Staff Spotlight: Jean Wegger

Jean Wegger describes her path into mental health care as almost inevitable. She grew up in a family where helping others was not just encouraged but expected. Her mother worked as a pediatric nurse in downtown Minneapolis, where she not only cared for patients but stood alongside families in their most difficult moments. Her father gave his time week after week, delivering meals to adults who couldn’t shop for themselves, many of whom lived with intellectual disabilities. From them, Jean absorbed a simple but lasting lesson: take care of people.

When she first learned about Kellin Foundation, it was the breadth of community partnerships that caught her attention. The school-based mental health work, in particular, resonated with her background in education and her belief in meeting children where they are. The kindness she encountered from staff sealed her decision: this was the place where she wanted to serve as a clinician.

In her work, Jean hopes her clients come away feeling understood and supported. “I want them to know I’m their advocate,” she says, “someone to help them navigate tough feelings, experiences, and times in their lives.”

Outside of work, her life is woven through with the steady routines of family: parenting, outings, and all the daily tasks that come with both. She recharges through simple pleasures—watching Bravo TV, reading on her Kindle, exploring new restaurants, going for walks or exercise, and spending time with her husband and friends. If given an unstructured day, she imagines it would involve a little of everything she loves: exercise, a coffee shop visit, maybe a nap, quiet reading, and an adventure with her family to a park, game, or museum.

What excites her most now is the chance to continue growing the School-Based Mental Health Team and to be part of the expanding work at the Hope Hub. “I know that the continued work in this partnership and at the Hope Hub will help reach so many families and individuals seeking accessible care,” she says.