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Board and community honor Connie Machini for decades of work in McHenry County behavioral health
Summary
Board members and community leaders paid tribute to Connie Machini for 20 years of service to the McHenry County Mental Health Board, citing program expansions, capital projects and mentorship; Machini reviewed accomplishments including bringing providers and securing grants.
The McHenry County Mental Health Board honored retiring board member Connie Machini on Jan. 6, recognizing more than two decades of service to county behavioral-health initiatives. Board members and public commenters described Machini as a mentor who helped bring programs and providers to the county and who guided the board through times of change.
Laurie Crane, speaking during public comment, said she had worked with Machini since 1995 and called her a mentor and protector through challenging events in school and service settings. Scott Block, a former executive director who addressed the meeting, praised Machini’s dedication and credited her with advancing services and fiscal stewardship in county behavioral health.
Machini recounted several accomplishments during her remarks: facilitating the arrival of providers such as Rosecrans and adolescent intensive outpatient programming, supporting the establishment of residential programs and day-services (including Clearbrook), helping to secure a detox center with Northern Illinois Recovery, contributing to a $750,000 board investment to relocate and rehab PADS facilities, and participating in grants and loans that led to the board’s current building being paid off. She closed by urging the board to keep county needs foremost in decision-making.
The board invited attendees to remain after the meeting for a small social and cake to celebrate Machini’s service.
