Second Story Foundation and Will County partners show how funding and support create lasting stability

In a Will County Community Mental Health Board feature on local impact, community leaders and program participants illustrate how accessible mental health services, peer support, and sustained public funding drive recovery and stability. Second Story Foundation Executive Director Jim O’Connor and program participant Skip, a ranch hand, are prominently featured, offering firsthand perspective on how workforce-based recovery and community investment create pathways to long-term healing and independence alongside other Will County organizations.

"I am not exaggerating when I tell you that the funding we got from the Will County Mental Health Board saved this person's life and my role in this is so privileged to be able to be just a middleman. To be able to put those funds to work, help put those folks to work in a way that I mean is life-saving.
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​Skip now is a peer supervisor to the people who are coming to the program for community service and for our First Furrow Fund workforce development program. He's no small miracle and he's a beautiful person. I really don't want to think about where things might have been, you know, without the help of the Will County work."
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​-Jim O’Connor, Executive Director, Second Story Foundation

"It was everything I wanted to be when I was out there using, like little things."
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​-Skip, 2nd Story Ranch, First Furrow Fund program