NEW JERSEY: The NJ Dept of Health Proposed Revisions Have Gone too Far

Published: Sep 15, 2025

Our Stand: At-A-Glance

  • In May 2023, the New Jersey Department of Health issued a memo inviting “stakeholder” feedback on sweeping proposed health code (N.J.A.C. 8:57) changes. For the past 2½ years, we have attended Public Health Council meetings to monitor their plan to reintroduce these measures.
  • Now, just five months before Governor Murphy leaves office, the Department has released a 320-page document outlining these proposed changes. They are seeking to circumvent the NJ legislative process and implement new health regulations that are outrageous, discriminatory and seek to prevent NJ residents from having access to health data.  This moment is critical: our voices must be heard.
  • These proposed changes would:
    • Expand surveillance and data collection of NJ residents.
    • Allow private schools to discriminate against students whose religious beliefs prevent vaccination.
    • Weaken parental and religious protections.
    • Permanently shield records from public access.
    • Concentrate power in the DOH Commissioner’s office with limited oversight.
  • Public health measures must be accountable to the people and their elected representatives, not dictated behind closed doors. When decisions are hidden from scrutiny, trust in government crumbles. This approach sets a dangerous precedent for unchecked bureaucratic control, where policies affecting children, families, and communities can be imposed without clear consent, oversight, or recourse.
  • At stake is more than one set of regulations, it’s the principle that transparency, choice, and accountability should guide public health, not secrecy, mandates, or concentrated power.
  • We need to flood the public comment process with strong opposition. Every parent, advocate, and concerned resident has a responsibility to speak up. The volume and strength of our comments will determine whether these rules move forward unchallenged or face the pushback they deserve.
  • Please scroll down to find an outline of the most concerning points we identified in the public document. We have serious questions, significant concerns, and we urge that these proposals be reconsidered.
  • Stand with us by submitting your public comment when the NJ Register opens on September 15th, and also contact your local legislators. These proposed changes represent an egregious overreach threatening parental rights, human rights, and transparency. If allowed to stand, they could enable discrimination, restrict educational access, and conceal crucial information from the public leaving government agencies free to act without oversight.
  • Together, we can protect parental rights, medical freedom, and transparency in New Jersey.

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NJDOH Proposed Code Changes (N.J.A.C. 8:57) 

NJ Private Schools’ Authority to Deny Religious Exemptions & Expand Vaccination Requirements 

The August 18th, 2025 NJDOH proposal appears to allow private schools and other private institutions across New Jersey to deny religious exemptions and add any ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) -recommended vaccinations beyond NJDOH’s current immunization mandates (what public schools currently require). This shift would grant private institutions far more authority over vaccination policy than ever before.

Key elements in the document:

  • Expanded Power for Private Institutions: Preschools, daycares, K-12 schools, and colleges could adopt vaccine requirements above the state’s baseline.
  • Potential Denial of Religious Exemptions: Code changes would allow private schools to discriminate against students whose religious beliefs prevent vaccination.
  • Delegating Health Authority to Non-Medical Administrators: School and childcare leaders could gain de facto public health powers, without medical or legislative oversight.

Questions New Jersey Residents Should Be Asking

Scope & Consistency

  • Would all private educational institutions: preschools, daycares, elementary/secondary schools, and colleges be empowered to deny religious exemptions outright?
  • Would these policies have to be applied across the board, or could schools accept or deny exemptions case by case?
  • Will private schools be encouraged or pressured to require additional vaccines as a condition of attendance?
  • How will the state manage uneven and inconsistent health policies across New Jersey?

Protections for Families

  • What safeguards will exist for families with religious-based exemptions?
  • Is the state essentially regulating access to private schools for a subset of the population?
  • Why would New Jersey codify a policy that could discriminate against religious families and limit their educational options?

Authority & Oversight

  • Why is the NJDOH empowering non-medical school administrators to dictate vaccination requirements for students in private schools?
  • What oversight or appeal process will ensure these decisions are made fairly and transparently?
  • Will parents be given advance notice and meaningful consent before new requirements take effect?

NJDOH NEW ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) Alignment

The August 18th, 2025 NJDOH document references aligning New Jersey’s immunization requirements with the current ACIP recommendations. On the surface, this may look like a simple update — but it signals a major shift in who controls New Jersey’s vaccine requirements and how they could change in the future.

Key elements in the document:

  • Automatic Alignment with Federal Guidance: New Jersey would adjust its vaccination requirements whenever ACIP updates its recommendations.
  • Expanded Scope: This alignment could affect K–12 students, private schools, higher education institutions, and potentially adult immunizations as well.
  • Reduced State Oversight: If implemented, vaccine requirements could change without public comment or NJ legislative debate.

Questions New Jerseyans Should Be Asking

Control & Oversight

  • Will the NJDOH eliminate state rules and allow the federal ACIP to effectively dictate New Jersey’s vaccination schedule, letting mandates shift without NJ legislators’ approval or public input?
  • Does this alignment amount to outsourcing New Jersey’s health policy to a federal advisory body, reducing the role of elected officials and parental voices in key public-health decisions?

Impact on K–12 Students

  • Will this proposed code change enable the NJDOH to add COVID-19 (primary series/annual boosters), annual influenza, Hepatitis A, or HPV (Gardasil) as K–12 school attendance requirements simply by aligning with ACIP?
  • How will medical decision-making remain with parents and their physicians if alignment updates occur outside a transparent, state-led rulemaking debate?

Private Schools & Higher Education

  • Will this alignment also extend to public colleges, giving them a free hand to impose additional vaccination requirements as per the ACIP recommendations? 
  • How will the state prevent patchwork or inconsistent policies that confuse families and schools?

Exemptions & Safeguards

  • What safeguards will exist to ensure consistent health policies across New Jersey, preventing a patchwork of requirements that confuse families and schools?
  • How will medical and religious exemptions be protected if mandates shift are inconsistent throughout the state educational system?

Why This Matters

“ACIP alignment” could fundamentally shift control of vaccine requirements from New Jersey to a federal advisory committee, bypassing public input and legislative oversight. Without strong safeguards, this could lead to new mandates without transparency, consistent policy, or parental consent.

NJIIS (New Jersey Immunization Information System) Vaccine Registry Expansion 

The NJDOH’s August 18th, 2025 document proposes automatic enrollment of all adults and children into the NJIIS with very limited opt-out options. Even those who opt out can be overridden, meaning personal health data could still be collected and retained without consent.

What the Proposal Says

  • Expansion of Participation: NJIIS would no longer be limited to certain providers. All healthcare providers, pharmacists, schools, colleges, universities, childcare centers, and other agencies involved in vaccination reporting would be required to participate.
  • Automatic Enrollment / Data Entry: All vaccine doses administered to children and adults in NJ including COVID-19, flu, routine childhood vaccines, and any new recommended vaccines would be required to be entered into NJIIS.
  • Consent Rules: Enrollment for NJ children would occur automatically at birth through linkage of birth certificates. Adult doses would also be automatically entered regardless of individual consent, and opt-out procedures are not clearly defined.
  • Data Access & Sharing: Access would be broadened to include public health agencies, schools, higher education institutions, licensed childcare facilities, healthcare providers, pharmacists, insurers, and other “authorized users.” This expands data visibility far beyond just your doctor’s office.

Questions New Jersey Residents Should Be Asking

  • Consent & Autonomy:
    • Will NJIIS become a mandatory lifetime registry without explicit parental or patient permission?
    • How will parents and adults be clearly informed about opt-in or opt-out procedures and can unchecked authority nullify those choices?
  • Scope & Data Collection:
    • Why is the NJDOH expanding reporting to include all healthcare providers, schools, childcare facilities and for all vaccines, not just childhood shots?
    • Will future vaccines be added automatically, without public debate?
  • Access & Privacy:
    • Who exactly will have access to these sensitive records and how will confidentiality be enforced?
    • Will the data be used beyond public health for school entry, employment, or insurance eligibility?
    • What cybersecurity measures will protect these records from breaches or misuse?
  • Impact on Parental Rights:
    • Why aren’t parents given informed consent to decide if their child’s vaccine information is stored or shared?
    • Will adults retain any control over their own health data in this system?
  • Oversight & Accountability:
    • What oversight exists to ensure this registry doesn’t become a tool for discrimination or exclusion from school, childcare, or other services?
    • How will NJDOH provide transparency about how data is used and who accesses it?

Insurance & Discrimination:

  • How will insurance companies be allowed to use NJIIS data? Could this information be shared or sold in ways that penalize or discriminate against unvaccinated New Jersey residents when they apply for, renew, or change insurance coverage?

Expanded Health Reporting & Penalties for Non-Compliance

The August 18th, 2025 rule proposal broadens both what must be reported and who must report it. Historically, reporting of communicable diseases was largely confined to healthcare professionals, labs, and public health agencies. Under the new code:

  • More Reportable Conditions: The list of communicable diseases and health events has been modified and expanded, including some conditions that previously were not required to be reported (pg. 21-25).
  • Broader Reporting Obligations: Non-medical personnel such as, school administrators, childcare directors, higher-education staff, animal facility managers, and other non-traditional reporters would now be compelled to collect and transmit data.
  • New Deadlines and Enforcement: Annual or periodic reporting deadlines are set, with fines and disciplinary measures for non-compliance.
  • Integration with NJIIS/CDRSS: These reports feed directly into the state’s immunization and communicable disease surveillance systems, linking individuals to data streams across multiple agencies.

Key Questions to Ask About Expanded Reporting & Penalties

Scope & Justification

  • What is the scientific or public-health basis for expanding the list of reportable diseases?
  • How will the NJDOH determine which conditions should be mandatory for reporting in the future?
  • What data shows that current reporting systems are insufficient?

Impact on Schools & Childcare Facilities

  • Why are non-medical personnel like school administrators and childcare directors being made responsible for reporting sensitive health data?
  • What training, funding, and support will be provided to these non-health professionals to comply with complex reporting rules?
  • How will schools handle the liability risks of collecting and transmitting personal health information?

Privacy & Consent

  • Will parents or guardians be notified when their child’s information is reported to the state?
  • How will the state secure and de-identify data collected by non-medical personnel?
  • Could this expanded reporting be used to flag or penalize families (for example, regarding vaccine status or school attendance)?

Penalties & Enforcement

  • What are the specific fines and disciplinary measures for non-compliance?
  • How will due process be ensured for schools or individuals accused of non-compliance?
  • Could these penalties lead to disproportionate enforcement in certain communities or against certain types of schools?

Oversight & Transparency

  • Who will oversee the accuracy and appropriateness of data collected by non-medical personnel?
  • Will there be a public reporting or auditing mechanism to ensure data is used only for legitimate public health purposes?

NJ Open Public Records (OPRA) Exemptions 

The August 18th, 2025 rule proposal would permanently exempt vaccination, testing, quarantine, outbreak, and related records from OPRA. Until now, most of these records were restricted only during active emergencies, after which they became available for public review or investigative journalism. While framed as ‘privacy,’ this actually shields the Department from outside oversight. Families, journalists, and watchdog groups would lose access to information needed to hold officials accountable, investigate failures, or review outbreak responses.

Under the proposed rules:

  • Permanent Secrecy: Data about vaccination campaigns, testing results, quarantine orders, and outbreak management would no longer become public once the emergency is over.
  • Reduced Oversight: Families, journalists, researchers, and legislators could lose a vital tool to review how decisions were made, how resources were deployed, and whether government actions harmed or protected residents.
  • Broader Shielding: The exemption applies to records and correspondence related to public health response not just individual health data.  Potentially obscuring emails, memos, and decision-making processes.
  • More Data Collected, Less Transparency: While personal health information would still flow into NJIIS and other state systems, the ability to look outward at government performance would shrink dramatically.

Key Questions to Ask About OPRA Exemptions

Transparency & Accountability

  • How will the public, media, and legislators assess performance and accountability if vaccination, testing, quarantine, and outbreak records are permanently exempt even after emergencies end?
  • Would similar restrictions in 2020 have impeded the public’s ability to uncover the true scope of nursing home and hospital case/death data during COVID?
  • How will NJDOH ensure that errors, mismanagement, or misuse of authority can still be investigated if the paper trail is closed?

Independent Oversight

  • Can privacy be protected while still allowing independent oversight, such as via de-identified datasets, delayed release, or ombuds review?
  • What processes will exist for an appeal or challenge to a denied records request under the new rules?
  • How will researchers and watchdog groups maintain public-health accountability if internal communications are permanently shielded?

Public Trust & Future Emergencies

  • Does NJDOH recognize that trust in public health depends on transparency? How does permanent secrecy affect that trust?
  • If the state collects more personal data while offering less transparency, what safeguards will prevent mission creep or misuse?
  • How will the Department distinguish between legitimate privacy protections and institutional self-protection?

Legislative Oversight

  • What role will the legislature or independent commissions play in reviewing records that are closed to the public?
  • Will there be any sunset clauses or periodic reviews to decide whether records can be released after a certain time?
  • How will New Jersey residents be able to learn from mistakes if all internal records of outbreak response remain sealed indefinitely?

Commissioner’s Discretion & School Exclusion

The August 18th, 2025 rule proposal gives the Department of Health Commissioner sweeping discretion to determine what health data is collected, how it is shared, and how enforcement occurs. This centralizes authority in a single office, reduces checks and balances, and raises concerns about potential overreach.

Key provisions in the document:

  • Expanded Data Collection Authority: The Commissioner could unilaterally decide which data sets are added, expanded, or shared with other agencies.
  • Broader Enforcement Powers: Language suggests the Commissioner may impose new conditions on schools and institutions without legislative action.
  • Exclusion of Students: The Commissioner’s discretion could allow students to be excluded from school even in the absence of an outbreak, expanding current exclusion policies.
  • Limited Oversight: No clear mechanisms are outlined for periodic review, legislative approval, or public input before exercising these powers.

Questions New Jersey Residents Should Be Asking

Checks & Balances

  • What checks and balances (legislative review, independent audits, sunset clauses) will constrain the Commissioner’s discretion over data collection, sharing, and enforcement?
  • Will the legislature or another independent body have authority to review or reverse decisions made under this expanded power?

School Exclusion & Student Rights

  • Could this authority enable student exclusion from school without a documented outbreak or individualized risk assessment?
  • What standards will be used to decide when and how students can be excluded, and who will verify those standards?

Due Process & Transparency

  • How will procedural due process for families be preserved to include notice, evidence standards, and appeal rights?
  • Will there be a public process or hearing before the Commissioner can issue sweeping orders affecting thousands of students?
  • How will parents be notified if new data-sharing or exclusion rules are applied to their child?

Data Collection & Privacy

  • What criteria will the Commissioner use to determine which data can be collected and shared?
  • How will the Department ensure that sensitive health information is not used to discriminate, restrict access, or punish non-compliance?

Long-Term Safeguards

  • Will there be sunset clauses or periodic reviews for any new powers granted to the Commissioner?
  • How will the public know if these powers are being exercised fairly and only for legitimate public health purposes?

Public Comment Opens Sept. 15:
 As these questions indicate, residents seek clarity on consent, transparency, scope of authority, and equal access to education. We encourage NJDOH and the Public Health Council to address these items clearly in the rule text, statement of reasons, and during the comment period.

Erica Comerford

Director of Political Affiars
An informed and empowered citizenry is extremely important to SHF’s Director of Political Affiars Erica Comerford, whose oldest two children were injured by childhood vaccines. She also has family members who suffered after receiving H1N1 vaccines in 2009. Erica studied business and nursing in college but was forced out of the nursing program when local hospitals would not accept vaccine exemptions to complete clinical rotations. Instead, she focused on homeschooling her children and dedicating as much time as she could to health freedom advocacy. In 2017, Erica co-founded a nonprofit grassroots advocacy organization in her home state, working to develop relationships with local legislators to pass health freedom legislation and defeat bills that curtail individual liberty. Erica is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with SHF's state partners, identifying, vetting, and supporting health freedom candidates across all levels of government through the Vote for Health Freedom initiative. In her free time, Erica loves spending time with her husband and four children, and volunteering at church, and cheering for her kids on the sideline of the soccer field. Along with her family, she enjoys supporting an orphanage and school in Uganda which grows its own organic food and uses natural healing to improve the life and health of the children.

Scott Kiley

Associate Director of Local Advocacy

Scott Kiley has been married to Jill Kiley for 37 years. Together they have 3 children, 3 grandchildren and reside in Florida. He is an entrepreneur having founded several businesses, one that remains today.

In battling the tyranny that unfolded during the Covid pandemic, Scott uses his organizational and entrepreneurial skills to focus on health care freedom. Scott and his wife Jill organize health freedom advocates in an effort to deliver meaningful change at a local level. Doctors, attorneys, nurses and passionate health freedom warriors make up the team. The advocates focus on their local county commissioners, city council members, school board members, sheriff and police. The advocacy work is always collaborative, respectful and educational while bring real change that enhances health care freedom. Team effort success has come in the form of local legislation through resolutions and ordinances.

Scott and his wife Jill share a vision of uniting every county within their state of Florida and using this unity to bring change in Tallahassee.

Jill Kiley

Associate Director of Local Advocacy

Jill earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University and a master’s in Clinical Social Work from the University of Illinois-Chicago. As a Youth and family therapist, mother of three, and grandmother, Jill has always stayed abreast of health issues affecting our society’s physical and mental well-being.

During the COVID lockdowns, she realized that the gaslighting of the public and the straying from evidence-based medical advice from our medical authorities needed to be questioned. The flawed science around the pretrials of the COVID-19 vaccines was alarming!  Jill and her husband, Scott, decided they needed to stand up and fight back locally against the deceptive narrative invoked against our society and continue advocating for our God-given rights

Jill and her husband, Scott, have become the local conduits of truth in a society of censorship. They have coordinated with activists in their community to educate local officials, resulting in impactful changes to local legislation to protect residents and their freedoms. “Bringing Truth to Light gracefully, opens doors to dialog and spurs curiosity for truth.”

Jill Hines

Directory of Advocacy
A former banker turned homeschool mom, Jill Hines began researching alternatives to conventional medicine in 2010 and what she discovered changed the trajectory of her life. She corrected a worrisome health issue, and embraced a natural approach to wellness. Advocating for informed consent and parental rights became a full-time mission when she joined the board of the Georgia Coalition for Vaccine Choice and later became the co-director of Health Freedom Louisiana. Due to her advocacy efforts during the COVID crisis, Jill was one of 25 Louisianans selected by Central City News as “a hero of the constitutional crisis.” She was also presented the Impact Award for Outstanding Public Service from the government watchdog organization Citizens for a New Louisiana. Jill now represents hundreds of millions of Americans who experienced censorship due to the Biden administration's efforts to suppress disfavored speech as a plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit Missouri v. Biden. Jill holds a marketing degree from Louisiana Tech University and now passionately “sells” health freedom full-time. Serving as Stand for Health Freedom’s advocacy director provides an incredible opportunity to advance the growing movement to preserve the sacred right to refuse unwanted medical interventions for ourselves and our children without fear of retribution.
“We have lived through a terrifying societal, psychological, and medical experiment which afforded us a knowledge that our forefathers tried to impart and we can no longer ignore: Our freedom is tenuous. For our children’s sake, the time is now to take a stand for health freedom.”

Chrissy Scott

Executive Assistant and Social Media Manager

A labor and delivery nurse with a lifelong passion for maternal and fetal health, Chrissy Scott left her job of 19 years after learning the truth about the harms caused by the medical system. In 2009, she was mandated by her employer to receive the H1N1 vaccine during her first trimester of pregnancy with her second child. She was assured that the vaccine was “safe and effective” for pregnant women, but her son was born with a kidney defect that could have been fatal. She didn’t connect the dots to vaccine injury until several years later when the declining health of her oldest son drove her to seek answers outside of allopathic medicine.

This personal journey ignited in her a new passion for truth and transparency in health care. As SHF’s Executive Assistant, Chrissy facilitates communication and local advocacy initiatives alongside Leah Wilson for their home state of Indiana. She also manages and creates graphics for SHF’s social media accounts and the website’s swag shop.

Chrissy earned her nursing degree from Anderson University and served her entire career at her local hospital. While she’s no longer a floor nurse, her five very active boys frequently test her nursing skills! She homeschools her children and has been co-owner of a successful home décor sign business with her sister.

“Parents, being the experts on their own children, are best suited to make decisions for the well-being of their family. To do this properly, they must be given full and accurate information and be free from force or coercion.”

Ellen Chappelle

Writer/Editor

Ellen Chappelle serves as SHF’s resident wordsmith. A seasoned writer and editor, she’s enthusiastic about ensuring that our content is clear, concise, and inspiring.

Ellen is most energized by working on projects that transform lives. A truth seeker as well as a journalist, she’s disturbed by the lack of accuracy in today’s media and determined to help share fact rather than fiction. And having found greater healing with alternative approaches, she’s also passionate about preserving our freedom to make informed health choices.

Past projects include serving as regional editor of a dog magazine, color and trend specialist for a small cosmetics company, arts columnist, newspaper reporter, ghostwriter, and creator of website content for artists and small businesses.

With a degree in journalism and theatre, Ellen is also a performer. She enjoyed singing and dancing on a cruise ship and traveling with a national musical theatre tour, as well as recording industrial videos, television commercials, and radio voiceovers. She also creates handcrafted jewelry in wire, chain maille, and fused glass.

“Despite what some would have us believe, the fact remains that this nation was founded on biblical principles by people who wanted freedom to worship God and live their lives without government involvement. It’s never been more critical to fight for those rights.”

LEAH WILSON

Executive Director and Co-founder

An attorney with a background in complex litigation and advocacy, Leah Wilson is passionate about children’s health and has researched and worked on child welfare issues for more than a decade.

The overmedication of children in foster care as a form of behavior management is what compelled Leah to become an advocate and foster parent. During her time as a court-appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children, Leah witnessed the rampant use of psychiatric drugs among foster kids. She also discovered that, in addition to many extensive requirements, the state had a policy that all foster children and foster families be fully vaccinated, without exception. Through her involvement in law, health and the foster care system, it became abundantly clear to Leah that the single most important issue affecting child welfare in the United States is the practice of one-size-fits-all medicine via medical mandates. This motivated Leah to expand her advocacy beyond foster care to all children nationwide and to start Stand for Health Freedom (SHF) in 2019.

A graduate of the Saint Louis University School of Law, Leah holds dual bachelor degrees in political science and Spanish from Indiana University. In addition to her advocacy work with SHF, Leah is the owner and former operations director of MaxLiving Indy, one of the largest natural health centers in the Midwest. She is also an educator on holistic health as well as a sought-after speaker on issues ranging from religious rights to greening your home.

“Parental rights and religious freedom are God-given natural rights that cannot arbitrarily be taken away by government authorities. Parents are the single most important factor in a child’s success; I stand in full support of this sacred relationship.”

Sayer JI

Director and Co-founder

Sayer Ji is a widely recognized researcher, author, lecturer, activist, and educator on natural health modalities. Among his many roles, he is an advisor to Stand for Health Freedom, a reviewer and editor of the International Journal of Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, an advisory board member of the National Health Federation, a steering committee member of the Global GMO Free Coalition, and the co-founder and CEO of Systome Biomed Inc., a revolutionary scientific validation framework.

Most notably, Sayer is the founder of Greenmedinfo.com, the world’s most widely referenced, evidence-based natural health resource of its kind. He founded the platform in 2008 to provide an open access, evidence-based resource supporting natural and integrative modalities. Today, Greenmedinfo.com has more than a million visits per month, serving as a trusted resource on myriad health and wellness topics to physicians, healthcare practitioners, clinicians, researchers and consumers worldwide.

Sayer attended Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, where he studied under the notable American philosopher Dr. Bruce W. Wilshire. He received a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1995, with a focus on the philosophy of science. His new book, Regenerate: Unlocking Your Body’s Radical Resilience through the New Biology, was released in March 2020 and is an Amazon bestseller.

“I truly believe that education will be our greatest shield against accelerating the erosion of civil liberties, including the right to bodily sovereignty, as well as the greatest catalyst for positive change on this planet moving forward.”

Bailey Kuykendoll

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Designer and visual marketer Bailey Kuykendoll began advocating for health and religious freedom and parental rights in 2014 after learning she was pregnant. A self-described skeptic, she’s not afraid to ask questions and do copious amounts of research to reach her own conclusions.

She’s also not afraid of hard work. As SHF’s Associate Director, Bailey truly keeps the organizational boat afloat. Working closely with our State Directors in each state, she ensures that SHF has calls-to-action for health-freedom bills and petitions on our website and across social media, spreading the word to encourage people to contact their legislators. She builds campaigns, graphics, website pages, and relationships.

Bailey earned a design degree from Harrington Institute of Design in 2008. She then served as a production assistant on several shows for HGTV, followed by working behind the scenes on the X Factor, small indie films, music videos, and documentaries. Bailey joined Health Freedom Florida after moving to the East Coast, becoming co-president of the grassroots organization in 2019. While at Health Freedom Florida, she successfully filed a state bill designed to stop discrimination based on your health status. She joined SHF in the fall of 2020.

“God placed a calling on my heart back in 2008 to be a part of something bigger for Him. Twelve years later, the opportunity came knocking to help others lean into their natural-born rights and take a stand for themselves and their families. I knew this is where I was called to be, and I have never looked back.”

Valerie Borek

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR + POLICY ANALYST

Valerie Borek is a passionate advocate for health rights and family privacy. A mother of two with degrees in law and biochemistry, she is perfectly positioned to lead SHF advocates through complex health-rights policy. Her work is guided by a love for American values, uncovering truth, and a passion for empowering others. Valerie has served as SHF’s policy analyst since 2021.

Valerie’s understanding of the value of freedom to make one’s own health care choices is not just academic. Health freedom has kept her boys alive and thriving. Her choice to have home births jump-started her advocacy for health privacy. Her eldest son survived a rare and deadly cancer because her family was able to navigate medical care while holding onto values that were sometimes at odds with recommendations.

Before joining SHF, Valerie specialized in health and parenting rights at her boutique law firm, especially surrounding birth and vaccine rights. She advocated for informed consent in health care and transparent food labeling in her state. She helped found the Birth Rights Bar Association and was honored to present their argument to the Delaware Supreme Court that midwifery is not the practice of medicine, in support of a trailblazing midwife.

“Health is the foundation of how we show up in this world to love, serve, and create. Americans are blessed to live in a country that gets stronger the more we protect fundamental rights, like informed consent and privacy, so individuals and families can thrive.”

Mary Katherine LaCroix

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND NONPROFIT ADMINISTRATION

Mary Katherine LaCroix became involved with SHF as a volunteer in 2019 when the religious exemption for childhood vaccines was at risk in her home state of New Jersey. She believes strongly that parents have the responsibility for their children’s health, education, and faith formation and that only they have the right to make medical decisions and manage their care.

She has worked in fundraising for more than 25 years at various educational, cultural, human services, and political organizations. A graduate of the University of Scranton, she holds a degree in History and English Literature.

Mary Katherine is thrilled to have this opportunity to work with and help grow SHF, believing that together we can achieve even greater impact in protecting our rights and caring for our loved ones. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two children and large extended family, as well as volunteering to support the special needs community.

“Parents are taught that they must trust the experts. That’s what we did, until we learned that the experts can be wrong and don’t always know what is best for your child. Parents should instead feel empowered by their natural, God-given ability to advocate and care for their children. SHF is here to give them the tools to do just that.”

Sheila Ealey

Political Analyst

Dr. Sheila Lewis Ealey is the founder and former director of the Creative Learning Center of Louisiana, a therapeutic day school for children who are on the autism spectrum or struggling with other nonverbal intellectual disabilities. The wife of a former U.S. Coast Guard Officer, she is also the mother of four children. Her son was diagnosed with severe autism spectrum disorder at 18 months. He is now a young man and considered moderate and emerging.

Sheila and her twins were featured in the documentary “Vaxxed.” She has traveled extensively, advocating for medical freedom. She continues to educate disenfranchised parents about their fundamental rights to religious and philosophical exemptions, their ability to live sustainably on a limited budget, and the importance of nutrition and biomedical interventions for optimum health with autism. She also writes individual homeschool curriculums for parents of children with autism or intellectual disorders. Sheila is a trustee for the Autism Trust, USA, and on the board of directors of Children’s Health Defense.

Over the past 20 years, she has educated herself to use natural healing modalities for the body and brain. Her formal education includes degrees in communication, special education curriculum, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership in Special Education. Sheila serves as an assistant content advisor and political analyst for SHF.

“It is not the Constitution’s job to protect our liberties, as it is not a philosophical document but a legal one. Its purpose is to limit the powers and authority of our federal government in hopes of preventing an intrusion upon our unalienable rights. We are obliged to maintain our government within its limits.”

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