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Ladies Leadership Luncheon with Let It Be Us
October 8 @ 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Join Let It Be Us, Illinois nonprofit and licensed child welfare agency, for the annual Ladies Leadership Luncheon, an inspiring daytime event bringing together community leaders, advocates, and supporters at the Barrington Hills Country Club.
What are young people facing today – and how can families, schools, communities and child welfare systems better support their mental health?
This year’s Ladies Leadership Luncheon will feature a timely conversation with two leaders working directly with young people and families in the Barrington community: Dr. Jordan Anderson, Executive Director of Student Support Services for Barrington 220 School District, and Betsy Wintringer, Executive Director of Barrington Youth & Family Services.
Together, they will share their perspectives on the mental health and behavioral health needs of children and teens and what families, educators and community organizations are seeing here at home. The conversation will explore how mental health needs can present at home and at school; how adults can recognize when a young person may need additional support; and why connection, stability, early intervention and trusted relationships matter.
Moderated by Kaycee Coles, Vice Chair of the Let It Be Us Board of Directors, and Dr. Susan A. McConnell, Founder and Executive Director of Let It Be Us, the discussion will also examine how families, schools, mental health professionals, nonprofits and communities can work together to build stronger networks of support around young people.
Guests will leave with a deeper understanding of the challenges facing children and teens in our community and meaningful ways we can help young people feel seen, supported and connected.
Sponsorship opportunities for the event exist – to learn more, contact Kaycee Coles, Let It Be Us Board Vice Chair, at kayceecoles@gmail.com
Featured Speakers Bios:
Betsy Wintringer, Executive Director of Barrington Youth and Family Services
Betsy Wintringer serves as Executive Director of Barrington Youth and Family Services (BYFS), where her professional experience and deep roots in the Barrington community come together in support of local children and families. A lifelong community member and parent, Betsy understands the importance of creating a community where young people and families feel supported, connected, and comfortable seeking help when they need it.
Her professional background spans nonprofit management, marketing and communications, corporate sales and marketing, and social work in group home settings. Today, she brings those diverse experiences to her leadership at BYFS, working alongside community leaders and board members to strengthen the organization’s impact and advance its mission.
For Betsy, supporting mental health is also about strengthening community – reducing stigma, encouraging connection, and helping ensure that children and families know they don’t have to navigate challenges alone.
Dr. Jordan Anderson, Executive Director of Student Support Services for Barrington 220 School District
Dr. Jordan Anderson serves as Executive Director of Student Support Services for Barrington 220 School District, where she helps ensure students have access to the resources, relationships, and support they need to thrive both academically and personally.
An educator and administrator with experience spanning the classroom and district leadership, Dr. Anderson began her career as an elementary school teacher before moving into school and district administration. She joined Barrington 220 in 2021 and has since served in several leadership roles, bringing a collaborative and student-centered approach to her work.
In her current role, Dr. Anderson helps lead programs supporting students’ social-emotional well-being, mental health, and individual learning needs. Her work reflects an important truth at the heart of this year’s luncheon: supporting mental health is essential to helping young people learn, grow, build resilience, and reach their full potential.
Dr. Susan A. McConnell, Founder and Executive Director of Let It Be Us
Dr. Susan A. McConnell is the Founder and Executive Director of Let It Be Us, where she has built and leads Illinois’ successful foster care and adoption education and recruitment platform. Her work focuses on bringing technology, innovation, and data-driven solutions to foster care recruitment, matching, and adoption, both statewide and nationally. Susan earned her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California (USC). She is the mother of four young adults, three of whom joined her family through adoption.