I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank state Sen. Fred Berry for his outstanding leadership and support for Early Intervention services.

I am a speech language pathologist with Family Support Early Intervention and I have been proud to work in Early Intervention for eight years. I have seen first-hand the magnitude of Sen. Berry's commitment to helping the children and families who need the specialized services we provide here in the North Shore area, including Salem, Danvers, Peabody, Middleton, Marblehead and Lynn.

Early Intervention is a family-centered program dedicated to serving children from birth to age three who have developmental delays. In working together with families in their homes, we are able to teach them how to help their children reach their greatest potential.

This year, as he has for so many years, Sen. Berry worked tirelessly in the Massachusetts Senate to support Early Intervention. His efforts were instrumental in securing additional funding for Early Intervention in the state budget just passed by the Legislature.

Thanks to Sen. Berry's leadership, our Early Intervention program can provide a modest pay increase for our dedicated staff, and continue to provide high-quality services to the children and families that need us.
I am so proud to work in Early Intervention, because I know that the services we provide to children and families make a difference in their lives. I am so grateful that Sen. Berry recognizes the importance of Early Intervention and does all that he can as our state senator to support the program.

So please join me in thanking Sen. Berry for his tremendous support and hard work on behalf of the children on the North Shore.

Nancy Santana MS CCC/SLP CEIS
Salem