Meg McNulty brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of pediatric care, early childhood development, and Early Relational Health.
SEATTLE, Wash. / PORTLAND, Ore. – As Reach Out and Read Northwest continues to expand its impact, the organization is welcoming an accomplished leader whose career has been dedicated to helping young children and families thrive. Meg McNulty will serve as the nonprofit’s Regional Executive Director for Washington and Oregon. Drawing on more than 25 years of leadership in early childhood development, mental health, and pediatric care, she will oversee the organization’s work across both states, partnering with clinicians, health care systems, community organizations, and supporters to expand Reach Out and Read’s evidence-based model and help more families build the language-rich relationships that support healthy development from birth.
McNulty joins Reach Out and Read at a time of continued growth across the Pacific Northwest, where the organization partners with pediatric clinicians to incorporate shared reading into well-child visits beginning at birth. By helping families build language-rich routines through books and conversation, Reach Out and Read supports healthy brain development, strengthens caregiver-child relationships, and lays the foundation for lifelong learning.
“Reach Out and Read Northwest has experienced incredible momentum over the past several years, and we’re excited to welcome a leader who can help shape what comes next,” said Reach Out and Read CEO Lynette Fraga. “Meg brings the vision, collaborative spirit, and deep understanding of early childhood and pediatric care that will help us build even stronger partnerships across Washington and Oregon. As we continue expanding our reach, her leadership will ensure even more children and families have access to the proven benefits of our model.”
Throughout her career, McNulty has worked to strengthen the systems that support young children and families, serving as a preschool teacher, child and family psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, trainer, executive director, and chief program officer. Her work has consistently focused on advancing Early Relational Health, strengthening caregiver-child relationships, and building the capacity of the professionals who care for children during the earliest years of life. Most recently, McNulty served as Chief Program Officer and Executive Director of the Center for Early Relational Health in Seattle, where she led statewide workforce development initiatives, developed strategic partnerships across health care and higher education, and helped integrate Early Relational Health into pediatric primary care settings. Previously, she served as Chief Program Officer at Childhaven. Her experience also includes leading transformative initiatives and cross-sector collaborations in Baltimore, Md.; Washington, D.C.; Nairobi, Kenya; and throughout Washington state, bringing together health care providers, educators, and community organizations to improve outcomes for children and families.
“I’ve seen the extraordinary impact that trusted relationships can have on a child’s healthy development, especially during the earliest years of life,” McNulty said. “That belief is what drew me to Reach Out and Read’s holistic approach. Leveraging the existing well-child visit, pediatric clinicians have an opportunity not only to support children’s health, but to strengthen the relationships that young children need to learn, grow, and thrive. I’m honored to join an organization that has been leading this work for decades, and I look forward to working alongside our partners across Washington and Oregon to ensure even more families are celebrated for their strengths and have the support they need from the very beginning.”
McNulty holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Loyola University. She is a licensed mental health counselor, nationally certified counselor, and certified clinical supervisor.
In the last year, Reach Out and Read Northwest served more than 212,000 children across Oregon and Washington, distributing nearly 407,000 books while equipping families with the guidance and encouragement to make shared reading part of their everyday routines.
“The demand for programs that support children’s healthy development has never been greater,” Fraga said. “We’re excited about what lies ahead for Reach Out and Read Northwest. Meg is the kind of leader who sees both the big picture and the everyday moments that change children’s lives, and we’re confident she’ll help guide our next chapter with purpose, innovation, and heart.”
To learn more about Reach Out and Read Northwest, visit ReachOutAndRead.org/Northwest.