Why We Step Up: Marilyn Rios, Board Member

This week in our #WhyWeStepUp series, we’re proud to introduce board member Marilyn Rios, a passionate advocate for kinship caregivers and a believer in the power of community support.

Marilyn was immediately drawn to Step Up Parents’ mission when she first learned about the organization. What stood out most to her was how often kinship caregivers fall through the cracks of traditional support systems, despite doing some of the most demanding and compassionate work there is.

“Step Up Parents’ mission is important to me because so many people take on children out of love and obligation, often without a choice,” Marilyn says. “Many of these caregivers don’t qualify for traditional support programs because they are blood relatives. There’s a big gap that Step Up Parents fills.”

That gap includes not just financial assistance, but also emotional support and recognition for the vital role these caregivers play in their families and communities. As Marilyn points out, these caregivers are often overlooked or don’t “fit” into systems that were never designed with their realities in mind.

“We serve New Hampshire and York County, Maine, supporting family members caring for children they didn’t expect to raise,” she says. “It’s an organization that stands behind these caregivers every day.”

In addition to her compassion for the mission, Marilyn brings impressive professional experience to the Step Up Parents board. She is Managing Director, Senior Wealth Advisor at Dakota Wealth Management, with over 25 years of experience in wealth management. Her expertise strengthens the organization’s strategic and financial foundation, ensuring that our support for kinship families is not only compassionate but also sustainable and impactful.

Marilyn is committed to expanding awareness of Step Up Parents and the families it serves. She’s eager to introduce our work to new audiences—colleagues, friends, and community members who may not realize just how widespread the need is or how much of a difference they can make.

We’re honored to have Marilyn on our board and thankful for her dedication to standing with caregivers who step up without hesitation—and often without help.