JoAnn Jumper has 40 years of experience in the mental health field. Her social work experience includes ten years in various settings such as Child Protective Services, rehabilitation centers and a residential center for youth.
While working with Child Protective Services, JoAnn investigated complaints of child abuse and neglect. She also worked with families which were attempting to improve parenting and relationship skills. Additional social work experience included certifying individuals who were in need of state assistance and benefits.
JoAnn spent five and one half years as a social worker at Methodist Children’s Home working directly with the children in placement and their families.
For the last thirty years JoAnn has been an instructor at McLennan Community College teaching mental health concepts and techniques to young people and adults. Teaching has been in the areas of mental health, mental disabilities, residential care and substance abuse. She has spent much of her time providing training to staff who work with children in residential care.
JoAnn has been married to her husband David for 40 years. David is employed as a facility manager for an international company that performs product testing and certification.
JoAnn and David have raised three children to adulthood who have each successfully navigated their individual journeys to independence and professional careers. All are married, adding very enjoyable, responsible in-laws to the family. Their eldest son is an engineer, their daughter is a physician’s assistant and their youngest son is an attorney.
JoAnn is also “Grans” to five grandchildren. She gains great pleasure having all of her children and their families visit in their country home. This home has been a labor of love that David and JoAnn have constructed themselves over the last 10 years.
On Your Own: Navigating the Road to Independence is a culmination of information JoAnn has gathered from her experiences of raising her family and working with youth and students over the last 40 years.If you would like to follow JoAnn's blog, please click here.