Jessica Gartin
BSW., QMHP-CS, SAA

Director of Education

Jessica is the new Director of Education for Brighter Tomorrows. Along with managing the education department, Jessica assisted in the development and oversees the new trauma informed Policing & Medical Professional Training Program, which is a program designed to improve the justice system’s response to violent crimes against women. Jessica has over 20 years of experience in her field of social work and criminal justice. Her experience includes being an Adult Probation Officer for Denton County, working with Denton County Adult Parolees diagnosed with a serious mental illness, along with being the Denton County Mental Health Court Liaison. Jessica has been trained and has testified in multiple court cases as an expert witness, has been a BIPP (Batterer’s Intervention Prevention Program) Facilitator, and has worked with domestic violence victims with the Denton County District Attorney’s office. Jessica was also the program manager over the Jail Diversion Program for Collin County’s local mental health authority. Jessica is a certified Victim’s Advocate, and a member of CAASA, the Campus Alliance Against Sexual Assault Her goal is to continue raising community awareness and knowledge on domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking through education and outreach.

Jacalyn L. Wilson

Jacalyn is an Author, Awareness and Transformation Speaker, a Certified Life Recovery Coach, Certified Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocate, Certified in Mental Health First Aid, and former member of the City of Chandler Domestic Violence Commission Committee. She is the Founder of R.I.T.E Connections & Recovery, a company established to support women from diverse backgrounds, who have been oppressed by domestic and sexual violence find a safe place and resources to prevent going back to their abusive relationships.

Jacalyn has overcome the effects of domestic violence and an attempted suicide, which has given her first-hand knowledge of the crippling impact abuse can have on someone’s life. Her passion and drive to see women and families safe, healed, and on the path to self-sustainability, she believes is her life purpose. Through her inspiring messages and services offered, she believes it is all designed to serve a greater purpose – for women to move forward from feelings of shame, guilt, low self-esteem, low-self-worth, and become confident and empowered to see themselves not only as a survivor but as a champion.

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 When she is not advocating for domestic and sexual abuse, her other passion is to help others by volunteering with different organizations fighting for worthy causes. To further assist women on becoming their best version of their Authentic Unique SELF, she hosts H.E.A.L Women’s Empowerment Chat n’ Chew Monthly events and an annual Boss Women’s Tea Party.

Lauren Morales
B.S., QMHP-CS

Certified Sexual Assault
Educator

Lauren is the Sexual Assault Advocate for Brighter Tomorrows where she uses her passion for social justice to advocate for vulnerable and marginalized populations impacted by sexual violence. With over 15 years of experience in social services within the criminal justice and community mental health sectors, spent eleven years working for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a Parole Officer, specializing in supervising parolees with mental illness. As the majority of those under her supervision were from vulnerable and high-risk populations, she became aware of the intersectionality of those marginalized populations and their barriers. Lauren left parole on a journey to take a proactive approach serving her community and she has since worked as a Qualified Mental Health Professional at a psychiatric crisis triage and residential unit and helped develop Jail Diversion and Supported Housing programs at local mental and behavioral health authorities in Denton and Collin County. She has also served as the Assistant Shelter Director at Monsignor King Emergency Outreach Center. Lauren has been trained as an expert witness in court cases involving domestic violence and sexual assault. Sexual violence impacts every member in our society, as such, Lauren believes that prevention is possible by empowering every member in our society with education and awareness. She is a firm believer that knowledge is power, and we are infinitely more powerful together.