Meet the Help Me Grow Skagit Team

Family Resource Navigator

Languages: English, Spanish

Hi! My name is Emily, born & raised here in Skagit County.  In the last 20 years, I have had the honor working as a Community Health Worker with the health department helping our community. I truly believe that we are all community health workers and resource navigators in our own ways. Searching for resources for yourselves or helping others with resource seeking, assisting them with completing forms, and being their voices in medical appointments, grocery stores, schools, and many other places.

Pregnancy Connections

Languages: English

Hi, I’m Janna. I have been working as a nurse in Maternal Child Health since 2007. Before my work with Nurse Family Partnership and Help Me Grow, I worked in Labor and Delivery, Antepartum, Special Care Nursery and Postpartum at University of Washington Medical Center. I am also a certified teacher in Gottman Bringing Baby Home, as well as teaching childbirth education and parenting education. When not working, I enjoy spending time in the outdoors with my husband and trying to keep up with our three kids. I love having a front row seat to the amazing power of parents changing their lives to be the best they can for their baby and children.

Newborn Outreach / Play & Grow

Languages: English

Hi my name is Liz Cooksey.  I have been a public health nurse for the past 20 years and have spent last 10 years working here in the beautiful Skagit Valley in the field of maternal child health.  I believe that when as a community we put our energy and resource into supporting young families, we grow a strong and vibrant community.  I love the role I get to play in welcoming  families at the birth center and helping them connect to community support.  I have been married since 2003 and am the mother of three daughters.  One of my favorite things is making a meal from food grown in this valley and then sitting down to share it with friends and family.

Family Resource Center / Family Resource Navigator

Languages: English, Spanish

Hi, I’m Natalia. I’ve lived in Washington for around 15 years and have enjoyed doing various community outreach and volunteer events throughout the years. I worked in Early Childhood Education for about 5 years and spent a lot of time finding community resources for my families. Currently, I am the Associate Coordinator for the HMGS Family Resource Center, and I assist with the resource navigation as well. I believe that being an active member of the community  is vital in building them up and I’m excited to be in a position where I can continue doing just that.

Family Resource Center / Family Resource Navigator

Languages: English, Spanish, Mixteco

Hello, I am Rosa Paz. I grew up in Skagit County. I have a Husky whose name is Yoshi.  I have been working as a promotora and connecting people with a  Family Resource Navigator for almost three years. Working as a Family Resource Navigator is very important because I get to help people in my community with resources.

Family Resource Center / Family Resource Navigator

Languages: English, Spanish

Hello! I’m Xiomara, and I have been part of the Children’s Museum family on and off since 2003 and have been part of the Help Me Grow Skagit Family Resource Center team since 2022. I love being a part of this program and being able to see first hand how our services impact the community. 

Family Resource Center 

Languages: English, Ukrainian, Russian, Czech

Hi! My name is Yana. I studied psychology for four years and have experience working with children. I was born in Ukraine and moved to the United States a few years ago. I enjoy reading, learning new things, and traveling to explore new places. I work with the HMG Skagit team where l’m passionate about supporting families and making a positive impact in the community.