Anchor Mom Advisors

who they are

Anchor Mom Advisors

Anchor Mom Advisors test how our questions land before an instrument is locked. Their input shapes how we ask. The research team decides what we ask and what we report.

Advisors may also take Benchmark surveys as members of The Count, CoM's opt-in community panel. Advisors are not oversampled, and their responses are weighted like every other respondent's. Advisory input informs what we ask; it does not determine what we find. The CoM research team retains final authority over all methodology and findings.

Apply to Become an Advisor

How They Participate

What they do

Anchor Mom Advisors (AMAs) meet periodically to offer their perspectives on emerging issues, review question framing, and react to themes surfaced in the data.

Anchor Moms do not determine research outcomes or conclusions. Count on Mothers retains full research independence and methodological rigor in all nationally representative studies, and is independent of government, advocacy groups, and industry.

Their role keeps our questions grounded in what families are facing. Our methodology stays independent.

Involvement may include:

Sharing firsthand experience of family life today.

Flagging state and regional conditions you see affecting families near you.

Identifying blind spots or overlooked pressures.

Reflecting on how findings land in your community.

across the country

Meet the Anchor Mom Advisors

Anchor Mom Advisors are mothers across the political spectrum who bring regional context and lived experience to our research. They review how questions are worded, react to what we hear, and connect with mothers in their communities. Representativeness comes from our national sample and weighting, not from the advisor network. Each advisor is engaged locally and committed to making mothers' firsthand knowledge visible in decisions that affect kids' safety, health, and well-being.

Amy Musgrave

Nebraska

Isabel Trusty

Minnesota

Eva Colen

virginia

Abby Schmeling

Illinois

Katherine Biely

California

Jessica Sollaccio

Oregon

Karen Tompson

New Hampshire

Lindsey Ruef

Texas

Lisa Oldham

Illinois

Nikki Brooker

colorado

Melissa Jeckovich

New york

Jillian Sherrodd

oregon

Shannon Wintheiser

Ohio

Heather LaPuma

Colorado

Emily Havener

SOUTH CAROLINA

Laura Derrendinger

VERMONT

Marjorie Gonzalez

MASSACHUSETTS

Samantha Malinski

Arizona

Stephanie Seefried

california

Mary Allison McCall

alabama

Anika Sharin

indiana

Anna Challacombe

kansas

Allison Miessler

virginia

Who It’s For

Who can join?

We welcome mothers from every region of the United States.

You may be a good fit if you:

Are engaged in your community and attentive to the experiences of mothers around you.

Want national research to reflect what families are actually facing.

Are interested in roundtable discussions within your networks to help bring in more voices.

Want to help surface the conditions mothers in your state are facing.

Why It Matters

Why regional advisors matter

National research can tell us what mothers report. It is harder to know what we are not asking. Anchor Mom Advisors help us see the questions we are missing in their state and region. As an Anchor Mom Advisor, you help bring those voices forward by sharing insights locally and highlighting the concerns mothers are talking about in your community, state, and region.
‍
Your involvement plays an important role in helping national insights reflect the realities of families across the United States.

Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a paid position?

No. Anchor Mom Advisors participate on a voluntary basis. This is not an employment role or a compensated advisory position. Advisors choose their level of involvement and may stop participating at any time.

How much time does it take?

Participation is flexible. Advisors may spend about 2–3 hours per month, but there is no required time commitment. You can participate as much or as little as works for you.

What if my state already has two Advisors?

You’re welcome to join as an alternate. Alternates have the same voluntary opportunities to participate and help ensure we hear from a wide range of voices in each region.

How are Advisors selected?

Advisors are selected based on regional representation and interest. We look for mothers who are connected to their communities and aware of what families are experiencing.

Can I opt out at any time?

Yes. You may opt out at any time. Participation is voluntary and creates no obligations or penalties.

Do I need special qualifications?

No. There are no special qualifications required. Your lived experience and awareness of what mothers in your community are facing is what matters most.

Anchor Mom Advisors