Ginger Meyer honored for leadership in trauma recovery

Families in southern Illinois who walk into the Children’s Medical and Mental Health Resource Network are hoping to put the hardest moments of their lives behind. For more than two decades, Ginger Meyer has met them with steadiness, compassion and a belief that healing is possible.

That commitment recently earned national recognition. The Academy on Violence and Abuse (AVA) honored Meyer at its Global Health Summit for her years of leadership as president and board chair (pictured above, at left, with current president Allison Jackson, MD). The AVA Board praised her guidance during a time of change for the organization, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and her ability to keep its mission focused and moving forward.

Building trauma-informed care close to home

Meyer serves as clinical director of the resource network, a program of SIU School of Medicine based in Anna, Ill. Her team provides psychosocial assessments and crisis counseling for children across the region affected by maltreatment, including physical and sexual abuse and exposure to violence. She also supports schools, behavioral health providers and community partners who help children and families navigate the long arc of trauma and recovery.

Her work has always centered on access. In many rural communities, specialized mental health resources are hours away. Meyer has spent years building a regional network to make training, treatment and support available where families live.

“We want children and families in southern Illinois to have the same opportunities for healing as anyone else,” she said. “That starts with developing strong teams close to home.”

National impact guiding change

Meyer brought that same spirit of collaboration to her service with AVA. She served as president-elect in 2020, president from 2021 to 2023 and board chair through 2025. During her tenure she helped guide the organization through leadership transitions, strengthened partnerships and supported national efforts to integrate trauma-informed practices into health care.

At the summit in November, Dr. Allison Jackson of Children’s National Hospital praised Meyer’s ability to unite people, even in difficult times. She highlighted Meyer’s balance of family, career and service, and her talent for leading with grace, organization and creativity.

Meyer’s influence extends beyond clinical care. She has facilitated training for more than 300 Behavioral Health-track graduate students, primarily Master of Social Work students, through SIU’s trauma-based behavioral health fellowship program. Each student receives intensive preparation in evidence-based trauma treatment, creating a pipeline of skilled professionals who serve communities throughout Illinois.

At SIU, Meyer is known for building bridges. She partners with schools, health systems and service agencies to create pathways for early screening, trauma-informed care and long-term support. Her colleagues describe her as someone who notices details, follows through and brings people together around solutions. She has also led projects focused on suicide prevention, trauma-informed evidence-based clinical practices and the development of a multidisciplinary Child Protection Training Academy for the region.

Honoring service, looking ahead

The Academy on Violence and Abuse recognized Meyer not only for her service but also for her vision. The organization’s mission is to advance education and research on the health effects of violence and abuse, and to help health professionals deliver compassionate, high-quality care. Meyer has helped strengthen that mission, and she will continue to support AVA through focused membership development.

For communities in central and southern Illinois, her work means something more personal. It means children have access to trained professionals who understand trauma. It means families can receive support without traveling miles for care. It ensures schools and health providers have a trusted partner when they face challenges too heavy to carry alone.

Meyer continues to shape a future where healing feels possible and where every child, no matter where they live, can find safety, care and hope.