We are pleased to announce
JENNIFER GRUBBS, JANEE CARLILE, & DONNA PANGBURN
as the Mental Health Awareness of Michiana (MHAM)
Volunteer Highlights for March!
During a luncheon held in honor of MHAM volunteers last week at PEGGS in South Bend, IN, Mayor James Mueller stopped by to speak about the importance of mental health outreach and to present the awards for recognition to clinicians Jennifer Grubbs, Janee Carlile, and intern Donna Pangburn for their work with the Pro Bono Counseling Project, which as an affiliate of Mental Health America, is an important part of our community engagement and service throughout Michiana.
The goal of the PBCP is to increase access to mental health counseling for individuals, couples or families who do not have insurance or are otherwise unable to afford mental health counseling. This is a short-term arrangement (up to 12 sessions within a 3-6 month period) at no cost to the client.
PBCP Coordinator Linda Raven on her experience working with Jennifer, Janee, and Donna:
“In 2024, Donna Pangburn, an intern at Cornerstone Family Therapy, had the most client sessions in the PBCP. She had twelve sessions with each of five clients, meaning she had a total of 60 sessions. Donna brings a lot of life experience to her work as a counselor including being a teacher and a parenting coach. The clients who saw her all had very positive feedback, including one who said, “Donna is amazing! I’m so glad I got to meet her!”
Of course, interns have more time to see more clients, but two of our licensed clinicians tied for the most sessions amongst licensed clinicians at 30 sessions. They are Janee Carlile and Jennifer Grubbs. Janee (30 x 3) has been active in the PBCP for a long time, including previously as an intern and as the PBCP coordinator. She also supports MHAM in many other ways including volunteering at our events and teaching classes. Janee gets consistently positive feedback from her clients also!
Jennifer Grubbs joined the PBCP more recently but has also been an active volunteer. She attends most of our training events and prioritizes seeing PBCP clients when possible. She also gets consistently positive feedback from her clients.
While being a volunteer with the PBCP is not all about competing to have the most sessions, we are so grateful for the contributions that all of our interns and licensed clinicians make to supporting those in our community who cannot access counseling through other means.”
Donna tells us why she decided to get involved in the work of MHAM:
“Volunteering has allowed me to work with a diverse population and a diversity of needs. It helped me achieve my clinical hours but, most importantly, connected me with clients who have helped shape me as a therapist. Working with MHAM to better our community through mental health is of great value to me. I believe in community and am grateful for this opportunity.”
Jennifer speaks about her experience with the PBCP:
“The work that MHAM and other Pro Bono Counselors have been doing to offer mental health services in our community is inspiring! Not only does MHAM provide essential mental health support to those who may not otherwise have access to it, they also bring increased awareness of mental health issues to our community. Additionally, partnering with MHAM fosters valuable networking opportunities, enabling me to build connections, enhance my skills, and meet a group of motivated people. As a solo private practice owner, having these connections has been vital in reminding me why I do the work that I do to help bring about change.”
Janee shares why her work with MHAM was right for her:
“PBCP creates opportunities for community with other therapists while providing a service to those who need quality mental health care. I often reach out to other volunteers if I need to consult on a client case. The opportunity to continue to learn through classes that offer CE is also beneficial to my ongoing growth as a therapist. I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to receive quality mental health care. MHAM creates that opportunity for Michiana residents while eliminating the stigma of mental illness. It is my ethical duty as a counselor to dedicate part of my time providing quality services and I’m happy to partner with the PBCP to create a meaningful and lasting impact to our community.”
MHAM Executive Director Lisa Kelly on the importance of the PBCP within Michiana:
“I am humbled by the commitment that our volunteer clinicians and interns have made to the PBCP since it piloted in 2021. The PBCP is one of MHAM’s anchor projects dedicated to meeting a vital community need by removing barriers to care. It is a delight to honor Jennifer, Janee and Donna with this month’s volunteer highlight.”
To learn more about the Pro Bono Counseling Project, click HERE!
→ Are you interested in volunteer opportunities? Send us an email:
info@mhamichiana.org
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