{
    "title": "Second Story Foundation and Will County partners show how funding and support create lasting stability",
    "modified_at": "2026-03-27 12:21:34",
    "published_at": "2026-03-02 12:00:00",
    "url": "https://the-second-story-foundation.prezly.com/second-story-foundation-and-will-county-partners-show-how-funding-and-support-create-lasting-stability",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/sO9d",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "Will County Community Mental Health Podcast | March 2, 2026",
    "slug": "second-story-foundation-and-will-county-partners-show-how-funding-and-support-create-lasting-stability",
    "body": "<p>In a <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fld0m6uTk0c&amp;t=247s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Will County Community Mental Health Board feature on local impact</strong></a>, 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&rsquo;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.</p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--expanded release-content-image--align-center\"\n    >\n        <a class=\"release-content-image__link\"\n           id=\"image-9f23fb53-f5a6-46f1-8a32-83d10d362f63\"\n           href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fld0m6uTk0c&amp;t=247s\"\n           data-id=\"9f23fb53-f5a6-46f1-8a32-83d10d362f63\"\n           data-track=\"Story Image View\"\n           data-placement=\"content\"\n                            target=\"_blank\"\n                rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n                       style=\"width: 100%\"\n        >\n            <img\n                class=\"release-content-image__image\"\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/9f23fb53-f5a6-46f1-8a32-83d10d362f63/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"\"\n                            >\n        </a>\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\"></figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p>&nbsp;</p><blockquote>&quot;I am not exaggerating when I tell you that the funding we got from the Will County Mental Health Board saved this person&#039;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.<br>\u200b<br>\u200bSkip now is a peer supervisor to the people who are coming to the program for community service and for our <a href=\"https://the-second-story-foundation.prezly.com/second-story-foundation-launches-first-furrow-fund-to-support-men-entering-recovery-housing-after-treatment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>First Furrow Fund workforce development program</strong></a>. He&#039;s no small miracle and he&#039;s a beautiful person. I really don&#039;t want to think about where things might have been, you know, without the help of the Will County work.&quot;<br>\u200b<br>\u200b-Jim O&rsquo;Connor, Executive Director, Second Story Foundation</blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p><blockquote>&quot;It was everything I wanted to be when I was out there using, like little things.&quot;<br>\u200b<br>\u200b-Skip, 2nd Story Ranch, First Furrow Fund program </blockquote>",
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