PARfessionals

Founded in 2011 by Jorea M. Lenard, a formerly incarcerated individual and mental health consumer in recovery, PARfessionals is a nonprofit organization committed to mental health awareness, education, and peer support. With a focus on individuals and families affected by mental illness and addiction, PARfessionals offers services including advocacy, peer-led training, and recovery programming. Its mission: break stigma, build understanding, and empower people to lead fulfilling lives. Jorea M. Lenard is an author, peer recovery advocate, and healthcare professional with over a decade of experience at the intersection of behavioral health, criminal justice, and community reintegration. She holds a B.S. in Management and has completed most of an M.A. in Criminal Justice through the American (Military) Public University System. She also earned a graduate certificate in Applied Forensic Psychology Services from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, alongside dozens of professional certifications in mental health, substance use, nonprofit management, forensic psychology, mediation, and emergency response. Her training includes specialized work in domestic violence crisis intervention, hospice care, health unit coordination, and peer support, earned through institutions such as Parkland Health & Hospital System, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Brookhaven College, and the University of Texas at Arlington. Jorea is the author of Getting Ahead: An Ex-Offender’s Guide to Getting Ahead in Today’s Society, a self-published resource that helps justice-involved individuals navigate reentry and explore participation in clinical research trials. Her work is rooted in lived experience and a deep commitment to helping others break cycles of incarceration, addiction, and stigma. She previously held multiple credentials from the Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals, including Peer Recovery Specialist and Criminal Justice Addiction Professional-Applicant, as well as National Certification as a Psychiatric Technician. Though now retired from direct credentialing, she remains actively engaged in curriculum and program development. Currently, Jorea leads content development for the PARfessionals Forensic/ReEntry Peer Recovery Program, a collaborative initiative designed with mental health, addiction recovery, and criminal justice experts. The program supports successful community reentry through peer-driven guidance and education. To connect with Jorea or learn more about PARfessionals’ work, please reach out directly.