Joe Phillips is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Illinois State University with High Honors in 1980 and a Master of Social work degree from the University of Illinois in 1983 with a specialty in National Social Welfare Policy. He worked in child welfare before beginning psychiatric social work at the Veteran’s Administration, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and eventually the Illinois Department of Corrections. He is retired from Chester Mental Health Center, a maximum security psychiatric hospital in Chester Illinois. He is also the bandleader, lead singer, and guitar player for The Belleville Blues Band in Belleville Illinois near St. Louis.