Maria Connolly

Maria Connolly lives in Lawrence Township, NJ with her husband, Matt, and their four children. Maria is a licensed NJ Professional Planner, a LEED AP (Accredited Professional), and holds a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning (MCRP). Deeply committed to civic service, she volunteers for several organizations, including serving as the Vice-Chair of the Township Planning Board and as a member of the Business & Economic Growth Committee.

Maria and Matt became licensed resource parents in 2018. They adopted two of their children through foster care and also serve as Kinship Legal Guardians (KLG). In 2026, Maria joined the NJ Department of Children & Families (DCF) Resource Parent Council. From the moment she became a resource parent and experienced firsthand how frustrating the system can be, she made it her mission to fight for systemic changes that truly prioritize the child’s best interest.

To drive that change, Maria joined forces with several other resource mothers (including Heather Janci) to form an advocacy group dedicated to researching foster care laws, meeting with legislators, and drafting reform legislation. Upon learning that one of Miriam’s Heart’s 2021 goals was to expand into legislative advocacy, Maria knew it was a perfect fit. She and Heather quickly jumped on board, partnering with Miriam’s Heart’s co-founder to establish The Child Advocacy Network (CAN). Today, the network is moving full speed ahead toward a vital common goal: advocating for the children who desperately need someone to stand on their behalf.