Canopy Children’s Solutions welcomes Leah Rigney, M.Ed., MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, to its team of mental health professionals providing innovative care at the Jackson-based Center of Excellence. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, she helps families navigate their mental health needs and options by providing psychiatric evaluations and diagnoses, facilitating treatment planning, and oversight of medication prescriptions and management. She also provides support and education for patients and families who are coping and living with a psychiatric diagnosis.
Rigney has spent more than a decade in what she calls “helping professions” including time spent working as a middle and high school teacher, guidance counselor before going back to school for nursing.
She received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Mississippi State University before pursuing a master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Counseling from the University of West Alabama. After spending five years in public education, Rigney turned her focus to nursing. She worked toward an associate degree in nursing from East Central Community College before tackling her second master’s degree, this time from the University of Mississippi Medical Center under the psychiatric nurse practitioner track program. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.
Rigney has nearly a decade of experience working in various segments of the nursing field. Immediately preceding her move to Canopy, she used her skills as a psychiatric nurse practitioner working at an inpatient mental health facility for youth.
“I am very excited about being a part of the Canopy family,” said Rigney. “This is an exciting time in the organization’s growth and I look forward to utilizing my experience as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, nurse, teacher and counselor to help change the lives of Mississippi’s children and families.”
Aside from her professional work, Rigney is active in humanitarian efforts by participating in mission trips across the country and around the globe working with at-risk youth and impoverished children. To clear her mind, she also enjoys attending pottery classes in wheel throwing and hand building.
Born and raised in Mississippi, Rigney with her husband, Jacob, and their son call Scott County their home.
ABOUT CANOPY CHILDREN’S SOLUTIONS: Canopy’s mission is to help children thrive and families overcome extraordinary challenges by providing a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health, educational, and social service solutions. For more than 100 years, Canopy has provided innovative solutions to many of Mississippi’s most vulnerable youth. Today, we have grown into a robust network of statewide programs. Learn more at mycanopy.wpengine.com.