Advocate Spotlight: Andrea Brochu

Andrea Brochu is a mother, advocate, and community voice from Jefferson, NH. After navigating one of the hardest chapters of her family's life, she turned that experience into a commitment to ensuring other families never have to fight alone to access the support that can save their child’s life. She is a passionate advocate for equitable access to mental health services, education, and community-based support for children and families across New Hampshire and beyond.

Q: What issues are you most passionate about advocating for?

I am most passionate about advocating for equitable access to education, mental and medical health services, and community-based resources for children and families. I believe deeply that every person, regardless of socioeconomic status, diagnosis, zip code, or circumstance, deserves the opportunity to succeed, feel valued, and reach their full potential.

My passion comes not only from professional experience working within nonprofit and social service systems for many years, but from lived experience as a mother navigating systems that were often fragmented, inaccessible, and overwhelming during one of the most difficult periods of our family’s life. I saw firsthand how hard it can be to access appropriate support, even for families who are educated, employed, and know how to advocate. Too often, we treat mental health, education, and family support services as optional or reactive investments instead of recognizing them as foundational to a functioning society.

I advocate because I know what it feels like to be lost in systems that were not built to be easily navigated. I advocate because I have seen what happens when a child is written off instead of supported. I have also seen the incredible transformation that occurs when that same child is given the right environment, guidance, and opportunity. Most importantly, I advocate because no family should have to fight alone to access the support that can change or save their child’s life.

Q: What inspired you to get involved in advocacy?

What inspired me to get involved in advocacy was both professional experience and personal transformation. For much of my career, I used my platform to advocate for families, access to services, equity, and systems that treated people with dignity. But for many years, I was still largely on the sidelines. I cared deeply and spoke up when appropriate, but I had not yet personally experienced what it meant to desperately need those systems myself.

Then our family entered a chapter marked by fear, uncertainty, and the fight to save our son. We were suddenly thrust into a world of mental health struggles, educational barriers, isolation, and systems that were fragmented, overwhelming, and often unwilling to listen. It changed every part of our lives. What impacted me most was realizing that even with my professional background, we still struggled to find help, still felt lost, still encountered closed doors. And I kept thinking: if this is this hard for us, what happens to families without the same resources or ability to advocate?

When I was asked to truly step forward and use my voice publicly, I realized I could not say no. My son is healthy today because other people before us advocated for him. Our family is healthy because people believed there was still hope for us, even in our darkest moments. Because of that, I believe we owe it to others to ensure they never go through what we did without support and someone standing beside them.

Advocacy, for me, is no longer abstract or professional; it is deeply personal. It is about making sure children are not written off, that families can access help before they reach crisis, and that systems are humane, equitable, and accessible to everyone, not just those who know how to navigate them. Most importantly, it is about turning pain into purpose, and making sure that what nearly broke our family can become part of what helps another family survive.

Q: Was there a personal experience or community issue that motivated you to pursue this work?

Professionally, I spent many years in nonprofit and social service spaces, which gave me insight into the challenges families face when trying to access support and resources. But advocacy and equity were values instilled in me long before that. My mother was a special education teacher who fiercely advocated for children who were often overlooked, underestimated, or misunderstood. Growing up watching her taught me the importance of meeting people where they are, believing in their potential, and recognizing that every child deserves dignity and opportunity. Those experiences shaped my understanding of social justice and our responsibility to care for one another as a community.

But the most powerful motivation came when these issues became deeply personal. When my own child struggled, I experienced firsthand what it feels like to fight for a child not being adequately supported by the systems designed to help them. The "mama bear" instinct is real; you will move mountains, challenge systems, and refuse to stay silent when your child’s well-being and future are at stake.

Navigating mental health struggles, educational barriers, and fragmented systems transformed my advocacy from something I cared about professionally into something I felt compelled to pursue publicly. It opened my eyes to how many families are suffering quietly and how critical compassionate, accessible support truly is.

Q: How did you get connected with New Futures, and what has your experience working with us been like?

I was initially connected with New Futures through our FAST Forward wraparound team at a point when our family was finally thriving after years of struggle. We were actually the first family transitioned out of wraparound by our care coordinator because we had reached a place where we no longer needed the level of support we once depended on. To me, that is one of the clearest examples of why this program matters: it works.

As we moved into that healthier chapter and became more involved in children's mental health advocacy, I was introduced to New Futures and immediately recognized how deeply aligned their mission was with the issues I care most about. My experience working with New Futures has been incredibly rewarding and meaningful. Advocacy work can sometimes feel disheartening, especially when navigating the realities of the legislative process and seeing how difficult systemic change can be. But New Futures remains incredibly proactive, compassionate, and impactful in the way they approach this work.

What stands out most to me is the humanity of the organization. The support, empathy, and encouragement from the team are extraordinary. They understand that behind every policy discussion are real families, real children, and real stories. I feel deeply humbled and honored to be able to lend my voice alongside theirs, not only to advocate for systems that work, but to help ensure other families have the same opportunity to heal, grow, and thrive the way ours did.

Andrea (far right) poses with New Futures staff and advocates after testifying at a public hearing.

Q: Do you have a favorite advocacy memory?

One of my most profound memories happened during my testimony before the State Senate on a bill that would help children with private insurance access FAST Forward. I had prepared carefully, knowing how important it was to speak not only for my family, but for so many others who may never have the opportunity to share their experiences publicly. As I was speaking, my allotted time ran out. I fully expected to be stopped and asked to conclude, because that is simply the nature of legislative hearings. Instead, I was asked to finish my testimony.

It may seem like a small moment to some, but for me, it was incredibly powerful and emotional. In that moment, I felt that the experiences, struggles, and truths I was sharing were truly being heard, at least by some people in that room. Not just listened to politely, but genuinely heard and understood. When you spend years advocating for a child, for families, and for systems to do better, there are many moments where it can feel like your voice disappears into the noise. That moment reminded me why advocacy matters. It reminded me that lived experience has power, and that sharing our stories can create connection, understanding, and hopefully change.

Most importantly, it reaffirmed for me that our family’s struggles were not something to hide from, but something that could help illuminate a path forward for others.

Andrea testifying before a Senate committee.

Q: What advice do you have for incoming or fellow advocates?

My advice to incoming or fellow advocates is to speak with emotion, truth, and passion.

Advocacy is not meant to feel comfortable all the time. In fact, some of the most important moments will come when you are willing to say the hard things out loud.

Do not be afraid to make people uncomfortable or to hold them accountable. Meaningful change rarely comes from comfort, and the discomfort people feel hearing difficult truths is often where awareness begins and progress is forced to happen. Ask the hard questions. Require leaders and systems to do the right thing, not what is easiest, politically convenient, or financially expedient. At the end of the day, these systems and institutions exist to serve people. They work for us, and advocacy is about ensuring that voices and lived experiences are not ignored in those decisions.

Most importantly, lead with empathy and compassion. It is possible to be passionate, persistent, and unwavering while still approaching others with humanity. Some of the strongest advocacy comes not from anger alone, but from the ability to help people truly understand the lived experiences of others.

Your story matters. Your voice matters. And even when progress feels slow, you never know who is listening, who is learning, or whose life may ultimately change because you chose to speak up.

Q: Is there anything else we should know?

I am honored to be part of the advocacy group at NAMI New Hampshire, working alongside individuals and families committed to improving mental health awareness and access to care across the state. Being surrounded by people who are willing to share their lived experiences to create change is both humbling and inspiring.

I am also passionate about advocating nationally for marginalized and underrepresented communities to have equitable access to education, opportunity, and pathways to success. I strongly believe that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. There are extraordinary young people and individuals in every community who are capable of thriving if they are simply given access, support, and someone willing to believe in their potential.

At the core of all of this work is the belief that healthy people create healthy families, healthy families create strong communities, and strong communities create a stronger society and economy. Advocacy, to me, is about helping build systems that allow people not just to survive, but to truly thrive.

Thank you, Andrea, for all the incredible advocacy you’ve done to help New Hampshire families thrive!

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