Partnership for Children of the Foothills is pleased to welcome Rachel Elder as its new Community Outreach Coordinator, bringing nearly two decades of experience working with children, families and community partners to the organization.
In her new role, Elder will help strengthen connections between families and the programs, services and resources available throughout McDowell, Polk and Rutherford counties, with a particular focus on supporting families with children from birth to age five.
Elder brings a broad background in education, early childhood intervention and family advocacy. Most recently, she served as an early interventionist with the Family Infant and Preschool Program, providing home-based services for infants, toddlers and preschool-age children with developmental delays. Her work included coaching families and caregivers, conducting developmental evaluations and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to support individualized family service plans.
Previously, Elder spent more than three years as a family advocate with the Clara Allen Family Center Children’s Advocacy Center, where she helped connect families with community resources and services while building relationships with partner agencies. She also spent 13 years as an elementary school teacher and holds a Master of Education from Appalachian State University and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Gardner-Webb University.
For Elder, joining the Partnership represents an opportunity to reach families earlier and help create a strong foundation before children enter school.
“There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in,” Elder said, referencing a quote from Desmond Tutu that has shaped her approach to serving families. “I wanted to be a part of providing resources and supports to families so that children were better prepared to enter school on strong footing.”
Elder said she is especially looking forward to building relationships throughout the three-county region.
“I love meeting new people and connecting families with resources that help them be the best version of themselves,” she said.
Her professional experience has also given her the opportunity to work alongside families from many different backgrounds, something Elder believes will be an important asset in her new position.
“Over my 18 years of working with children and families of all ages, I have had the pleasure to learn from people with many different beliefs, backgrounds and cultures,” Elder said. “I bring those lessons and experiences with me to the Partnership for Children of the Foothills, and they will serve me well as I meet new families in my new position.”
As Community Outreach Coordinator, Elder will support the Partnership’s efforts to make families more aware of early childhood programs, parenting resources and community supports while helping build stronger connections with local organizations and community partners.
“Rachel’s combination of hands-on family support, early childhood experience and community relationship-building makes her a wonderful addition to our team,” said Vanessa Parton, executive director of Partnership for Children of the Foothills. “She understands that supporting young children means supporting the entire family, and we are excited to have her helping us expand those connections throughout our communities.”
Welcome, Rachel!
