About the author
Elizabeth Occhipinti and her husband have five children including two adopted from Korea and they are licensed foster parents living in Somerset County, NJ. Through their experiences, they realized how big the need was for prepared and supported foster and adoptive families, and how few resources existed to meet that need in the local community. They took action - some might say radical action - to establish Miriam's Heart and build this nonprofit from the ground up to serve Central NJ, and beyond. Through Elizabeth's dedicated volunteer leadership over the course of many years, Miriam's Heart has created an array of resources to ensure that more children realize their preciousness as part of prepared and supported families. Her tireless work has resulted in the development of adoption grants, a network of experienced adoptive parents and professionals to come alongside families in process, education scholarships, support groups for parents and kids, respite care events and resources, trauma training, increased adoption and foster care awareness in the community, and a program to provide practical help (clothing, furniture, toys, supplies, etc.) to county resource families. As a result of the partnerships that she has developed with private agencies, the faith-based community, the county DCP&P, and other organizations such as CAFO, Show Hope and Care Portal, Miriam's Heart is a go-to resource, providing unparalleled leadership in the community as an advocate for foster care and adoption. She demonstrated remarkable dedication to the mission in the face of the pandemic, innovating fresh ways to advocate for kids and support families, and ensuring crucial funding needs were met so that critical resources for those most at risk would be protected. Elizabeth's years of dedicated volunteer service helping hundreds of families throughout Central New Jersey set her apart as an exceptional advocate and voice for foster and adopted children.