Laura Taylor, Chair
Laura C. Taylor is a seasoned professional, having received her PhD in Clinical Social Work from The Institute for Clinical Social Work and a Master of Social Work Degree from Loyola University. Her academic journey began with an undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. With 27 years of post-master practice experience and 23 years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Laura’s expertise is unparalleled. Her teaching career in higher education spans 13 years, where she has made a significant impact in the field practicum, advanced clinical practice, and clinical supervision courses.
Laura’s unwavering dedication is evident in her direct practice work, where she applies her training in psychodynamic therapy. For the past 15 years, she has been making a significant difference in the lives of African-American women, specializing in supporting their mental wellness. Laura’s influence extends beyond her private practice; she also provides clinical supervision, with a concentrated focus on trauma-informed care and deepening the understanding and practice of clinical processes and techniques, to individuals and agencies. As the Clinical Director of Apple Seeds Inc., a maternal mental health agency in Memphis, TN, she continues to lead with passion and expertise. She was appointed the board chair of the Mississippi Chapter of Postpartum Support International in 2024.
Before relocating to the South, Laura lived in Chicago, IL. She spent a year with the Childcare Network of Evanston, two years with the Jane Addams Hull House Association, and eight years as a school social worker in Evanston/Skokie District 65.
Laura’s research interests involve clinical supervision and race-based mental health disparities. Her research also includes maternal mental health care and the experience of infertility among African-American couples. Lastly, she has nine published peer-reviewed articles and has been an invited speaker locally and nationally.
Jessica Reed, Vice-Chair 
Jessica is the founder and owner of Reed Counseling and Consulting LLC. My private practice was established in 2018 to increase access to mental health care and offers psychotherapy services to individuals, couples and families. I am a Mom, Wife and Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor for the state of Mississippi, Board Certified Tele-Mental Health Counselor, Mental Health Service Provider in the State of Tennessee, and a Prepare and Enrich Trainer for couples and families. I am passionate about supporting families, children and mothers thrive by improving their lives holistically. I serve Parents, Couples, Children and Individuals who want to be their first yes. I am a parent and trauma expert dedicated to the wellness of communities through counseling services. My hope is for each member of families to live mentally and emotionally more fulfilled lives.
Swandra Cowlie, Treasurer 
Swandra is a traditional midwife dedicated to serving women and families within the home birth community. With a compassionate, family-centered approach, she provides personalized care and support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum journey.
Swandra holds a Midwifery Degree from the College of Traditional Midwifery and a Bachelor of Science degree from NSU. In addition to her formal education, she has earned multiple certifications as a birth worker, equipping her with a broad range of skills to support mothers and their families.
Committed to honoring the natural birth process, while creating a safe, empowering, and respectful environment where families can welcome their babies with confidence and compassionate care.
Aaliyah C Jones, Ed.S, NCC, P-LPC, Secretary 
Aaliyah Jones is a mental health professional, Certified Herbalist, and founder of ETYMOLOGY: YOU, a wellness business focused on sensitive skin care and wellness essentials, with special consideration for individuals navigating chronic and critical illnesses that can contribute to increased skin sensitivity. With nearly 10 years of experience in the mental health field, she has worked with diverse populations ranging from children to older adults, as well as individuals impacted by trauma and the criminal justice system.
Aaliyah began her mental health journey at Delta State University, where she is a two-time graduate and earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She later earned her Education Specialist degree in Psychometry from Jackson State University and is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Mississippi.
With a particular passion for perinatal mental health, Aaliyah is dedicated to supporting mothers and fathers throughout the journey from preconception and pregnancy to postpartum and parenthood. Her passion is deeply informed by her personal experiences with loss and navigating chronic illness, which have strengthened her commitment to supporting others through trauma, grief, healing, and significant life transitions.
Aaliyah believes true wellness involves caring for the person in their entirety. Through her work in mental health and wellness, she recognizes the connection between emotional well-being, nutrition, daily habits, and physical wellness, and is passionate about helping people understand how these areas work together to support overall quality of life.
Caroline Phillips, Advocacy and Education 
Caroline Phillips is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a passion for supporting women and families in the perinatal season of life. With a background in nutrition and health promotion, Caroline earned a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from Asbury Theological Seminary. As a mother of a large family, including one infant loss, Caroline has a deep appreciation for the many ways parenthood affects a person’s mental, physical, and relational health. Caroline is committed to increasing access to mental health resources for women and families as they navigate this beautiful but challenging season of life.
Ashley Barksdale, Outreach and Engagement
Ashley Barksdale is a seasoned Licensed Clinical Social Worker and educator with a passion for enhancing mental health and family well-being. With a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University underway and a Master of Social Work from Baylor University, Ashley brings extensive expertise in perinatal mental health, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care. As a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Ashley integrates evidence-based treatments to support individuals and families through comprehensive therapeutic services. With a robust background spanning clinical practice, education, and community outreach, Ashley is committed to promoting mental health awareness and empowering diverse families across Mississippi and beyond.
Saketa Polk, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, SNM, Membership 
Saketa Polk, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, SNM is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and nurse- midwifery student dedicated to advancing materSavenal mental health and improving access to compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals and families across Mississippi. She currently serves in a leadership role within tele-psychiatry, where she supports both clinical care and provider development while advocating for innovative approaches to mental health delivery.
A proud Jackson, Mississippi native, Saketa has a deep love for her home state and is passionate about improving health outcomes within the communities that shaped her. She is currently completing her Nurse-Midwifery training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where her work focuses on the intersection of perinatal mental health, women’s health equity, and community-centered care. Her professional mission is to bridge gaps between mental health and reproductive healthcare to ensure mothers and families receive holistic, culturally responsive support throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Saketa now resides in Brandon, Mississippi, with her husband, Justin, and their one-year-old
poodle, Amber. Through her clinical leadership, advocacy, and community involvement, she is
committed to reducing stigma, strengthening partnerships, and promoting healthier outcomes for parents, infants, and families across Mississippi.
Shana S. Harper, MSSW, Alliance Rep 
Shana S. Harper, MSSW is a clinical social worker, educator, researcher, and entrepreneur based in Jackson, Mississippi. She is currently a PhD Candidate in the School of Social Work at Jackson State University, where her research focuses on early childhood mental health, intimate partner violence, Black maternal health, trauma, and health disparities in marginalized communities. With more than 19 years of professional experience, Ms. Harper has worked extensively with children, adolescents, and families impacted by trauma and behavioral health challenges. Her clinical expertise includes individual, group, and family therapy, with advanced training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA). Her work integrates evidence-based practice with culturally responsive, community-centered approaches to care.
Ms. Harper serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor and Online MSW Program Field Education teaches field and practice courses, mentors graduate students, and supports program assessment and development. In addition, she is the CEO of Be Undefeated, Incorporated and Be Undefeated Therapeutic Solutions, LLC, leading mental health programming, community outreach initiatives, and prevention-focused services. A funded researcher and frequent presenter, Ms. Harper has secured grant funding for teen pregnancy prevention programming and regularly delivers professional development trainings and conference presentations across Mississippi. Through her scholarship, teaching, and community leadership, she remains committed to strengthening families, improving maternal and child health outcomes, and expanding access to high-quality mental health services.
LeJeune Johnson, LCSW, PMH-C,
LeJeune Johnson, LCSW, PMH-C, is the Founder and CEO of Therapy Plus, — mental health and maternal wellness organization serving Mississippi’s children and families since 2014. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly 15 years of experience, LeJeune brings a unique blend of professional expertise, academic training, and lived experience to her work in mental health, maternal health advocacy, and systems change. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Mississippi State University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Jackson State University. She also holds a Post- Graduate Certificate in Trauma-Informed Care from Mississippi College and completed Perinatal Mental Health Certification through Postpartum Support International (PSI). LeJeune is an active member of PSI, the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color (PMHA), and the Mississippi Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MSPQC). LeJeune’s advocacy is deeply personal. She entered the maternal health space after experiencing preterm labor with her daughter and undergoing an emergency cerclage at 21 weeks — an experience that shifted her life’s work toward supporting other women and families through their perinatal journeys. She has served on the Mississippi Maternal Mortality Review Committee (2020–2023) and currently serves as the Informant Interviewer for the Louisiana Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review (2023-present). She also acts as a consultant/ trainer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s ERASE Maternal Mortality Initiative, helping state teams implement informant interviews that elevate family voices in maternal mortality case reviews.
To date, LeJeune has had the profound privilege of speaking with nearly 200 families across Mississippi and Louisiana who have lost loved ones to maternal mortality. She believes these lived experiences are essential to shaping policy, driving innovation, and guiding recommendations to prevent future losses. Her work is driven by the conviction that behind every data point is a family, a story, and a legacy that deserves to be honored. Beyond her professional commitments, LeJeune cherishes time with her husband of ten years and their two children, ages 5 and 7. She is a passionate advocate for self-care and enjoys running, weightlifting, and window shopping as part of her personal wellness routine.
Kimberly Rickard, DNP, CNM, WHNP-BC, PMH-C
Kimberly Rickard is a Certified Nurse Midwife, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, and Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C) provider. She practices at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where she cares for women and families across the lifespan.
Her passion for maternal mental health began during her doctoral work, which focused on improving screening and support for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Kimberly is dedicated to helping parents feel seen, heard, and supported through every stage of pregnancy and postpartum. She is honored to advocate for better access to compassionate, comprehensive care for families in her community.
