FUNDING YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CARE

in pursuit of a brighter tomorrow

The Mental Matters Mission is dedicated to ensuring that mental and behavioral health services are accessible to all youth ages 0-25 regardless of financial ability. We plan to fulfill this mission by funding the mental health care of young people who are uninsured or underinsured.

OUR STORY

The Marty and Bob Jacobs Foundation known as Mental Matters Mission was begun by Jennifer McConnell in honor of her parents who were lifelong residents of Cincinnati and devoted parents. They were a loving and humble couple whose greatest joy was just spending time with their four children, family, and friends. They were generous with their time and love and did not know a stranger. In their spirit, this Foundation has been established in order to help children who need financial assistance with their mental and behavioral health care.

OUR DEDICATED BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • Dr. Jennifer McConnell

    Founder & President

    Dr. Jennifer McConnell is the Founder and President of The Marty and Bob Jacobs Foundation. She is married with four wonderful sons and has been a stay at home mom for the past 20 years. Prior to that she practiced Internal Medicine in Boston at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates. She has had a lifelong interest in the mental and physical welfare of others. She has seen young and old struggle with mental health issues following losses and trauma and has experienced these herself with the loss of both parents and her brother at a young age. She knows how expensive mental and behavioral health care can be and wants to give all young people the financial support to access effective and quality mental health care.

  • Laura Sullivan, LISW

    Board Member

    Laura Sullivan, LISW is a trauma-focused therapist with certificates in EMDR and TFCBT. Laura brings years of experience as a child welfare caseworker and as a host/foster family. She currently serves as the Chief Program Officer at JustChoice and oversees family preservation, all options counseling, and adoption. Laura is passionate about Reproductive Justice, relational programming, and disrupting systems that cause harm to those they were created to serve.

  • Marcie Ernst

    Board Member

    Marcie Ernst is a Cincinnati native and is married with four beautiful daughters. She is a Surgical Assistant for an Orthopedic surgeon. Marcie has been involved with fundraising for multiple organizations and schools. She has much empathy and compassion for children and their mental health. She looks forward to accomplishing great things with the Foundation.

  • Catherine Tetrick

    Board Member

    Senior Strategic Commercial Program Manager-Nihon Kohden

    Catherine (aka Cathy) is an accomplished sales and marketing professional who has spent her career marketing medical devices and software and developing strategic and creative sales programs. Cathy’s disciplined approach and ability to create and lead a clear path to project completion has positively impacted organizations where she has been employed. Originally from Wisconsin, Cathy graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BA degree and from Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee with a master’s in management. During her free time, Cathy enjoys viewing and creating art, focusing on acrylic painting and jewelry design. She also enjoys exploring the lighthouses and beaches, especially on the Great Lakes. In 2016 she organized and edited a book celebrating a community of twenty women, describing their personal journeys by highlighting a challenging time that they faced and how they overcame it. Cathy lives in West Chester, OH with her husband, two children, and a slightly friendly cat.

  • Dana Nelson

    Board Member

    Dana Nelson has been a realtor in the Cincinnati market for 23 years. She is the past Board President of One Way Farm in Fairfield-a home for abused children. She also has been on 3 neighborhood HOA boards for over ten years.

  • Sheila Lichtenberg

    Board Member

    Sheila Lichtenberg is the Executive Director at Operation Give Back (OGB), a local nonprofit serving the Sycamore School District and Sharonville community. Sheila focuses on building partnerships with local businesses, schools, churches, organizations, and neighbors in hopes of gaining their support for the services and programs offered at OGB.

    Born and raised in Cincinnati, Sheila attended Ursuline Academy and graduated from Miami University with a degree in Special Education. She has combined her degree in education with extensive marketing and fundraising experience and has found the perfect fit at OGB. Sheila is married with two college aged sons.

  • Traci Abercrombie

    Board Member

    Traci Abercrombie is a Cincinnati native.  She has been married for 25 years to Craig Abercrombie and is the mother to 3 wonderful children. Traci is a graduate of The Christ Hospital School of Nursing and has been a nurse for 25 years-spending the majority of her career in the operating room.  Traci enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling and giving back to the community.  

  • Michelle Gearhart

    Board Member

    Michelle Gearhart, PharmD is a pharmacist by training. She is a wife and also a biologic and adoptive mother of 4 children. Michelle was a certified foster parent and host family for SAFE Families and Choice Network. Professionally, Michelle began her career as a Critical Care Clinical Pharmacist and Professor at University of Cincinnati Hospital and College of Pharmacy. Currently, Michelle is the Head of Scientific Affairs at a pharmaceutical company. The majority of Michelle’s professional experience has been focused in the cardiometabolic and neurologic therapeutic areas. Michelle also practiced clinically in this area and has had the opportunity to present and publish multiple peer reviewed publications. Michelle is passionate about supporting kids from hard places and seeing the unseen both personally and professionally.

REFLECTIONS FROM THOSE WE CARE FOR

“Mental Matters Mission has assisted our family by paying for our granddaughter's therapy…..Our granddaughter has endured childhood trauma, poverty, and the death and loss of her sweet mother…..We are forever grateful for the Mental Matters Mission for walking alongside our family on this journey. Thank you!”

 ”Time out of school during the pandemic had some very troubling effects on my 15 year old daughter. As a single mom, affording the care needed for her, even with insurance, and taking time from work to get her to and from meetings and appointments is challenging. The Mental Matters Mission has enabled my daughter to obtain access to and afford the psychiatric help she needs in an expedient fashion and ease the stress and financial burden of a child in need of care.  While she is not out of the “woods” yet, there is hope on the horizon and a pathway that has been cleared by the care and relief provided from Mental Matters Mission.  I am filled with gratitude to have this assistance for my daughter.”  

“It is hard being a kid, teenager and even an adult nowadays. Your generosity provides a safe place for my child to express her challenges and receive guidance and help from a professional that she otherwise would not have been able to access. In honor of your parents, know that this opportunity is making a difference.”