07/29/2025
🌟 Anchored in Hope: Peer & Workforce Highlight Campaign 🌟
Meet Joanna Jackson, a Certified Peer Specialist–Parent (CPS-P) and Certified Forensic Peer Mentor, serving her community through Connect the Dots in Albany, GA.
Joanna shared what attending the Anchored in Hope Conference means to her:
“As both a CPS Parent and CPS Forensic, I am deeply honored and excited to attend the Anchored in Hope Conference hosted by the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network. This conference represents more than professional development—it’s a space where lived experience is not only respected but valued as a source of healing, empowerment, and transformation.
My journey through the behavioral health and justice systems, both personally and professionally, has shaped who I am today. I have navigated challenges as a parent, experienced the weight of stigma, and found purpose in using my voice to support others walking similar paths. This conference gives me the opportunity to learn, connect, and grow alongside other peers who understand what it means to rise from difficult circumstances and choose hope daily.
I’m especially looking forward to gaining tools that will help me serve my community more effectively, advocate for families impacted by the system, and continue healing myself in the process. Being in a space with others who are anchored in their own recovery journeys reminds me that we are never alone and that together, we create a powerful network of resilience and change.”
Thank you, Joanna, for showing us what it looks like to lead with heart and purpose. Your story is a beacon for families and peers alike.