Jesse Heffernan’s Bio

Jesse is an experienced trainer, manager and a whiz at social media & networking. He recently co-founded the successful "Million Mohawks for Mental Health Challenge" campaign to raise awareness and address stigma of mental illness. Jesse will be managing the Faces & Voices Training Division and our public awareness campaigns.

Jesse Heffernan is a Recovery Coach & consultant with 16 years in long term recovery from substance use and mental health. As a Servant Leader, Program Director and Community Net worker he works to create a meaningful and positive change through innovative solutions to complex community and individual needs.

His early recovery service consisted of helping coordinate local activities, state wide conventions, bringing recovery meetings into jails and institutions and create / co-facilitate the first youth specific recovery support group in NE WI. He attended the Fox Valley technical school to pursue a career in graphic design and marketing which opened the doors into new areas of service opportunities with AmeriCorps.

During 2006 - 2007 he worked as an AmeriCorps Volunteer for WI Assoc. of Homeless and Runaway youth services. His role consisted of presenting to youth on the dangers of running away and what resources are available to assist in de-escalating crisis, conduct street level direct services, and out-reach.

Episode Notes:

Brief history of Faces & Voices of Recovery
Tips after being in recovery for over 16 years
Why it’s so important to work on the internal stuff
Importance of serving others
Community connections & positive supports
Insurance & healthcare issues that are not supporting those struggling with a mental illness or the disease of addiction
How ignoring the needs of who needs it only results in furthering America’s national health crisis
The parallels of the addiction recovery movement has to other major cultural social justice movements
Why prevention works, full access to treatment is needed, and why we can’t forget about recovery support systems and communities
How to build recovery capitol and increase retention
Talk about the potential of a new national Recovery Corps program
How to set yourself up for success in recovery
 
Do you know somebody that may need help from addiction or mental illness?

We want to help those who are suffering from addiction and mental health disorders by providing you some of the best know resources mentioned in this week’s episode and listed below.

If this is an emergency or if you are worried that you or someone you know may be at risk for suicide, please call your local authorities (911).

 OTHER MENTIONS

Faces and Voices of Recovery
Also, check out all the resources mentioned by visiting Rise Together’s “FIND HELP” section at www.weallrisetogether.org

This week we encourage you to get involved in your community or by supporting us online. In order to make long lasting change, people need to start dedicating their time and resources to the cause’s they most care about.

Episode Call to Action:

SHARE YOUR STORY with us and speak about the issues you most care about. When #WeAllRiseTogether we make a huge difference throughout the world!

Join the Rise Together Nation When You

TEXT THE WORD “RISE” TO 44144