Heather Proctor | Trauma-Informed Executive Leader & Founder of WeHealUS Founder & CEO · WeHealUSHeather Proctor
A trauma-informed executive leader building healing-centered systems at the intersection of public policy, philanthropy, and community health.
100+Coalition Reach (Peak)14U.S. States EngagedSR0301Illinois Resolution Passed5Annual May CampaignsAboutVision, passion, and the executive discipline to deliver both.
01 The Executive
Two decades leading consulting, strategic planning, marketing, operations, and process improvement across nonprofit, public, private, and government sectors. As Founder and CEO of WeHealUS, Heather built the COVID-era national mobilization that united nearly 100 organizations across 14 states — healthcare, government, nonprofits, and business — around healing-centered solutions to mental health challenges.
02 The Advocate
Her advocacy is rooted in lived experience — growing up on the mission field, serving as a former military spouse, and working alongside families across cultures. Her grassroots work spans homelessness, mental health, and trauma-informed awareness, breaking down silos and reducing stigma at local, state, and national levels.
03 The Architect
Heather spearheaded Illinois Senate Resolution SR0301 — the policy framework positioning Illinois as the first officially declared healing-centered state in the nation. As a certified Train-the-Trainer in Trauma-Informed Care, she has led national May campaigns mobilizing communities and providing free resources to individuals and organizations.
04 The Strategist
WeHealUS was built on a public-private partnership model inspired by tax increment financing — applying proven economic-development structure to community health. State governments have since engaged Heather as a national subject-matter consultant on parallel healing-centered frameworks. Her current portfolio spans state and local government, behavioral health and disability services nonprofits, mental health commissions, and trauma-recovery organizations.
The work is closing the empathy gap — and building the institutional architecture so the closure holds.
ImpactSelected achievements.
PolicyIllinois Senate Resolution SR0301
Architected and led the coalition behind the resolution positioning Illinois as the first officially declared healing-centered state in the nation, with a framework focused on closing the empathy gap and establishing systemic change.
StrategyThree-Year Strategic Plan, Local Mental Health Commission
Authored a comprehensive multi-year strategic plan for a local mental health commission, grounded in trauma-informed and healing-centered community approaches with measurable outcomes.
CoalitionThe #WeHealUS Movement
Founded and scaled a national trauma awareness campaign uniting healthcare organizations, businesses, and government entities to deliver free resources and training during Mental Health and Trauma Awareness Month.
OperationsOperational Excellence at Scale
Improved workflows, financial transparency, and operational efficiency across leadership roles spanning the DuPage Housing Authority, Brininstool + Lynch, the Illinois Appellate Defender's Office, and other organizations.
ConveningInternational Summits
Organized international summits on justice reform, societal trauma, and mental health — mobilizing diverse stakeholders, advancing public discourse, and producing shareable frameworks for partner organizations.
ConsultingState Government Healing-Centered Frameworks
Engaged by state governments and governor's offices as a national subject-matter consultant on healing-centered policy — informing legislation, programming, and capitol-day mobilization across multiple states.
Speaking & PressSelected engagements, 2022–2026.
2026Best Practices for Trauma-Informed Care
Vital Voyage Blog · Guest contributor · March 2026
→2025SHARE: Supporting Healing through Awareness, Resilience, and Empathy
Building Inclusive Communities Conference · Western Springs, IL · February 2025
→2024Aspects of Aging — Guest
Christine A. Smith, "Aspects of Aging" talk show · July 2024
→2024Trauma & Mental Health Awareness Capitol Day
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania · Harrisburg, PA · May 2024
→2024Forgiveness to Healing
Scars to Stars Summit · International Virtual Summit · May 2024
→2023Mental Health Awareness
Let's Talk Home Care, with Aishling · Podcast · August 2023
→2023Trauma-Informed and Healing-Centered Communities
Trauma-Informed and Mental Health Justice Summit · Countryside, IL · May 2023
→2022Trauma-Informed States
HEAL PA Conference · Harrisburg, PA · May 2022
→In Their WordsWhat colleagues say.
Heather's leadership goes beyond our local work — her advocacy in Pennsylvania has been pivotal in advancing a trauma-informed framework at the state level. Through her vision and strategic planning, she's driven real change, aligning policy with community needs and laying the groundwork for a more healing-centered future.
Read more →Dr. Maryann McEvoy, EdD Former Executive Director · Pennsylvania Governor's Office of Advocacy & ReformHeather is a relentless national advocate for children and, with the founding of WeHealUS, began a grassroots movement to make the United States trauma-informed and healing-centered. She is an incredible public speaker, business strategist, and marketing professional who deeply understands trauma and its impact on individuals, systems, and cultures.
Read more →Beth Tyson Child Trauma Consultant · Author, A Grandfamily for SullivanMs. Proctor is an exquisite leader who is detail oriented. She is innovative. She has demonstrated her ability to lead large national programs through her healing-centered work. She has exceptional interpersonal skills that she always applies a trauma-informed lens to.
Read more →Dr. Tracey Smith Executive Associate Director for Public Health Practice · Illinois Public Health AssociationHeather's visionary leadership shaped a strategic plan that is both healing-centered and trauma-informed. She identified unmet community needs and developed clear, actionable goals to address them. Her thoughtful, solution-focused approach has positioned the Commission for meaningful, lasting impact.
Read more →Jazmin Lopez Former Executive Director · Mental Health Commission of Lyons TownshipBoards & AffiliationsService roles & leadership posts.
Board Vice-Chairperson
The Lucky Foundation2022 – 2024Advisory Board Member
The Lucky Foundation2022Secretary, HIV/AIDS, STIs & Viral Hepatitis Section
Illinois Public Health Association2021Commissioner, Community Relations Commission
City of Springfield, Illinois2016 – 2018ConnectLet's build the next chapter together.
Heather is open to executive leadership conversations, speaking engagements, and consulting partnerships in trauma-informed and healing-centered systems.
Direct contactLinkedInBased inGreater Chicago · Open to relocationBest forExecutive search, speaking, consulting
