Leader and Advocate of Early Intervention

Lauretta Jackson in an at-home setting prepandemic providing Early Childhood Intervention services.

Category: News

March 29, 2021

Early Intervention Therapist Wins Ruth Wells Award

Any Baby Can’s annual Ruth Wells Award recognizes a staff member’s commitment to service, passion for our work and clients, and dedication to our mission. The award is named after Ruth Wells, a Family Education Instructor who has been with Any Baby Can for more than 30 years. This year’s winner is physical therapist Lauretta Jackson!

Lauretta has been a valued member of our Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) team for more than 12 years, and was doing contract work with the agency long before then, having been a physical therapist for almost 30 years! Her contirbutions to Any Baby Can and to the hundreds of clients she has served is immeasurable.

“When I was a child, my uncle had a stroke, and I watched a physical therapist teach him how to walk. It was then that I knew what I wanted to do, as it made such a difference in his life,” says Lauretta.

From then on, she was inspired to help others. Lauretta doesn’t hesitate to give parents and children the nudge they need to meet their goals. She has transitioned a very hands-on therapy to telehealth seamlessly, coming up with creative ideas, activities and methods to ensure her kids make progress in their physical development. If you’ve ever sat in on a physical therapy session with Lauretta, you’ll know that she puts in a workout – crawling on the floor, moving props and engaging through the screen!

“A young child’s brain is able to adapt and recover from injury better and faster than an adult. We are rewiring these children’s brains with the services we provide. It is truly amazing to watch the progress these children can make!” adds Lauretta.

She shows her passion for her work every day as a valuable team member and family advocate. Her skill of coaching and engaging her clients is undeniable, as she continuously seeks out opportunities to share her expertise with her families and our own staff. We are all better off for having worked with Lauretta.

A True Leader in Her Work

Even if you haven’t worked with her, you may recognize Lauretta from her many appearances in Any Baby Can client videos, testimonials, and pictures on our website. She is always willing to go the extra mile, especially when it comes to sharing the stories of families she serves in hopes of inspiring more parents, donors and community leaders about the power of early intervention.

“Lauretta is always willing to go beyond of what is expected and recognizes the need to guide and advocate for the rights of each family. She has also been a successful mentor to many staff.”

Cynthia Quinones

ECI Deputy Director

“Lauretta recognizes that the work she does today to support a child’s development will reap dividends in the years to come as they continue to grow, develop, and reach their full potential.”

Veronda Durden

President & CEO

“Lauretta is passionate about making a huge difference to the community that we serve. She believes in excellence, and doing everything that we can to achieve excellence in our services so that families may have positive outcomes.”

 

Guillermo Lopez

ECI Senior Director

She is a leader and advocate of early intervention services and a committed ambassador for Any Baby Can. Lauretta often shares our mission with daycares, physicians, universities and the community. She visits clinics to meet with providers, and participates in presentations to our local colleges regarding ECI services and the effectiveness of our services.

Her passion for the mission of Any Baby Can, her work and her clients make her a very deserving candidate for the 2021 Ruth Wells Award. Congratulations, Lauretta! 

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Early Childhood Intervention

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