The mission of Thriving Sparrow is rooted in both the business name and the heart of the founder, Jennifer Rochon, LCSW. The word thrive means to grow or develop successfully. To flourish. To succeed. It is a different way of living from just getting by, going through the motions of life or simply just surviving. It is to deeply experience the fullness of life. It is to fully become our best versions of ourselves and live in that joy.

Most of us seek “thriving” in our lives, but many of us face barriers to doing so. One of which can be the availability of providers who accept the insurance we have. This is particularly true of those of us who have Medicaid insurance plans. Over the last 20 years, Jennifer has listened to the disappointment and desperation of folks who are motivated to improve their lives and cannot find a mental health provider. People who are treated as second-class citizens based on the Medicaid insurance they have. This is where the sparrow comes in.

The symbol of a sparrow has long been a part of various cultures and spiritual belief systems. Sparrows are small, simple and bland birds who were used in the Bible to represent the concern God has for even the smallest and most insignificant lifeforms. They are used to represent the presence of God and His love for everything. Point is, all living creatures matter. Insurance doesn’t dictate a person’s significance. In ancient Greek mythology, sparrows were considered a symbol of love. The sparrow was the sacred bird of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and symbolized true love and spiritual connection.

In many cultures, sparrows are seen as good luck. In Chinese culture, the sparrow is an auspicious symbol of happiness and the coming of spring, while in Indonesian lore, sparrows signify birth, marriage, rain and other good tidings. In modern new-age circles, sparrows are believed to symbolize joy, community, teamwork, protection, simplicity, hard work or self-worth. Sparrows are also symbols of freedom, especially as it pertains to the freedom of the soul to choose between good and evil. They remind us that there is a spiritual struggle within each of us that we need to work out with God.

Jennifer believes strongly that all people are worthy of accessing quality, compassionate mental health services regardless of insurance, and lives this belief out through the development of a business that is organized to accept primarily Medicaid MCO plans. Thriving Sparrow is not exclusive and also accepts a limited number of commercial insurance plans. But unlike most other providers in private practice, we prioritize making our services accessible to folks with Medicaid.