by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Jul 7, 2026 | Mental Health, Thought Leadership, Youth
When a teenage boy doesn’t come to school, we notice his absence — but not that he was up all night caring for younger siblings while his mom worked the late shift. A young boy shuts down when asked how he feels because he’s used to being told to...
by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Jun 30, 2026 | Mental Health, Thought Leadership
For some, turning 21 is a milestone celebrated with dinner, a night out, or a gathering of family and friends. For others, it is a life goal. Not because of college plans, career ambitions, or excitement about the next chapter of life. It is because, somewhere along...
by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Jun 18, 2026 | Mental Health, Research, Thought Leadership
In one room, a Black man sits in a waiting room preparing for a therapy appointment he almost canceled. He needs support, but he is questioning whether the system he is about to enter will understand what he has carried to get there. In another room, a young...
by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Jun 15, 2026 | News Release
Study Finds Black Men Are Highly Motivated to Enter Mental Health Careers, but Systemic Barriers Continue to Block Entry into a Critical Workforce Pipeline Chicago, IL — June 15, 2026 — America’s mental health workforce shortage may be deeper than...
by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Jan 29, 2026 | News Coverage
By Taylor Fleming PEORIA (25News Now) – The Peoria City Council approved a re-zoning Tuesday night to pave the way for a home for former prisoners, the third time the issue came before the horseshoe. “It could be a plus to the business community because if we’re...
