We sat down with Floyd Memorial Foundation Executive Director Jessica Staten to talk about what drives her in her role . It became clear , rather quickly , that she ’ s so much more than her title ; she makes it a point to live her purpose and passion in every aspect of her life .

EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE FLOYD MEMORIAL FOUNDATION IS AND WHAT YOUR ROLE ENCOMPASSES .

The Floyd Memorial Foundation was founded in 1978 to provide financial support to the Floyd County hospital ( now Baptist Health Floyd ), directing millions of dollars into various hospital programs and community health initiatives over the years .

Although we ’ re no longer affiliated with the hospital , the Foundation continues its efforts to improve health outcomes in Southern Indiana . Through collaboration , education , and strategic philanthropic investments , we support nonprofit organizations working in areas such as preventive care , access to healthcare services , health education , disease prevention and management , mental health and wellness , and social determinants of health . As the executive director , my role is to lead the strategic , financial , and operational activities of the organization .

WHAT LED YOU TO THIS PART OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER ?

Throughout my nonprofit career , I ’ ve been immersed in the ongoing battle to meet the overwhelming demand for human services . Whether serving adults , children , families facing homelessness , or survivors of abuse and neglect , the needs consistently exceeded our capacity to help . The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated these challenges , hitting vulnerable populations the hardest .

During my tenure as the former executive director of CASA of Floyd County , a nonprofit aiding hundreds of children in the foster care system due to abuse or neglect , we faced significant challenges . Waitlists swelled into the hundreds , leaving us feeling like we were barely scratching the surface . The toll on staff mental health was evident in rampant burnout and the constant scramble for resources . Every lost grant threatened critical staff positions , keeping us trapped in a cycle of reactive firefighting — a scenario all too common in the nonprofit sector .

In my role as director of communications for the Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana , volunteering at the White Flag homeless shelter provided me with profound insight into the interconnectedness of our society ’ s most pressing social issues . Those seeking shelter also needed help with employment , transportation , and access to mental health and substance use treatments . Similarly , my time at CASA revealed that the majority of children in our program had parents grappling with the very same challenges , underscoring systemic issues within our communities .

Amidst these reflections , I found myself grappling with fundamental questions : What if we could prevent child abuse , or any of these negative health outcomes , from occurring in the first place ? What if , instead of constantly reacting to symptoms , we addressed the underlying root causes ?

These questions prompted me to delve into the literature on prevention and I found my way to

Visit us at ExtolMag . com 15