs, especially Medicaid. The conversation wasn’t just centered around home visiting programs and funding, but also broader social issues. My voice mattered 100%, but there was also a shift in focus to larger concerns at hand."
Beyond advocacy, the summit provided Faryal with valuable insights into home-visiting programs across the country. She learned about indigenous home visiting programs and the funding challenges many states face. Even though the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program is not up for reauthorization until 2027, it is important to keep our representatives apprised of how home visiting is supporting families and what is needed to expand accessibility.
"I knew we weren’t able to reach many families here in NJ, but the numbers are far direr in some of the other states. As someone who knows the benefits of home visiting, it’s concerning that the program is unavailable to so many others. Attending the conference this year and last year renews my passion to advocate more and more so that we get the funding we need to make the program more accessible!"
For Nicole Gendin, advocacy was never something she imagined pursuing. Her journey into home visiting began when a friend, who was also a nurse, introduced her to the newly launched Family Connects NJ initiative, a program that provided support to first-time mothers.
"I came home with a baby and had absolutely no idea what to do. No one tells you what to do. There’s no manual," she recalled. "Having the nurse visit was just the reassurance I needed. She measured the baby, checked if she was getting enough milk, and helped me with breastfeeding. I even ended up with carpal tunnel from holding the baby wrong, and they helped me with that too."
As Nicole prepared to return to work, the nurse and a lactation consultant guided her through pumping and scheduling, which provided not just logistical support but also mental reassurance.
When her friend invited her to advocate in D.C., Nicole had no idea what to expect.
"I had no idea that you can even do that—that as common folk, we could just go down there and talk to legislators. It was eye-opening to see how many people are working all day, every day, and how they actually sat down and listened to us. One of the representatives we spoke to was from my own district, and as soon as they realized they were speaking to one of their constituents, they really paid attention."
Both parents walked away from the summit with a renewed understanding of the impact of home visiting programs and a reinforced sense of the importance of continued advocacy. For Nicole, the experience underscored the reality that genuine issues require genuine solutions, and that advocacy is a powerful means to create change.
“Hearing other parents’ stories was really touching. These are real people with real problems, and there are ways to be proactive and address these challenges before they escalate."
While Faryal is a seasoned advocate, Nicole is just beginning her journey. When asked if she would continue advocating, Nicole expressed her openness to learning more.
"It was something I never thought about until I had this experience. But now, knowing that we have a voice and can speak to our legislators about real issues, I would be open to learning more and seeing what I could do to help."
The National Home Visiting Summit provided both parents with invaluable experiences—whether it was reaffirming their commitment to advocacy or opening new doors to engagement. Their voices, and those of countless other parents, are essential in ensuring that home visiting programs receive the funding and recognition they deserve.
To learn more about the Parent Leadership Council or how you can become involved in advocacy, contact acnjplc@acnj.org.
