Monica Collins

My name is Monica Collins, and I wear many hats: mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and advocate. I cherish spending time with my family and pets and prioritize self-care through travel and exercise to support my mental well-being. I earned my degree from the Jane Addams School of Social Work at UIC and have been providing services in the mental and behavioral health fields for over 20 years. As a resident of Oak Park, I am deeply committed to my community. I actively participate in the Oak Park Education Foundation, promoting equity and inclusion in enrichment programs, and was honored to be named OPEF Educator of the Year in 2021. The Illinois State Board of Education also acknowledged me for Excellence for Those That Excel. For the past 17 years, I have dedicated my career to school social work within Oak Park D97 elementary schools, specializing in special education-related services. I am passionate about ensuring equity, inclusion, and representation for all children, with a particular focus on BIPOC and neurodiverse youth. My school experience gives me a unique perspective on the academic, social-emotional, and behavioral demands placed on students. I firmly believe in the therapeutic process and that time, compassion, and guidance make healing possible. I am eager to bring my clinical skills to a broader setting, where I can support youth in identifying healthy ways to manage self-regulation, interpersonal relationships, school stressors, anxiety, depression, and social isolation. I pride myself on being an active listener and building positive, trusting relationships with my clients. Together, we will set measurable goals to help them recognize their inner strengths, boost self-esteem, increase life productivity, improve social relationships and self-advocacy skills, and develop a growth mindset. I look forward to working with you.