Compassion in Crisis

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Your Journey Through Compassion in Crisis

Who We Are

Creators of Compassion in Crisis, Jada Jackson and Madeline LeBlanc, are two friends bonded by shared experience in social work, maternal care, and walking alongside community members in crisis. Their passion for service led them to create a practical, compassionate training tool designed to empower others to step into volunteer roles with confidence. Rooted in years of direct work with families facing poverty, abuse, food insecurity, unstable housing, unemployment, and family crises, this resource reflects their deep understanding of what it means to show up in someone’s hardest moments. Jada and Madeline believe that everyday people can do extraordinary things—and they’re committed to equipping their community to rise and serve.

Our Mission

To empower everyday people to serve those in crisis with empathy, skill, and resilience. Through our training, we equip community members with the tools to collaborate effectively, communicate with compassion, uphold healthy boundaries, and walk alongside others in their most vulnerable moments.

Inside the Training: Structure & Topics

Course Description

Through a combination of trauma-informed approaches and practical strategies, participants will learn how to provide effective emotional and logistical support to mothers experiencing crisis. The course will cover essential topics such as crisis communication, active listening, recognizing and responding to trauma, identifying areas of support, connecting families with resources, and maintaining healthy boundaries while serving others.

By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to walk with mothers in crisis, embodying the Church’s mission to uphold the dignity of every life through compassionate service and unwavering support.

Course Duration and Method: 4 hours of in-person training

Course Materials: Provided handouts, note-taking materials (laptop, notebook, pen/pencil), positive attitude, and willingness to engage.

Recognize the Complex Needs of Mothers in Crisis

Recognize the challenges mothers in crisis face, including financial instability, housing and food insecurity, domestic violence, health concerns, employment barriers, and lack of social support.

Develop Effective Crisis Communication Skills

Apply active listening techniques to foster trust and open dialogue.
Use compassionate, nonjudgmental language to provide emotional support.
Recognize verbal and nonverbal cues that indicate distress or urgent needs.

Apply Trauma-Informed Care Principles

Understand the basics of trauma and its effects on decision-making and emotional regulation.
Understand the emotional and psychological impact of the crisis on mothers, their children, and their families.
Provide support in a way that prioritizes dignity, autonomy, and empowerment.
Recognize when professional intervention or additional resources may be necessary.

Navigate Community Resources and Support Systems

Identify and connect mothers with available local and diocesan resources, including financial assistance, housing support, counseling, and healthcare services.
Identify key factors that contribute to crises and how they affect a mother’s ability to access resources and make informed decisions.
Understand the role of Catholic ministries and social services in supporting vulnerable families.

Establish and Maintain Healthy Boundaries

Develop strategies to offer compassionate support while maintaining personal well-being.
Recognize signs of burnout and implement self-care practices for sustainable service.
Understand ethical considerations when assisting mothers in crisis.

Meet Your Instructors

Jada Jackson, LCSW

Jada Jackson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over ten years of experience supporting individuals and families through trauma, life transitions, and mental health challenges. With a background in maternal care, crisis response, and community-based social work, Jada brings both professional expertise and lived experience to every session. Her warm, compassionate approach creates a safe space for mothers and families to process pain, rebuild confidence, and move toward healing. She specializes in solution-focused therapy, tailoring each session to meet clients where they are and help them build resilience and inner strength.

Jada currently offers both in-person and virtual counseling services to make support accessible and flexible. She proudly accepts both Medicaid and Medicare in addition to private insurance to ensure care is available regardless of socioeconomic status. With deep roots in the community and a commitment to walking alongside those in crisis, Jada is a trusted advocate for women facing poverty, abuse, grief, anxiety, parenting challenges, and more.

Learn More

Madeline LeBlanc, MHA, RNC-OB, ICBLC, IAT

Madeline LeBlanc is a Registered Nurse Certified in Obstetrics, lactation consultant, doula, educator, and community advocate with a lifelong passion for supporting mothers and families through some of life’s most vulnerable transitions.

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Madeline was shaped by the values of service and solidarity instilled by the Sisters of St. Joseph. That foundation has guided her ever since—through her roles as a nurse, professor, nonprofit leader, and mother of four. Whether she’s helping a laboring mom breathe through a contraction, guiding a nursing student through research, or coordinating care across a hospital system, Madeline gives of herself fully—to her family, her church, and her community. With advanced degrees in nursing and education, Madeline brings a rare combination of clinical expertise, academic rigor, and dynamic leadership to her work. She is actively conducting research on the impact of doula care and peer-based community support on maternal and infant outcomes in hospital birth settings. She partners across hospital systems, schools, churches, and community organizations—religious and secular alike—believing that everyone deserves to be welcomed with dignity, love, and practical support.

Known for her high energy, deep compassion, and contagious passion for birth justice, Madeline is committed to creating a maternal care system that empowers mothers, uplifts families, and centers the needs of the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.

"We can't heal the world today, but we can begin with a voice of compassion, a heart of love, and an act of kindness."