Janelle Miller Moravek ~ Nonprofit Leader – Mental Health Advocate

Janelle Miller Moravek has served as Youth & Family Counseling’s Executive Director since 2009. Her vision, leadership, and passion for improving access to mental healthcare have steered YFC’s steady growth over her 15-year tenure. She is a champion for YFC’s mission of opening doors to mental healthcare so people can heal and thrive. She is responsible for overseeing programming, administration, and strategic plan implementation, while representing the organization to community partners and other stakeholders.

Janelle is a leader within the Lake County human services community. She currently serves on the board of the Lake County Alliance for Human Services and as Co-Chair of the Lake County Behavioral Health Action Team. Prior to joining YFC, Janelle served as Director of Development for Carmel Catholic High School and Director of Annual Fund at Barat College. Janelle holds a BA in French Studies from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. She lives in Libertyville with her husband and three children.

Most Popular Topics:

Mental Health: We’re Changing The System in Lake County, but Your Community Could Leverage The Same Blueprint, too
There is no such thing as a mental healthcare system – there is simply a collection of organizations of varying size and different flavors operating autonomously to address mental health concerns.  This is confusing for the consumer and leads to delayed treatment and inefficient delivery of services.  At YFC, we’re working on changing that by helping the community understand who the providers are at each level of care, and by fostering collaboration among providers so that there is no wrong door to treatment.

The Most Underrated Hire Every Successful Nonprofit Leader Leans On
The best nonprofit leaders are always looking for people and systems to help them reach the next level of success and impact.  After 20+ years in this space, Janelle realized that there’s one particular hire that’s essential for growth and worth every dollar you invest in to get the RIGHT fit.

Where Young People Get Mental Health Right and Why The System Needs To Listen
Many of our youth are more willing to get mental health treatment and are more empathetic to others in difficult situations.  So why aren’t we asking them more often, what do they need?

 

Conversation Starters:

  • How did you get into the nonprofit space? How has the sector evolved since you began your career? What do you think still needs to change?
  • Most Executive Directors don’t have the longevity and success that you do at one organization, why was it important for you to stay?
  • You’ve said you grew up in a culture where people didn’t talk about feelings. What led you to step into the mental health space, and how has that shaped the way you lead?
  • You’ve said, “There’s no such thing as a mental healthcare system.” What do you mean by that?
  • For someone who’s never been to therapy (or thinks they can’t afford it), what would you want them to know?
  • For someone who’s struggling, what’s the best first step to finding professional mental health support?
  • You’ve talked about the need to strengthen the behavioral health workforce. What are some changes you think could make a real difference?
  • Why is there a mental health worker shortage, and what does it mean for access to care?
  • You’ve said we need to upskill adults to meet kids’ mental health needs. What does that look like in practice?
  • Why do you love Medicaid?

To download Janelle’s Conversation Starters

 

Here’s a recent podcast Janelle appeared on:

The Nonprofit Show by American Nonprofit Academy

Rave Reviews:

“Janelle Miller-Moravek is an exceptional leader whose industry expertise and strategic acumen have significantly bolstered Youth and Family Counseling’s growth and stability. Janelle’s leadership is truly exemplary, and I wholeheartedly endorse her for any future endeavors in the field of mental health. She’s not only a subject-matter expert but a witty storyteller who is inspiring both seasoned professionals and the behavioral health workforce of the future.”
~ Sherry Quam Taylor, Host, The Business Behind Fundraising Podcast

Website:
CounselingForAll.org

Videos:
Pressing Pause on Your Gala: A Case Study with Janelle Miller Moravek at Youth & Family Counseling