2026 Participant Biographies

Jay Hess (he/him) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and advocate based in Camp Hill, PA. He owns First Brick Counseling, specializing in LGBTQ+ mental health (including gender affirming letter evaluations), Autism, and ADHD. Jay has a range of experience including the development of a suicide prevention education program at the LGBT Center of Central PA and working at the Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP) through Keystone Autism Services. He combines his personal experience as a queer ADHDer with his clinical training to cultivate a unique therapeutic approach for his clients. As an advocate, Jay attends local school board meetings, working to stop various policies such as book bans and harmful bathroom policies. He provides resources and his expertise to school board members and local community members about LGBTQ+ youth and ways to support them.