Jim O’Connor Receives IABH Honor for Advancing Recovery Beyond Treatment

Second Story Foundation founder recognized for advancing long-term recovery in Illinois as focus turns to the next phase of the 2nd Story Ranch

OAK BROOK, IL, UNITED STATES, September 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Jim O’Connor, CADC, founder and executive director of The Second Story Foundation, received the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health’s Dr. C. Vincent Bakeman Memorial Award Thursday in recognition of his leadership and advocacy for stronger, long-term pathways to recovery.

The award, established in memory of longtime Illinois behavioral health leader Dr. C. Vincent Bakeman, recognizes individuals who articulate a vision for the behavioral health field, consistently communicate that vision and demonstrate persistent leadership in advancing addiction and mental health services.

O’Connor’s work has centered on a question that has increasingly shaped his advocacy across Illinois: What happens after addiction treatment ends?

Through The Second Story Foundation, O’Connor has advocated for a broader recovery continuum that includes stable housing, meaningful employment, peer support, daily structure and the recovery capital people need to build independent lives.

"Recovery doesn’t end when treatment ends," O’Connor said. "People need a place to live, meaningful work, people around them who support their recovery and a reason to protect the life they’re building. Dr. Bakeman understood that strengthening behavioral health requires a clear vision and the persistence to move that vision forward. Receiving an award that carries his name means a great deal to me."

That approach is taking physical form at the 2nd Story Ranch Recovery Home and Jobs Program, a 68-acre property in Will County being developed as a long-term recovery community for men leaving substance use disorder treatment. The model integrates recovery housing, employment, peer support and community reintegration, creating a pathway from treatment toward stable work and independent living.

O’Connor has carried that message beyond the Ranch through meetings with state legislators, behavioral health leaders and recovery organizations, as well as through media interviews, opinion pieces, policy discussions, podcasts and conference presentations.

Those efforts have also drawn significant public investment. In June, the Illinois General Assembly included $2 million in the state’s fiscal year 2027 budget for The Second Story Foundation and development of the 2nd Story Ranch. The appropriation followed years of outreach and growing bipartisan support for the project.

That investment provides a significant foundation for the project, but additional funding is needed to complete the residential and recovery infrastructure required to bring the Ranch fully online. The Second Story Foundation is now making private fundraising a central priority, seeking support from individuals, foundations, businesses and philanthropic partners to close the remaining capital gap.

For O’Connor, the next challenge is turning growing public support for the model into the capital required to build it.

"We’ve spent years making the case for what needs to happen after treatment, and Illinois has made a significant investment in that vision," O’Connor said. “Now we need people who believe in recovery to invest alongside the state and help us finish what we started."

Bakeman was a prominent figure in behavioral health policy and services in Illinois and nationally. He spent three decades leading Chicago’s Human Resources Development Institute and held leadership roles in organizations focused on addiction treatment and prevention. His work also extended to state, federal and international drug and behavioral health policy.

The award bearing his name honors leaders who carry forward that tradition of advocacy and practical leadership.

Private contributions will support the development of the Ranch’s residential facilities and the infrastructure necessary to expand its recovery and employment programming. The Second Story Foundation is actively seeking major donors, corporate partners, foundations and other supporters interested in helping bring the project to completion.

"We know treatment can save a life,” O’Connor said. “The next investment is in the life that person has to build afterward. That’s what the Ranch is designed to make possible, and that’s what we’re asking people to help us build."

To help build the 2nd Story Ranch or discuss a funding partnership, visit 2ndStoryFoundation.org, email giving@2ndStoryFoundation.org or call 74-SADDLE-UP ext. 3 (747-233-5387 ext. 3).

About The Second Story Foundation
The Second Story Foundation helps men in early recovery from severe substance use disorder rebuild their lives with stability, purpose, and community. The organization provides recovery housing, meaningful work, and comprehensive support designed to promote lasting change. Its programs combine structure, employment, and fellowship to restore dignity and independence.

The Foundation operates residential recovery homes in Chicago’s south suburbs and is developing the 68-acre 2nd Story Ranch in Crete, Illinois. The ranch will serve as a residential recovery community where participants live, work, and grow through service, equine care, and skill-based training. The lodge and residences will house up to 14 men and include space for counseling, education, and community events.

The Second Story Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping men build lives of integrity, connection, and hope. Through compassion, structure, and shared purpose, the foundation supports transformation that endures.

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Ryan Arnold
DeSoto & State Communications, Inc.
+1 773-789-9782
info@desotostate.com