Angel is the Nursery: Suzanne Dougan, IMH-E® Infant Family Associate, HealthySteps Program Coordinator

By: Samantha Feldman

When families with young children (ages 0–3) in Brownsville and East New York seek support, one name immediately comes to mind: Suzanne Dougan. Through her work with the HealthySteps Program at One Brooklyn Health's Brookdale Hospital, Suzanne has become a trusted source of guidance, compassion, and connection for numerous families. 

The HealthySteps Program is an evidence-based, pediatric primary care initiative that promotes healthy early childhood development by integrating behavioral health and developmental support into routine medical care. Since 2016, the OBH Brookdale Family  Care Centers at New Lots and Eastern Parkway have proudly offered this innovative program. 

Suzanne joined the program in 2019 as the OBH Brookdale HealthySteps Program  Coordinator. Over the past two years, she has played an essential role in expanding services, helping to launch three additional HealthySteps programs at the Linden, Bristol,  and Pennsylvania Avenue Family Care Center locations. 

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In addition to her many responsibilities, Suzanne is known for her tireless community outreach. She represents HealthySteps at health fairs, schools, libraries, churches, and local events. She also curates and distributes a monthly email newsletter, reaching over  800 subscribers, featuring up-to-date information on food pantries, childcare, educational opportunities, job alerts, and family-friendly activities in all five boroughs. 

Suzanne’s passion for caring for children began early. At age 12, she started babysitting for families in her church. From 1996 to 2015, she owned and operated Wee Care Family  Daycare, where she provided nurturing care to children in her community. After closing her daycare, she continued her commitment to early childhood education as an Assistant  Teacher in a prestigious childcare center, later joining CAMBA’s ICARE Program in 2017 to support children and families in need. 

In 2019, Suzanne brought her wealth of experience to HealthySteps, where she continues to impact families every day. She is an endorsed Infant Family Associate and the proud recipient of the 2024 Whole Family Advocate Award from Reach Out and Read of Greater  New York.

Finding and sharing free and low-cost community resources has become part of Suzanne’s daily routine—and passion. She maintains strong relationships with local organizations and monitors multiple community listservs to ensure families have access to the most current and reliable supports. As she shared, even on her days off, she can’t help but look for new resources to share. 

When asked what drives her work, Suzanne explained: 

“The reason I am a family advocate is because if the caretakers don’t have the resources  they need, then they are not able to take care of their children. That’s why we focus on the  whole family. No child should suffer. I will always make it my mission to help families in  need.” 

Suzanne recently announced that she plans to retire in January 2026. True to her nature,  she intends to continue supporting her community even after retirement: 

“I want to spend time with my family and enjoy my hobbies,” she reflected. “I’ll volunteer in  the NICU, work in food pantries, and continue to advocate for children—still doing  outreach, just on my own time.” Suzanne looks forward to this next chapter alongside her husband, three children, and soon-to-be four grandchildren. 

Thank you, Sue, for your years of dedication, compassion, and leadership. Your strength,  determination, and passion for helping families will continue to inspire generations of early childhood providers and the communities they serve.