Press & Media
Dr. David Timpanaro, Founder & Executive Director, Step Up Family Services
Why Dr. David Timpanaro?
Dr. David Timpanaro brings a unique, yet familiar perspective shaped by personal experience, academic research, and direct practice. His work bridges the gap between systems that often operate independently, demonstrating how collaboration, accountability, and wraparound principles can improve outcomes for individuals, families, organizations, and communities.
Dr. Timpanaro is a behavioral health executive, speaker, researcher, advocate, and systems innovator specializing in wraparound services, behavioral health, family systems, community-based care, and organizational leadership.
His professional focus centers on improving outcomes through collaboration, reducing barriers to care, and ensuring that families receive coordinated and effective support across systems.
Turning Adversity into Purpose
Some people enter the helping professions through academic interest. My journey began through lived experience.
I grew up in public housing and a broken home. Like many children facing difficult circumstances, I learned at a young age how to survive. After being bullied as a child, I developed what many would recognize as a fight-or-flight response. As it turns out, I was a fighter.
That fighting spirit helped me overcome challenges, but it also led me into situations that created obstacles of their own. Looking back, I recognize that I was not much different than many of the children and families I serve today. I was a young person trying to make sense of difficult circumstances with limited resources and limited guidance.
What changed my life was that I was not alone.
Throughout my childhood and young adulthood, people stepped in to help. Teachers, mentors, helping professionals, family members, and community supports saw potential in me even when I struggled to see it myself. Their support helped redirect my path and showed me what happens when people genuinely invest in another person's future.
Those experiences shaped who I became and ultimately led me to my life's work.
I chose a career dedicated to helping children and families because I understand firsthand the impact that support, guidance, and opportunity can have on a person's life. Every day, I work with children who remind me of myself and families who are navigating challenges that often feel overwhelming.
My mission has always been simple:
To help children and families discover strengths they may not yet see in themselves and connect them with the supports needed to succeed.
Everything I do through Step Up Family Services is rooted in that belief.
Philosophy
"My life changed because people invested in me when I needed it most. The work we do at Step Up Family Services is about paying that forward. Every child deserves someone who believes in them, every family deserves support, and every challenge presents an opportunity for growth."
About Step Up Family Services
Founded by Dr. David Timpanaro and Dr. John Vitug, Step Up Family Services is a New Jersey-based behavioral health organization committed to improving outcomes for children, adults, and families through compassionate, evidence-based, and collaborative services.
The organization was built on the belief that meaningful change occurs when families, providers, schools, healthcare professionals, and communities work together toward shared goals.
Step Up Family Services provides a comprehensive continuum of care designed to meet individuals where they are while helping them build the skills, supports, and confidence necessary to achieve long-term success.
Step Up Family Services is a New Jersey-based behavioral health organization providing:
- Intensive In-Community Services (IIC)
- Outpatient Mental Health
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- ABA Learning Center Programs
- Crisis Intervention Services
- Family Support Services
Our mission is to empower children, adults, and families by providing evidence-based services that promote stability, growth, and long-term success.
Areas of Expertise
Dr. Timpanaro is available for interviews, podcasts, media appearances, panels, conferences, and speaking engagements related to:
- Wraparound Services
- Family Court Reform
- Behavioral Health
- Child Welfare
- System Collaboration
- Autism & ABA
- Organizational Leadership
- Community-Based Care
- Reducing Recidivism Through Human Services
Research & Publications
The Importance of Proper Wraparound Implementation and Outcomes
Dr. Timpanaro's doctoral research examined factors associated with successful wraparound implementation, collaboration among service systems, and the impact these practices have on family outcomes.
Dissertation:Experiences of Providers Working in the Wraparound Model for Juvenile Offenders
Speaking Engagements
Dr. Timpanaro regularly presents on behavioral health, wraparound services, family systems, leadership, and human services innovation.
Featured Engagements:
National Wraparound Conference
Agency Wraparound Trainings
Speaking Topics
- The Wraparound Model Beyond Children's Services
- Building Systems That Work for Families
- Leadership Through Adversity
- Lessons from Lived Experience
- Reducing Recidivism Through Collaboration
- Family Court Challenges and Opportunities for Reform
- Human Services Innovation
- Breaking Down Organizational Silos
- Community-Based Care and Family Empowerment
In The News
Vice
SheKnows
Medium
- Behind Closed Doors: What Family Court Doesn't Want You To See
- How Family Court Is Wrecking Women's Health
Podcasts & Media Appearances
Media Contact
Catherine Jones Media
cathyjonesfsu@gmail.com
Dr. David Timpanaro
Founder & Executive Director
Step Up Family Services
239 New Road, Suite A302
Parsippany, NJ 07054
Phone: 973-298-0763
Website: www.stepupfamilyservices.com
Available for media interviews, podcast appearances, speaking engagements, consulting, training programs, panel discussions, and keynote presentations.