Carrie Fitzgerald Vice President, Children’s Health Policy

Carrie Fitzgerald is Vice President of Children’s Health Programs at First Focus Campaign for Children. Before coming to First Focus Campaign for Children 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 Campaign for Children 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 is serving 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.

Resources by Carrie Fitzgerald


Webinar: How we can protect kids’ health

| November 19, 2020 |

On Friday, November 20th at 10 am ET, we’re teaming up with the amazing team at MomsRising, who is working to mobilize over one million


Key Stats on the Effect of COVID-19 on Kids

| October 12, 2020 |

Updated on October 12, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic is doing more than exposing the racial, ethnic, and economic disparities existing in our society; it


Congress Must Act Quickly to Pass Additional Relief for Struggling Children and Families

| August 10, 2020 |

Given recent spikes in COVID-19 caseloads, an economic crisis that continues to deepen, and an upcoming school year faced with daunting challenges, it is


Letter: We must ensure that this historic public health pandemic does not threaten our children’s future

| August 10, 2020 |

First Focus Campaign for Children sent the following letter to Congressional leaders in both houses with a set of recommendations to address the needs


How to protect the children of immigrants in the wake of COVID-19

| May 4, 2020 |

Every facet of the lives of children and families are being disrupted during this historic public health and economic crisis. Unfortunately, both their short-term


How to protect children’s health in the wake of COVID-19

| May 4, 2020 |

Every facet of the lives of children and families are being disrupted during this historic public health and economic crisis. Unfortunately, both their short-term


Revised Senate Health Bill Would Still Harm Millions of Children

| July 13, 2017 |

WASHINGTON—The Republicans released a revised health care bill today to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The new proposal maintains some of the ACA


Immigration Public Charge Amendments to Senate Judiciary Committee

| May 15, 2013 |

A letter from FFCC president Bruce Lesley urging members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject amendments to S.744 that redefine or alter the application of “public charge” in a way that negatively impacts children.