Trying Together has selected Victoria Sabo, the health coordinator for Allegheny County’s Family Foundations Early Head Start, as its October advocate of the month.
Sabo was nominated by Emily Neff, Trying Together’s director of policy, who noted Sabo’s strength-based approach in supporting expectant mothers and families in the Family Foundations program.
Valuing the Life and Dignity of Every Human Being
In collaboration with the organization’s mental health team, Sabo helped to create the support group B.R.A.V.E. (Bold Resilient Aware Victorious and Empowered) to strengthen the bond between caregivers and their children, destigmatize mental health, promote health and wellness, and curate a supportive community for families in the program.
Sabo said that advocacy is important to her because she values the life and dignity of every human being.
“I advocate for families who are often overlooked, whose voices are silenced, or who are at risk for systemic injustices that disproportionately displace them and their families,” she said.
Sabo said she recognizes that the problem is not with the people or communities she serves, but the way that others – such as systems, businesses, and organizations – see them.
“Many times, these entities see them and their communities through the lenses of weaknesses and deficits,” she said. “I see and acknowledge their strength, resilience, and ingenuity.”
Sabor’s dedication to ensuring families’ needs are met is “remarkable,” said Neff, who added that she was moved by the way Sabo helped an Early Head Start mother of two during an April roundtable with U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (D-12th).
“(She) removed barriers so the mother could be centered,” Neff said. “Additionally, she has advocated for the importance of Early Head Start’s positive impact on the health of moms and babies.”
Family Foundations Early Head Start is a home-based program by the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Child Development to serve low-income families, expectant mothers, and children from birth to age 3.
The program, which is free for eligible families, offers home visits to support child development, health, and parent-child attachment as well as group socializations, monthly parent meetings, infant mental health-informed care, school readiness, and family goal planning.
