Lauralen joined UWCG in June of 2015. Over the years, she has built the First Steps Program capacity by training and supervising additional PT screeners, numerous interns, and volunteers. She is adept at meeting groups who are interested in the First Steps outcomes and welcoming them to contribute by doing volunteer activities such as making “welcome baby baskets.” She has helped with diaper giveaway events and many more activities. When the Pandemic hit, and she was no longer able to meet moms in the hospital, she became quickly creative in finding ways to obtain referrals so that moms could continue to receive First Steps services to ease the stress. She has actively worked with other community partners to help provide solutions to the ever-increasing cost of diapers and to make sure that parents and caregivers can appropriately use cribs and car seats. 

 

“This is a well-deserved recognition. Lauralen joined United Way of Central Georgia six years ago to start our First Steps program, and she quickly built it into one of the top-performing First Steps programs in Georgia. The secret of her success is the genuine love and caring she has for the moms and their newborns in our community and is evidenced by her continually going above and beyond to creatively find ways to meet their most urgent needs,” said George McCanless, President and CEO of United Way of Central Georgia.