Palatine Township Community Mental Health Board

Palatine Township Appoints Community Mental Health Board Members

Palatine Township Supervisor Andy-John G. Kalkounos and the Township Board of Trustees are proud to announce the members of the newly-established Community Mental Health Board, a group that focuses on ensuring funds are allocated to mental health providers in Palatine Township. The public Board Members are Karen Baker, Joseph T. Serio, Kathy Millin, Jennifer Iannuzzelli, Sarah McKillop, and Jiby A. Vettickal. Senior Trustee Michael C. Smolka will serve as the Township Board’s liaison to the Mental Health Board.

Karen Baker serves as the System Director Community Impact and Engagement at Endeavor Health-Northwest Community Hospital where over the past eighteen years she has been responsible for conducting the tri-annual Community Health Needs Assessments. She designed and managed community health programs to benefit the under-resourced. Baker is also one of Palatine Township’s “very own” when she worked as Palatine Township Outreach Coordinator from 2003-2007.

Joseph Serio is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a National Board Certified Counselor who serves as the Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Quality and Compliance Officer at Compass Health Center. Previously he worked as manager of Kenneth Young Center and a Sr. Crisis Counselor at the Bridge Youth and Family Services. He brings over three decades of leadership in behavioral health to the Mental Health Board. Serio has a Master’s Degree in Community Agency Counseling and a Master’s Degree in Cognitive and Developmental Psychology from Northern Illinois University.

Kathy Millin, who has a Bachelor’s Degree from University of Iowa, has served for the past 28 years as the Executive Director of Partners for Our Community. In that role, Millin was instrumental in working with School District 211 in guiding teenagers with developmental disabilities into adulthood and with local police departments in pretrial and diversion programming for those with substance abuse disorders. She is close to the barriers of the underserved members of the community when faced with mental health challenges. From expanding education services with Harper College and Palatine Library District to launching the I-Compete Youth program, Kathy’s legacy is one of compassion, collaboration and transformative impact.

Jennifer Iannuzzelli is a dedicated Learning Behavior Specialist with 30 years of experience at the junior high level. Holding both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Special Education, as well as an administrative endorsement, she specializes in supporting students with a wide range of needs, including intellectual, developmental, and neurodevelopmental disabilities, as well as social/emotional and other health impairments. As a National Board Certified teacher for 17 years and a Department Chair, Jennifer is deeply committed to both her profession and her community, driven by a passion for volunteering and ensuring every student can be successful.

Sarah McKillop has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Illinois-Chicago and her BS in Sociology from Carthage College. She serves as the Emergency Management Agency Coordinator for the Village of Palatine Fire Department, where she focuses on embedding mental wellness into emergency response strategies. She is the key liaison between local, county and state emergency agencies.

Jiby Vettickal, who brings two decades of financial expertise to the Mental Health Board, has an MBA from George Mason University, and for the past 26 years has coached youth of all developmental levels in schools and community organizations in Chicagoland. He has a deep understanding of the suffering and needs of those afflicted with disabilities and mental illness.

Iannuzzelli, McKillop, and Vettickal have been vital members of the Palatine Township Human Needs Committee for a combined 17 years. These individuals aren’t just credentialed; they have already delivered for this community. They know the agencies, the process and the responsibility that comes with their new role. For the past twenty-five years, the Human Needs Committee has funded programs provided by accredited agencies in the Township that supply lifesaving, life sustaining and life enriching services for the most needy and vulnerable in the Palatine Township community.

Each member of the newly appointed Palatine Township Community Mental Health Board brings a unique combination of professional and personal expertise, lived experience, and demonstrated leadership in service to the community. This thoughtful composition ensures the Community Mental Health Board is well-equipped to address the complex mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse challenges facing Palatine Township residents. Their deep commitment and collective experience will be essential as this Board begins its vital work.

The Community Mental Health Board members and their terms of office:

2 years: Karen Baker and Joseph Serio

3 years: Kathy Millin and Jiby Vettickal

4 years: Sarah McKillop and Jennifer Iannuzzelli

Trustee Michael Smolka for a 4-year term and to run concurrently with his elected term to the Township Board.