Paterson Kids Count Release Agenda - Advocates for Children of New Jersey

We are thrilled to share this critical look at the well-being of children and their families in the City of Paterson. This page is your central guide for today's event. Explore the data, follow along with our agenda, and meet the experts leading today's conversations.

View Report

Program Agenda

Speaker Bios

Mentimeter-Join the Conversation

Program Agenda

9:00 AM

Doors Open
Attendee Arrival and check-in

9:30 AM - 9:45 AM

Welcome and Introductions
Shanikwa Lemon-Watson
Executive Director Paterson Alliance

Sue Flynn, Board Chair
Advocates for Children of New Jersey Board of Trustees

9:45 AM - 10:00 AM

Data Presentation
Alena Siddiqui, Data Analyst
Advocates for Children of New Jersey

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Data Q&A
Alena Siddiqui, Data Analyst
Mary Coogan, Esq., President/CEO
Advocates for Children of New Jersey

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

On the ground. Let's hear from the experts and community partners.

Maternal Health Panel

Moderator:
Shanikwa Lemon-Watson, Executive Director
Paterson Alliance

Jessyca Ramos, Director of Nursing for Family Connects New Jersey
Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ

Uzo Achebe, Associate Program Administrator of Maternal Child Health Care Coordination and Partnerships
The Children's Home Society of New Jersey

Debra Katz, Manager of Nurse Midwifery & Doula Services
St. Joseph’s Health

11:00 AM - 11:10 AM

Education
Dr. Laurie W. Newell, Superintendent
Paterson Public Schools

11:10 AM - 11:25 AM

How to Support Immigrant Families
Alyssa Oravec, Policy Counsel
New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children

11:25 AM - 11:35 AM

Closing & Next Steps
Rosie Grant, Executive Director
Paterson Education Fund

Let's Keep the Conversation Going

Kids Count community conversations are an opportunity to take a deeper dive into the data and engage with colleagues and partners committed to improving outcomes for Newark's children and families. Would you like to bring the conversation to your community? Host a local community conversation for your clients, network, or neighbors. Click the button below to let us know your interest.

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Community Conversation/Order books

Speaker Bios

Uzo Achebe, MPH, a Rutgers graduate, is an Associate Program Administrator of Maternal Child Health Care Coordination and Partnerships at The Children's Home Society of New Jersey, overseeing Community Health Workers and MCH Educators across Mercer, Ocean, and Monmouth Counties and the agency's clinical integration at OB/GYN outpatient sites. She previously served as embedded clinical liaison at Capital Health OB/GYN-Trenton through Safer Childbirth Cities---work she now supports at the program level. She is a practicing doula, founder of Birth of All Hues LLC, and Chair of the Perinatal Community Advisory Board with Capital Health. Her work centers on clinical-community integration, cultural competency, and equitable access to perinatal and early childhood resources. She received a 2024 gubernatorial proclamation and was named one of the 2025 award winners for Advancing Access to Health by the NJ Social Innovation Awards.

Debby Katz has been practicing Full Scope Midwifery care since 1995. She has worked in a variety of settings including Hospital Birth Centers, Private Offices and Public Prenatal Centers. She has been the Director of the Midwifery Service at St Joseph's Health in Paterson New Jersey for the last 12 years. During this time she has implemented Centering Pregnancy for English and Spanish clients, Team Birth and has started a Pilot Program for In-House Doula Services. The 6 Community Doulas are from the Paterson area and resemble the population we serve. The St Joseph's Doulas are in the hospital 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Among the doulas there are many languages spoken, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali and American sign Language.

Alyssa has served as Policy Counsel at the New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children since January 2025. At the Consortium, she works to advance the rights of New Jersey’s immigrant children to access health care, education, and justice. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Alyssa developed a passion for immigration law while working at HLS’s Immigration and Refugee Clinic. Prior to joining the Consortium, she spent six years advocating to advance human rights, including the rights of refugees and immigrants, in the United States and throughout the world.

Jessyca V. Ramos, BSN, RN, is the Director of Nursing for the Family Connects New Jersey program at the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ, a role she has held since October 2024. With more than 20 years of experience in maternal-child health, nursing, and family support services, Jessyca has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for children and families across New Jersey. Prior to becoming Director, she served as a Nurse Home Visitor and Program Supervisor, providing comprehensive care, education, and leadership within community-based programs. A bilingual English and Spanish-speaking registered nurse, Jessyca is passionate about empowering families, strengthening communities, and leading programs that promote equitable access to healthcare and support services

Superintendent Dr. Laurie W. Newell 2023b

Dr. Laurie W. Newell is Superintendent of Paterson Public Schools, New Jersey’s third-largest school district, serving nearly 22,000 students across 41 schools. She previously served as Superintendent of the Essex Regional Educational Services Commission (2016–2023) and held leadership roles in Paterson Public Schools (2010–2016), including Executive Director of Human Resource Services and Chief Reform and Innovations Officer.

Dr. Newell has extensive experience leading school improvement, reform, strategic planning, data-driven decision-making, and talent development in large urban districts. Previously, she served as Executive Director of School Transformation for Newark Public Schools. She has also taught graduate-level Educational Leadership at Montclair State University. Dr. Newell holds an MS, MBA, and PhD and has received numerous honors, including the 2023 Essex County Superintendent of the Year and NJASA Region I Regional Superintendent of the Year. She is committed to ensuring every student has access to a safe, healthy, supportive environment and a quality education.

Program Agenda

Speaker Bios

Uzo Achebe Expand

Debra KatzExpand

Alyssa OverecExpand

Jessyca V. RamosExpand

Dr. Laurie W. NewellExpand

Uzo Achebe Expand

Debra KatzExpand

Dr. Laurie W. NewellExpand

Alyssa OverecExpand

Jessyca V. RamosExpand