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Some years ago, Jeanne Sheehan had a friend whose fifth grade child needed in-patient mental health care because of a family crisis. Jeanne knew that Nexus-Gerard Family Healing here in Austin provided mental health care for children. Easy answer for this friend?

No, because Gerard had a long waiting list. The only opening at that time was on the East Coast, too far away to send a fifth grader. This child finally got services in the Twin Cities area. It was then that Jeanne became aware that mental health services are extremely hard to access because there just aren’t nearly enough facilities.

This experience sparked Jeanne’s interest in children’s mental health care and mental health care in general. She points out that who among us does not know an acquaintance, friend, or relative who has had a concerning mental health issue at some point in their lives. And yet we continue to look the other way or keep silent about it. Or we assume it is the person’s or that family’s fault. If these same people were cancer victims, we would be there helping and maybe even arranging fundraisers to support them.

So, with this new awareness of mental health care facility needs and her generous nature, it was easy for Jeanne to say “yes” to a request by a friend who asked her to take on the project of redecorating the room where Nexus-Gerard parents stayed when visiting their children. That project led to further involvement in aid of Gerard and its staff.

She has worked on Nexus-Gerard’s annual holiday appreciation parties to honor the staff and the prom for Gerard high school students. In addition, she has helped with fundraising for a large remodeling project to provide improved and handicapped accessible spaces for families to visit and spend quality time with their children who are residing at Gerard. She now is the chair of the board of Nexus Family Healing Foundation which is the fundraising arm of a group of 15 facilities, head quartered in Minnesota.

Prior to her involvement on that board, she and her husband hosted a garden party to get the word out about the desperate need for support for mental health care right here in Austin at Gerard. They were overwhelmed with the attendance at this event and the interest that the Austin community showed following it.

With great passion and sincerity in her demeanor, Jeanne said the biggest goal of her continuing role is to make more people aware of what Nexus- Gerard does, especially for people right here, in addition to the wider world of mental health. It is true that some of the students at Gerard are from other places, but Nexus-Gerard has out-patient counseling services for members of our community, as well. The needs among children and teens here, as everywhere, has increased since the COVID pandemic. Gerard provides counseling in a number of our schools. And they provide training and support for foster care and adoption services. They are a significant employer in the community with 200 employees.

Jeanne has a long history of volunteerism and philanthropy. She was a local Red Cross volunteer for many years and served on a national Red Cross board. She and her husband have been faithful supporters of the Pacelli Catholic Schools and Jeanne has served on that board of trustees. Volunteering with Pacelli cross county is another area where Jeanne participated for a long time. She is a “wish granter” for Make a Wish Minnesota and has had great satisfaction in meeting these “wish kids” and their families. Ladies Floral Club, PEO and Beta Sigma Phi have also benefited from her volunteerism.

Jeanne says she feels called to give greatly of her time and resources because she and her family have been so blessed. She lives by the Bible verse, “to whom much is given, much is required,” from the book of Luke.

Jeanne Sheehan, we thank you for your generosity for many years in so many areas!

For more information about the Austin Branch of AAUW, contact Sue Grove sue.grove@riverland.edu or Carolyn Bogott csbogott@gmail.com. The American Association of University women, now AAUW is open to anyone who has completed a two-year degree or beyond. AAUW welcomes men who support our objectives and there are student memberships available. Since 1881 AAUW has been supporting equity and education for women. Scholarships are offered as well as help with litigation in cases dealing with sex discrimination. We are the most important and highly respected research and lobbying organization dealing with women’s issues.