Carrie Fitzgerald (Former Staff) Vice President

Carrie Fitzgerald is Vice President of Children’s Health Programs at First Focus. Before coming to First Focus in, 2011, Carrie worked for almost five years at the Child and Family Policy Center (CFPC) in Des Moines, Iowa as the Senior Health Policy Associate. At CFPC Carrie addressed state and federal issues related to health care coverage for children and families including the reauthorization of CHIP and its implementation at the state level. Prior to joining CFPC Carrie worked for the Iowa Department of Public Health where she coordinated the children’s healthy mental development project (ABCDII) sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund. Carrie also served as the Health Department’s liaison to the state Part C/Early Intervention team, focusing on children’s health and development and access to services.

At First Focus Carrie’s emphasis centers on Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the ACA). Her work looks at how health issues affect immigration policy, federal rules and regulations, and state and federal funding all in terms of children. In 2012 Carrie was named a consumer representative to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and served a two-year term.

During the years before working for state government and on public policy, Carrie worked for a variety of direct service non-profit organizations. These jobs included advocating for abused and neglected children through the court and foster care systems, educating low-income families about how to access and maintain public supports and benefits, strengthening the parenting skills of teen mothers, and advocating for battered women and rape survivors in the legal system.

Carrie has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English from Drake University and is the mother of two children.