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.

Learning Positive Parenting with Triple P

Register for Triple P Parenting!

Parenting a preschooler can be full of joy—and full of challenges. One moment you’re laughing at your child’s endless curiosity, and the next you’re trying to calm a meltdown over the wrong color cup. Those everyday ups and downs can leave even the most patient parent feeling unsure of what to do next.

That’s where the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program® comes in. With support from Every Baby Guilford, Kellin Foundation is offering this evidence-based, 8-week course designed specifically for parents of children ages 3–5. Over six group sessions and two online check-ins, parents learn simple, practical tools that make family life easier. Class begins September 30, 2025, click here for details.

What do parents take away from Triple P?

• Ways to encourage positive behavior through attention and praise that help children thrive.

• Tools for handling common struggles like bedtime routines, sibling squabbles, or big feelings that show up out of nowhere.

• Stronger parent-child relationships built through small, everyday moments of connection.

• Stress relief and confidence, because parenting feels lighter when you know what to try next.

• Realistic expectations, reminding parents that children test limits as part of growing up—and that no parent has to get it all right every time.

Parents often discover that the smallest shifts—like pausing to listen when a child shows them something, giving descriptive praise (“Thank you for helping set the table”), or keeping routines steady—can change the tone of an entire day. These strategies help children behave better and help families feel calmer and closer.

Thanks to Every Baby Guilford, the program is offered at no cost to families AND dinner is provided! Space is limited, so we ask that only one parent per household register.

Staff Spotlight: Ciera Harrison

When Ciera Harrison first came to Kellin Foundation, it was as a graduate intern finishing her master’s in social work. She spent months here learning the pace of the work and the needs of the people we serve. By the time she joined the staff in June 2025, the transition was natural—like stepping into a role she’d already begun to inhabit.

Ciera holds an associate clinical social work license and focuses her practice on individuals and families. She grew up in rural North Carolina, later making Greensboro her home. After earning her undergraduate degree in social work from UNC Greensboro, she continued to Appalachian State University for her master’s. Her approach is trauma-informed and person-centered, rooted in the belief that people make their greatest progress when they feel safe, unhurried, and genuinely heard.

Colleagues describe her as deliberate and attentive, someone who notices details and makes room for what’s hard to say. She hopes to be remembered for kindness—a thread that runs through her work and her life.

Outside of work, Ciera enjoys simple, grounding pleasures: coffee shops, bookstores, thrift stores, and time in nature. At home with her husband and cats, she crafts, creates art, reads, and unwinds with a good show—favorites include Gilmore Girls, and New Girl. She’s partial to chocolate-covered pretzels for a snack, cheesecake for a treat, and Bloom by The Paper Kites for a soundtrack.

For those who’ve met her, it’s easy to see: the way she listens is an act of care in itself.

School-Based Mental Health: How Kellin Foundation Supports Students Onsite

Kellin Foundation provides school-based mental health services designed to bring behavioral health services directly to students during the school day. Launched in partnership with Guilford County Schools, the program aims to meet students where they are—at their schools - to minimize barriers and increase access to needed supports.

Services include individual therapy, youth peer support, and navigation services to help link students with needed supports beyond behavioral health. Students are able to access these onsite services, or if they prefer, they can also do telehealth or come to Kellin Foundation’s clinic at the Hope Hub. By embedding these services into schools, and offering a variety of ways to access services (in-person at school, telehealth, or at Kellin’s clinic), the program helps eliminate one of the most common barriers to care: transportation. It also creates opportunities for closer collaboration with school teams, leading to more consistent support for students and families.

Like any program, there are kinks to work out as new processes were built such as establishing streamlined referral systems, coordinating with parents during the school day for intake and screenings, navigating language access needs, and building out clinical staffing for onsite presence. But the foundation has been laid for long-term success. Stronger relationships were built with GCS support services, and staff at participating schools received training focused on mental health and family engagement.

The early feedback has been encouraging. “One high school student told us, ‘I’m really glad that I decided to do this. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made for myself,’” says Melanie Garner, Wraparound Services Supervisor at Kellin Foundation. “And we’ve heard from school staff who are seeing a difference in students’ classroom behavior and attendance.”

The school-based mental health services have reinforced what we already knew—when mental health care is accessible, students are more likely to engage. And when care is coordinated, families feel less alone.

We’re looking forward to expanding on the strong foundation that has been laid, and working closely with Guilford County Schools to reach more students and support the well-being of the family as a whole to ensure school success. 

Meet in the Middle: Summer Camp Recap

We had an unforgettable week at Hairston Middle School during our Meet in the Middle Summer Camp! Kellin Foundation, Beyond Sports NC, and Guilford County Schools joined forces to provide rising 6th and 7th graders with a week filled with sports, games, crafts, and valuable lessons on mental wellness.

Campers engaged in activities like flag football, rugby, volleyball, and more, while also building resilience through sessions on coping skills, self-esteem, and healthy relationships.

Big thanks to everyone who made this week possible—our campers, staff, volunteers, and partners. We’re proud to support our youth as they gear up for middle school.

Introducing the 2025 Amanda Ireland Ward Scholarship Recipients

Each year, the Amanda Ireland Ward Scholarship gives us a chance to pause and celebrate young people in our community who reflect the values Mandy Ward carried with her every day—service, leadership, and compassion. This year, we’re proud to recognize two outstanding Guilford County graduates: La’Tierra Potts and Chloe Mark.

La’Tierra Potts, a graduate of James Benson Dudley Early College Academy, is heading to UNC Charlotte to study Pre-Nursing. As a first-generation college student, La’Tierra has shown remarkable dedication both inside and outside the classroom. She served as vice president of her school’s Student Government Association, is a member of the National Honor Society and CTE National Honor Society, and has volunteered her time with Cone Health and various school and community initiatives. Working as a Certified Nursing Assistant has only strengthened her passion for healthcare and fueled her long-term goal of becoming a pediatrician.

Chloe Mark, a graduate of Grimsley High School, will also attend UNC Charlotte, where she plans to major in Meteorology. For Chloe, studying the weather isn’t just an academic interest—it’s been a longtime dream. When touring UNC Charlotte, she felt an immediate connection with the campus and knew it was where she wanted to take her next steps. Chloe is looking forward to building new friendships, growing as a person, and diving deeper into her studies in climate and atmospheric science.

The Amanda Ireland Ward Scholarship was established in memory of Mandy Ward, a cherished advocate with the Kellin Foundation and lead coordinator of the Greensboro Child Response Initiative. Mandy’s sudden passing in 2016 left a lasting void in the lives of many, but her legacy lives on through programs like this scholarship and the Smiles for Miles Fun Run at Shea’s Chase, both of which carry forward her spirit of encouragement, community, and care for others. Each scholarship is a small but meaningful way to continue the work she loved—supporting young people with a heart for service and a drive to lead.

We’re honored to support La’Tierra and Chloe as they begin this next chapter and look forward to seeing all they will accomplish.