Helena Girouard, MPH

I attribute my success to connection and hope. My work is deeply rooted in my lived experience and the belief that people can rebuild their lives when someone believes in them.

Thirteen years ago, I was experiencing homelessness and struggling with addiction during an incredibly difficult period in my life. When I became pregnant, I met Dr. Pamela Carbiener, who saw potential in me at a time when I struggled to see it myself. Her compassion and encouragement helped me begin the long journey of recovery and rebuilding my life.

Through treatment, education, and the support of people who believed in me, I slowly began volunteering with organizations focused on maternal and child health, early childhood development, and family support. What started as volunteering eventually became a career dedicated to helping others navigate the same systems that once helped me.

My path has not been easy or perfect, and there have been many obstacles along the way. But each challenge strengthened my commitment to making sure families facing adversity are met with dignity, compassion, and real opportunities for healing.

Connection to people and hope are the foundation of everything I do. When someone feels seen, supported, and believed in, it can change the trajectory of an entire life and often the lives of future generations.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is simple: Don’t do anything you wouldn’t want to see on the front page.

It’s a reminder to lead with integrity, transparency, and accountability in every decision. Whether working in public health, policy, or community programs, our choices affect real people and real families. That advice has stayed with me because it encourages thoughtful decision-making and a commitment to doing what is right, even when it isn’t the easiest path.

In my work, I try to approach every opportunity and responsibility with that principle in mind: act with integrity, treat people with dignity, and make decisions you would be proud to stand behind.

My advice is simple: never give up.

Thirteen years ago, I was experiencing homelessness and struggling with addiction during one of the most difficult times in my life. When I became pregnant, I met Dr. Pamela Carbiener, who was the first person to truly show me kindness and tell me she believed I had potential. That moment changed the trajectory of my life.

With support, treatment, and a lot of determination, I began rebuilding, starting with volunteering in maternal and child health and early childhood programs while fighting my way back into school. It was not easy. There were many obstacles and setbacks along the way, but each step strengthened my commitment to helping others.

What I’ve learned is that lived experience matters. The most effective solutions often come when people who have walked through the challenges themselves are included at the table. Those perspectives bring compassion, understanding, and a sense of urgency that systems sometimes overlook.

The work can be hard, and change often requires persistence. But if you stay committed, keep learning, and use your experiences to advocate for others, you can help build systems that are more compassionate and more effective for the people they are meant to serve.

For me, success isn’t just about personal achievement; it’s about making sure the next person doesn’t have to face the same barriers alone.

One of the biggest challenges in maternal and family health right now is access to care. In many communities, especially rural or underserved areas, families struggle to find providers who accept Medicaid or offer comprehensive prenatal, mental health, and recovery services. Access to maternal mental health care is particularly limited. Most birthing-aged women in the United States live in areas with shortages of maternal mental health professionals.

At the same time, the United States continues to face serious maternal health disparities compared with other high-income countries, with preventable maternal deaths and inequities in care still affecting many families.

However, there are also incredible opportunities emerging in this field. Communities across the country are recognizing the importance of integrated care models that bring together prenatal care, mental health support, recovery services, and social supports in one place. There is also growing recognition that peer support and lived experience are powerful tools for improving outcomes and building trust with families navigating complex systems.

For me, the opportunity lies in continuing to build systems that listen to families, include lived experience at the decision-making table, and focus on whole-person care. When healthcare, community organizations, and families work together, we can create solutions that not only improve health outcomes but also restore dignity, stability, and hope for the next generation.

The values that guide my work and my life are compassion, integrity, and hope.

Compassion means recognizing that everyone has a story and that many people are carrying challenges we cannot see. In my work with families navigating addiction, mental health challenges, and barriers to care, compassion helps create the kind of connection that allows people to feel safe asking for help.

Integrity is also incredibly important to me. Working in public health and community programs means that our decisions affect real people and real families. I believe in leading with honesty, transparency, and accountability, and in always doing what is right, even when it is difficult.

And finally, hope is the value that ties everything together. Hope is not just an abstract idea; it can transform lives when people feel supported and believe that change is possible. In both my personal life and my professional work, I try to create spaces where people feel seen, valued, and hopeful about the future.

Those values guide every decision I make and shape the way I show up for the communities and families I serve.