Janelle Miller Moravek – 54

About me

Janelle Miller Moravek is a nonprofit leader & mental health advocate. She has led Youth & Family Counseling as Executive Director since 2009, driving its growth and impact across Lake County, Illinois. With a deep commitment to increasing access to mental health services, she oversees strategy, programming, and operations while fostering strong partnerships throughout the community. Janelle plays a key leadership role in the region, having served on the board of the Lake County Alliance for Human Services and co-chaired the Lake County Behavioral Health Action Team. Her prior experience includes development roles at Carmel Catholic High School and Barat College. She holds a BA in French Studies from Wesleyan University and lives in Libertyville with her husband and three children.

Youth & Family Counseling is a nonprofit mental healthcare provider dedicated to building stronger families and thriving communities through affordable, accessible, and exceptional mental healthcare. We’re a unique blend of community health and private practice, serving children, adolescents, adults, and families from all walks of life.

We’re also meeting the mental healthcare crisis head-on by building a stronger pipeline of counselors, clinicians, social workers, and therapists who reflect the diversity of the community we serve. We’re transforming how we train and support mental health professionals with a focus on technology and evidence-based care.

What do you do and why do you do it?

I increase access to mental healthcare. As a fundraiser, I secured funding to make YFC’s services affordable. As I took on more responsibility and the organization grew, I expanded into developing and implementing strategies to address the most common reasons people don’t get the help they need when they need it: they can’t get an appointment, they can’t afford treatment, they can’t get to their appointment, and they can’t find a therapist who looks and sounds like them. Today, I’m thrilled to be in a position where we can address some of the systemic issues that prevent individuals from accessing mental healthcare. We have programs and strategies designed to grow, strengthen, and diversify the behavioral health workforce and to increase our community’s mental health literacy.

What started out as a part-time fundraising job so I could focus on family has become a purpose as I seek to share the knowledge and skills I’ve developed after 25 years working with clinicians. I seek to help people connect with the support they need after navigating the behavioral healthcare system.

What changed for you after age 50?

My body (and my relationship with it). My relationships with my kids (who are now emerging adults) and my husband (we are empty nesters). My power and impact – stepping into it, becoming comfortable with it, using it to get stuff done. And I got a puppy!

What would you tell the 20 or 30-year-old YOU?

Breathe! I realize now that I had anxiety and hid it with achievement. Give grace – I was relentless and needed to do a better job of managing myself (and my impact on others).

What do you think you’ll tell yourself in retrospect at the end of your life?

I hope to be able to tell myself that I mattered and made a difference in this world.

What impact do you think increased visibility can have on your business?

The more people can see our soon-to-come new website with information about how to navigate the behavioral healthcare system, I hope that more people will be able to get the help they need when they need it.

And, I hope to recruit more investors who want to join me in increasing access to mental healthcare. This isn’t world peace – it’s a solvable problem!

Who or what inspires you and why?

My kids – they are watching everything I do, and I need to live up to their love. And my dog, those golden retriever eyes can make me do almost anything!