Mental Health Board Executive Director
The Mental Health Board offices are located in the Health and Education Building at 310 East Torrance Avenue, Pontiac, IL, and can be reached at 815-844-7708.
Visit the Livingston County Mental Health Board website at: www.lcmhb.com
In 1968, the voters of Livingston County passed a referendum to “establish and maintain community mental health facilities and services including facilities and services for the developmentally disabled and the substance abuser and levy therefore an annual tax not to exceed .15%.” The Livingston County Mental Health Board is appointed by the County Board to administer the funds and monitor the services provided by the agencies receiving funds from the department. In accordance with the Mental Health Act, the County Board appoints one of their members to serve on the Mental Health Board. The Mental Health Board consists of seven members who are appointed to serve four-year terms and are eligible to be re-appointed at the expiration of their terms. The Board meets on the third Thursday of each month. The officers are elected at the annual meeting in June.
The current board members are:
- Mental Health 708 Board – Jack Vietti (President), Ed Legner (Vice President), Pam Stone (Secretary), Debbie Studnicki (Treasurer), Barb Schlatter, Gary Beier, and Clark Reamer
- Mental Health 377 Board – Robert McCarty (President), Vicki Day (Vice President), and Christine Johnson
The Livingston County Board for the Care and Treatment of Persons with a Developmental Disability (377 Board) also is appointed by the County Board and funds services for persons with developmental disabilities through the programs administered by the Mental Health Board.
The 708 and 377 Boards receive their tax levy funds and allocate them to the below agencies. The funds are used to cover programs that have no other funding stream, serve Livingston County residents, and fall within the guidelines of having a mental illness, a developmental disability, or substance use issues.
Institute for Human Resources (IHR) provides mental health services, psychosocial rehabilitation services, and substance use issues. Specific services include:
- Individual adult & child therapy
- Family therapy
- Psychiatric services
- Emergency crisis intervention – 24 hrs. per day/365 days per year
- Case management
- Medication monitoring
- Mental health groups
- Facilitation of psychiatric hospitalizations
- SASS (Screen Assessment Support Services) for children under age 18
- Partner abuse program
- Parenting classes
- Mediation
- DUI services: evaluations/updates, remedial education, investigative reports
IHR also conducts Operation Snowball (Snowflurry and Snowflake) which focuses on educating youth about the negative effects of using alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs, while providing programs to teach responsible use of free time, organizational, and leadership skills.
Futures Unlimited provides CILA (Community Integrated Living Arrangement) homes and other Medicaid Waiver services, as well as Supported Employment, Employment Services, Community Support, and Community Day services to people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, physical disabilities, autism, and addictions.
Safe Journeys provides supportive services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Services include a 24 hr. support line, safe house, legal and medical advocacy, supportive counseling, information and referral, and prevention education in schools, for professionals, and the community in general.
Infant Toddler Enrichment Program is operated by OSF St. James John W. Albrecht Medical Center. The program provides children in Livingston County birth through three years of age the following services: identification of children at risk of developmental delays, identification and referral of children with developmental delays, developmental education, developmental stimulation, and environmental enrichment.
Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation AIR is a program designed to maintain and enhance the quality of life of individuals with disabilities through comprehensive, specialized recreation programs, activities and special events.