Meet Nancy Burk
For 25 years, Nancy Burk has stood as a steadfast presence at Parents Inc. of New Jersey—offering compassion, strength, and a listening ear through our Helpline. As a mother, advocate, and someone who knows first hand what it means to struggle and persevere, Nancy brings both heart and wisdom to every conversation.
From overcoming dyslexia in school to discovering the healing power of storytelling, Nancy has built a lifetime’s worth of experience helping others navigate parenting challenges, anxiety, and the many unexpected curves life can throw at a family. Her journey—from index cards and academic hurdles to writing, supporting callers, and authoring her own stories—is more than inspiring. It’s a reminder that growth, understanding, and connection often come one step at a time.
Join us behind the scenes to learn about Nancy’s story and hear from Nancy in her own words.
Way to Go! Celebrating 25 years as of May 2025
Meet our dedicated and passionate part-time Helpline Staff member, Nancy Burk
I’ve been married for 38 years and have 2 grown children, who define me in important ways. I was a stay-at-home mother, which may be the hardest and loneliest job! So, I take pride in my efforts of mothering, which includes teaching, helping and loving them. When my children were young, I started working for Parents Inc. of NJ helpline 25 years ago.
Let’s look back when I was in school, which wasn’t easy for me due to my dyslexia. My parents hired a tutor for years when I was in elementary school. However, while going through my master’s program, a professor threw a paper on a desk in front of me accusing me of writing the paper overnight, which wasn’t true, of course.
The Index Card Method
Miraculously, I was lucky to speak to the president of a dyslexic organization, who instructed me to use the ‘Index Card Method’ to write. The Index Card Method is when one writes one sentence or quote on each index card. As one accumulates cards and adds transition words, a paper comes to life! However, I remember in discussing the cards I argued with this woman saying that this wouldn’t help me! In my desperation I, indeed, used the cards, ultimately allowing the Index Card Method process to complete the paper at hand to my pleasant surprise!
Hello! Helpline!
So, fast forward, after many years of working on the hotline, I had my ‘go-to’ anecdotes and sayings addressing the anxiety ridden problems callers expressed. So, I used my Index Card Method to write my book about my helping stories, anecdotes and ideas. I doubted if anyone would buy or understand my book. I remember saying to myself, “Well, Pet Rocks sold!” and continued to write my cards.
This whole story about my learning disability, writing issues in college, card technique, hotline experience and book show that one has to scrape and claw to figure things out. It’s the same in every walk of life such as parenting, work and health. We find information, ideas, tutoring, counseling and extracurricular activities to name a few as we place one foot in front of the other to better our lives and solve family problems.
I’m better on the hotline than I was in the beginning and maybe I’ll be better in a few years than I am now! Everything is a work in progress. Keep walking on your road; one foot in front of the other!