708 Mental Health Board
The Stephenson County 708 Mental Health Board has seven members who are all volunteers from the community. No compensation is received by any member nor per diem expenses. Grant applications are received each year and the Board evaluates the need of each agency and how available dollars will be distributed. Currently nine local agencies receive 708 grants. Meetings are devoted to 708 Board operational matters and agency reports of funded programs. All meetings comply with the Open Meetings Act and the public is invited. This website posts Board members, agencies, the current year’s meeting dates, times, and location, the meeting agenda and the annual budget.
How we were created.
Illinois passed the Community Mental Health Act (CMHA) in 1963. This act gives local governing bodies, which most often are counties, the authority to establish by referendum a 708 Mental Health Board. Stephenson County passed such a referendum in 1967. Levied tax dollars as defined by the CMHA are distributed annually to various county agencies. The levy is $0.005 of assessed property value. These agencies provide services to meet the needs for mental health, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, crisis intervention, maintenance of independent living along with other programs of support to schools, law enforcement, health providers and community groups.
708 Mental Health Board Members
| Name | Address | Contact | Term |
| Martha Furst, President | 1066 S. Browns Mill Rd. Freeport, IL 61032 |
mfurst@aeroinc.net 815 238-9391 |
2024 |
| Casey Jacobs Anthony, Vice President, County Board Representative | 1441 South Plum Avenue Freeport, IL 61032 |
canthony@stephensoncountyil.gov 815 297-4427 |
N/A |
| Anthony V. Coon, Treasurer | 10 N. Galena Ave, Suite 210 Freeport, IL 61032 |
tonycoonlaw@aol.com 815 235-2212 |
2025 |
| Carrie Helm, Secretary | 2667 Marvin Lane Freeport, IL 61032 |
chelm329@gmail.com 815 275-7055 |
2025 |
| Hugh Knapp | 1747 W. Parkview Dr. Freeport, IL 61032 |
huknapp.hk@gmail.com 815 232-6864 |
2024 |
| Deb Scott | 1433 W. American St Freeport, IL 61032 |
marydebra@icloud.com 815-275-9484 |
2027/2031 |
| Danielle Jackson | 533 North Hardin Avenue Freeport, IL 61032 |
mick 2995@yahoo.com 815 751-9247 |
2026/2030 |
