County officials announced a first-of-its-kind care facility in Round Lake dedicated to providing health services to veterans, first responders and their families in Lake County.
The Frontline Care Center, located in Round Lake, is the first wellness location dedicated to veterans, first responders and their families in Lake County.
The new community-based facility offers behavioral health services designed to support those who have served and sacrificed for the community and country.
Frontline Care Center will provide screenings, crisis intervention, therapy, holistic wellness services and more.
Nicasa Behavioral Health Services, the Lake County Board, Living Pono Counseling, the 100 Club of Illinois and the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County came together on Monday to mark the grand opening of the facility.
“Our communities have an obligation to care for our First Responders, military service members, Veterans and their families. We want to care for those that care for all of us,” said Bruce N. Johnson, CEO of Nicasa, who is also a retired Marine Corps veteran and retired chief of police.
“We are grateful to the Lake County Board for their generous support, to our many partners and the selfless volunteers and donors who have worked to make this important project a reality,” Johnson said.
The Lake County Board allocated $2.3 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to Nicasa Behavioral Health Services to help renovate the existing building on Railroad Avenue in Round Lake.
“The Frontline Care Center will be life-changing to those that serve and protect us when they need it most,” Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart said.
“We are proud to support our incredible First Responders and the estimated 100,000 active, reserve and retired military service members and their families who live in Lake County,” Hart said.
Officials say the Frontline Care Center will be a safe and confidential space where active-duty service members, reservists, veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, telecommunicators and their families can seek services from providers and peers who have lived experience within the occupations.
“We have so many people to thank, from Bruce Johnson at Nicasa to Chief Greg Formica with the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District, who helped bring this project to reality,” said John Wasik, Lake County Board Member for District 6.
“I was honored to support this project. I personally knew a young public servant who took his life. It is my hope that this new service will help to save and improve the lives of our First Responders who serve and protect us 24/7 throughout Lake County,” Wasik said.
“It’s no secret suicide rates among Veterans and First Responders are climbing across America,” said Andrew Tangen, Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County.
“Having a local walk-in center where our most vulnerable Veterans and First Responders can seek immediate treatment will be a game changer,” Tangen said.
Family members who are close to first responders and veterans are often the first to notice that they are facing a behavioral health challenge, officials say.
They also experience barriers to accessing services due to stigma, burden, confidentiality, privacy, a lack of awareness and increased isolation.
“My team and I are here to help them get the most out of their care to achieve their goals and overcome patterns that go unseen,” said Cindy McKnight, owner of Living Pono Counseling and Executive Director of the Frontline Care Center.
“We look forward to continuing to serve our hero populations with our partners in Nicasa, Living Pono Counseling and the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County at the Frontline Care Center,” said Caitlyn Brennan, Chief Executive Officer of the 100 Club of Illinois.
Those who would like to learn more about the assistance the Frontline Care Center can provide should email [email protected] or call 847-201-7095.