Leadership
Meet the ACMHAI Executive Committee
Lynn Canfield
President
Lynn Canfield is a UIUC alum with a BS in Math and MA in Linguistics, thesis on Cultural Competence. In 2009 Ms. Canfield joined the Champaign County Mental and Health Developmental Disabilities Board as Associate Director for I/DD and in September 2016 became Executive Director. She is active in state and national trade associations, currently chairing ACMHAI’s I/DD Committee and NACBHDD’s Behavioral Health and Decarceration Committee and serving on its board of officers. She participates in NACO’s Healthy Counties Advisory Board, Health Policy Steering Committee, Data Driven Justice Initiative, and Stepping Up Initiative.
Jason Holcomb
Vice President & Legislative Co-Chair
Jason is a purpose-driven leader, with a tenacious passion for mental health. Having worked many years in the community mental health and disability sector, Jason sees mental health as foundational to the success of a community. Throughout his career, Jason has used innovative approaches to solving social problems. He has been trained in multiple collaborative approaches and brings a collaborative innovation lens to funding, project development, and community building. Currently, Jason serves as Director for the newly formed Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board. He has a master’s degree in social work (MSW) focused in leadership from Indiana University School of Social Work.
Amanda Teachout
Secretary
Amanda Teachout has been the Mental Health Board Manager at Hanover Township for the past four years. Prior to this, Amanda worked closely with adolescents in school based and clinical settings in both the mental health and substance use treatment fields. Amanda has also worked with people with developmental disabilities in recreational settings. Amanda holds a B.A. in Psychology from Judson University and an M.A. in Psychology from National Louis University. In addition to her work with Hanover Township Mental Health Board, Amanda also serves as a consultant for Elgin Township’s Mental Health Board. Amanda also serves as the Chair of Hanover Township’s Human Services Coordinating Council and is passionate about ensuring that high quality behavioral healthcare is accessible to all.
LeAnne Shoemaker
Treasurer
LeAnne Shoemaker has held the position of Director of Financial Operations for Macon County Mental Health Board for the past twelve years. Prior to joining MCMHB, her career was spent in the non-profit arena serving individuals with developmental disabilities; overseeing both programmatic and fiscal responsibilities. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance though University of Illinois at Springfield with a minor in Not-for -Profit Administration. Currently, she is a member of the executive board of the Decatur Lincolnland AMBUCS chapter.
Deborah Humphrey
Children’s Behavioral Health Committee
Deborah Humphrey, MBA, BSN, RN is the Executive Director of the Madison County Mental Health Board. She has 40+ years of behavioral health administration to include 21 years of work experience through her employment with two Community Mental Health Authorities. She has served in leadership positions, as President, Vice President, Executive Committee Member and Children’s Behavioral Health Committee, Chair for the Association of Community Mental Health Authorities of Illinois. She has a gubernatorial appointment to the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership as well as representation in numerous local, state, and national committees and workgroups.
Chris Myers
Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Committee
Chris Myers is the Executive Director of the Livingston County Mental Health Board and the Board for the Care and Treatment of Persons with a Developmental Disability. She received a B.A. in Social Work/Therapeutic Recreation from the College of St. Francis in Joliet, IL. Starting in a 0-3 Early Intervention Program, then Activity Director, Case manager, and Special Olympics coach for a Center for Developmental Disability services, to an Independent Service Coordinator for 13 years, and finally landed into the role as ED of our boards over five years ago. She also serves as the Director of the Livingston County Commission on Children and Youth which is run out of the office, is the treasurer of the Livingston County Homeless Coalition, and a participating member on the OSF Livingston Community Health Needs Assessment team.
Cheryl Potts
Legislative Co-Chair
Cheryl Potts is the executive director of Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township where she oversees the funding of mental health and substance use providers. She has worked in the field of human services for nearly 25 years, beginning in HIV care and housing for the vulnerable and more recently promoting access to care for people living with mental health and substance use disorders. She has dedicated her professional life, and much of her personal life, to being a champion for those who are marginalized in the community. Before the Community Mental Health Board, Cheryl served as the executive director of AMITA Alexian Brothers Housing and Health Alliance, was the executive director of The Kennedy Forum, and participated in numerous local and national committees aimed at eliminating social disparities of health. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from DePaul University and a Masters’ of Business Administration from North Park University. She is also a person living with a mental health disorder.
Jim Russell
Medicaid Chair
Deanna Cada
Membership Chair
Deanna Cada is the Executive Director of the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board and Adjunct Faculty at Northern Illinois University. Ms. Cada is committed to working with the Mental Health Board to ensure that all resident of DeKalb County have access to quality behavioral healthcare. Ms. Cada is involved in numerous community initiatives In DeKalb County. She is proud to be the Vice-President of ACMHAI. ACMHAI provides peer networking, professional development and innovative ideas for the field of Mental Health Boards
Ron Melka
Immediate Past President
In my career I have been on both sides of the social service funding system. I started as an Emergency Room Tech, a crisis worker, and then a court appointed Youth Advocate. I have been a CEO of a youth agency, a grant writer for an FQHC and a United Way Executive overseeing several million in funding. For the past 8 years I have been the Executive Director of the Lyons Township Mental Health Commission. Service wise, I am a longtime Kiwanis member and former LT Governor, a Scout Leader, and volunteer coach.
Ms. Dart has over seventeen years’ experience in non-profit association management. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of Prescription Justice, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the crisis of high prescription drug costs. Prior to her tenure with Prescription Justice, Ms. Dart was the Associate Executive Director for the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA), an 8,000-member organization dedicated exclusively to protecting the public’s health. Ms. Dart received her Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Health Services Administration degrees from the University of Illinois.