New Jersey has quietly become the launchpad for one of the most timely and emotionally resonant parenting and education books of the year, as bestselling author and pediatrician Dr. Elizabeth R. Henry—widely known throughout the state as “Dr. Liz”—introduces her newest release, SPARK: A Pediatrician’s Guide to Rebuilding Trust, Restoring Connection, and Igniting Youth Potential. Released in December 2025, the book is already drawing attention far beyond the Garden State, but its roots—and its message—are deeply grounded in the communities where Dr. Henry has spent her career serving children, families, and educators.
For New Jersey parents and professionals navigating an era shaped by social media pressure, academic stress, mental health concerns, and growing disconnection between generations, SPARK arrives as both a practical guide and a cultural reset. Rather than framing youth well-being solely through diagnosis and crisis response, Dr. Henry centers the everyday moments that define how young people experience safety, belonging, and self-worth. The book argues that trust is not a soft concept or a secondary concern—it is the foundation that determines whether children feel empowered to grow, communicate, and take healthy risks in learning and life.
What makes SPARK especially meaningful for local readers is that the framework presented throughout the book is not theoretical. It was developed through years of hands-on medical practice and community-based work in New Jersey. Dr. Henry is a board-certified pediatrician based in North Brunswick and the founder of Dr. Liz Consulting in Somerset, where she continues to work directly with schools, families, organizations, and youth-serving institutions across the state. Before launching her consulting practice, she spent 16 years caring for patients with the New Brunswick Pediatric Group, building long-standing relationships with families whose children are now navigating adolescence and early adulthood.
Her professional influence extends into academic medicine as well. Dr. Henry currently serves as a volunteer Clinical Assistant Professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where she contributes to the education of future physicians and health professionals, reinforcing the human side of pediatric care that often gets overshadowed by clinical training alone. She is also an alumna of Princeton University, a connection that continues to inform her work at the intersection of education, leadership, and youth development.
SPARK draws heavily on these layered experiences, presenting what Dr. Henry describes as a practical, relationship-centered framework designed for parents, educators, counselors, school leaders, and pediatric providers alike. The book focuses on rebuilding communication pathways that have been strained by fast-paced lifestyles, digital distraction, and the emotional fallout of prolonged social disruption. Instead of offering generic advice, the narrative moves through real-world scenarios that families recognize immediately—homework conflicts, emotional shutdowns, behavioral challenges, social anxiety, and the quiet withdrawal that so many adults now observe in children who once seemed more expressive and engaged.
At the core of the book is the idea that connection is not an optional enhancement to development—it is the mechanism through which confidence, resilience, and motivation are formed. Dr. Henry’s approach emphasizes listening practices, emotional validation, co-regulation strategies, and age-appropriate empowerment techniques that help young people regain a sense of agency over their own growth. In doing so, SPARK reframes youth support as an active partnership between adults and children, rather than a system built solely on compliance, performance, or crisis intervention.
That message carries particular weight in New Jersey, where youth mental health and suicide prevention have become urgent statewide priorities. Dr. Henry was appointed by the Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly to serve on the New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council, a role that placed her directly inside policy discussions shaping how the state responds to rising emotional distress among adolescents. Her participation in this work has influenced the preventative, relationship-driven lens that runs through SPARK, positioning trust-building as an essential early intervention rather than a reactive tool.
Her leadership and advocacy have not gone unnoticed locally. Dr. Henry has been recognized by NJBIZ as both a Healthcare Hero and one of New Jersey’s Top 50 Women in Business, reflecting the rare blend of clinical credibility, entrepreneurial leadership, and community impact that defines her career. She is also a familiar voice to many New Jersey households through frequent appearances on local television and radio outlets, including News 12 New Jersey and WCTC, where she addresses topics ranging from adolescent mental health to parenting challenges in the digital age.
Beyond media appearances, Dr. Henry maintains a strong presence across New Jersey’s higher education and community institutions. She regularly conducts professional development workshops and public programs at locations such as Kean University and Raritan Valley Community College, offering educators and administrators actionable strategies for improving school culture, communication, and emotional safety. These same principles form the backbone of SPARK, making the book a natural extension of the work she already leads in classrooms, auditoriums, and conference rooms across the state.
The release of SPARK also reinforces New Jersey’s growing influence in the national conversation around youth development, mental health, and educational reform. Readers interested in discovering additional authors and thought leaders shaping these discussions can explore more statewide and regional literary coverage through Explore New Jersey’s dedicated book features and author spotlights, which continue to highlight voices driving meaningful change in education, wellness, and family life.
While there are currently no publicly listed New Jersey book-signing dates for February 2026, Dr. Henry remains actively engaged in promoting SPARK through her Somerset-based practice and ongoing community partnerships. Her official events channels and social media platforms regularly preview upcoming workshops, speaking engagements, and school-based programs scheduled throughout the year, including several described as “in development” for 2026.
Families, educators, and organizations seeking to connect with Dr. Henry for local seminars, private workshops, or bulk book programs can reach out directly through her consulting practice in Somerset, which continues to serve as the operational hub for her statewide initiatives. Based on her recent event history, future SPARK-related appearances are most likely to take place in familiar community-centered settings such as public libraries—including venues like the Princeton Public Library—university partnerships at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Princeton University, and community centers throughout Somerset and North Brunswick.
For readers eager to participate in New Jersey’s broader literary and cultural calendar, several notable author-focused events are also scheduled across the state later this month, including the Black Authors’ Showcase at Art House Productions in Jersey City on February 22, 2026, celebrating contemporary Black voices in literature, and an author workshop and talk at the Highland Park Public Library on February 26, 2026, featuring thriller writer Rowana Miller.
Yet for many local families and professionals, SPARK stands apart because of its deeply personal connection to New Jersey’s classrooms, clinics, and living rooms. Dr. Elizabeth R. Henry’s message is not built around quick fixes or trendy wellness language. It is grounded in decades of listening to young people and the adults who care for them—and in recognizing that rebuilding trust is not a single conversation, but a sustained, intentional practice.
In a state where innovation in health care and education often leads national change, SPARK positions New Jersey once again at the forefront of a growing movement that treats emotional connection as a measurable driver of success. As Dr. Henry’s work continues to reach families across the country, the foundation of that impact remains firmly rooted in the communities that shaped her career—and in the belief that every child’s potential begins with being truly seen and heard.
