Elizabeth Occhipinti
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Speaker, author and co-founder and President of Miriam’s Heart, Elizabeth Occhipinti leads this New Jersey based non-profit that provides support to adopted and foster children and families. Elizabeth and her husband Jim first developed Miriam’s Heart in 2009. Elizabeth is a TBRI practitioner trained at Texas Christian University, holds a BS in Human Services and has a MS in Child and Adolescent Psychology. As a trained TRBI practitioner, Elizabeth studied and maintains working relationships with the renowned team at the Texas Christian University’s Karyn Purvis' Institute of Child Development, where she studied the effects of trauma and loss. A NYC Leadership Fellow in the 2016-2017 class, Elizabeth also serves on the international Orphan Sunday leadership team for the Christian Alliance for Orphans. Instrumental in the development of the Stand Sunday initiative, Elizabeth works alongside the National Foster Care Initiative as a liaison from the Orphan Sunday leadership team. Recently completing Transformational Leadership, Elizabeth is also a member of the E3 New Jersey non-profit roundtable and holds a OVC Certificate, and a Certificate of Christian Ministry. A 2021 Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute Angels in Adoption® Honoree from New Jersey with Senators Robert Menendez & Cory Booker, Elizabeth’s passion and commitment to a world where children and families thrive is matched only by her determination to advocate and support adopted and foster children. Adoptive and licensed foster parents themselves, Elizabeth and her husband James have 5 children who keep their New Jersey home appropriately busy and can often be seen dancing and singing in their kitchen as they clear the dinner table. Elizabeth is the author of a children's book about adoption called, Adventures of Tiger Lily which can be purchased: https://bit.ly/32IMGdP.