From February 12-14, 2025, Central Jersey Family Health Consortium (CJFHC) was proudly represented by Grysmeldy Gonzalez, BSN, RN, Director of Nursing, Program Administrator, Family Connects NJ, and Lynda Cuevas, Health Families TIP Program Manager & Supervisor, at the National Home Visiting Summit in Washington, D.C. Joining colleagues from The Cooperative, the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ, and Family Connects International, the summit brought together leaders from across the country to explore ways to integrate policy, practice, and research in order to advance equitable, high-quality home visiting services.
Key Objectives of the Summit:
- Strengthen systems and infrastructure for ongoing program quality and equitable investment.
- Exchange best practices, emerging concepts, and lessons learned across systems, states, and models.
- Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, ensuring fair support for all children and families.
- Foster national partnerships to increase systems influence and inform policy.
Capitol Hill Advocacy – Fighting for Medicaid
On Thursday, February 13, 2025, the summit’s advocacy efforts took center stage at the “Hands Off Medicaid” event, where attendees met with Representative Frank Pallone (D-6th) and other members of Congress in opposing proposed Medicaid cuts sought by President Donald Trump.
A detailed 50-page list outlined significant funding cuts, including drastic reductions to Medicaid, the elimination of subsidies that help middle-class families afford health insurance, and slashes to hospital funding in rural communities.
These proposed changes would have devastating consequences for New Jersey, where Medicaid covers nearly 2 million residents, including over 30,000 individuals with disabilities, 60% of nursing home residents, and finances more than one-third of all births in the state.
Medicaid plays a vital role in ensuring health and economic stability for families, sustaining rural hospitals, and supporting the healthcare workforce. Advocates at the event emphasized the dire consequences of these cuts, with Disability Rights New Jersey cautioning in an email to NJ Spotlight News, “Without Medicaid, this kind of care is not affordable for most people in New Jersey. Many individuals would be left homeless or worse—facing life-threatening consequences.”
Making an Impact – Promoting Health Equity
Central Jersey Family Health Consortium staff shared powerful stories from providers and parents, highlighting the critical role of home visiting services and the needs of New Jersey families. “[I]t felt very good to share stories about our families,” Grysmeldy shared, “I made sure to highlight our undocumented families as they tend to be the highest risk, or lowest resource capacity, but are being targeted and living in fear every day, families that we have met and connected with and know that all they want is a dignified life…our most vulnerable populations, the elderly, the homeless, the undocumented, the poor, are going to be the most affected [by potential cuts to Medicaid].”
CJFHC was honored to represent our partners at Family Connects and Healthy Families, alongside colleagues from The Cooperative, the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ, and Family Connects International.
