ROUND LAKE – Nicasa Behavioral Health Services, a non-profit agency providing substance abuse, mental health, and family support services to Lake County residents, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month.
Founded in 1966, Nicasa has grown from a one-employee organization to a social services powerhouse that has 8 facilities, nearly 100 employees, and a full array of services from prevention and early intervention to treatment and recovery, the agency announced in a news release.
“It is incredible to celebrate this milestone in Nicasa’s history. We’ve made so many advancements and developed new programs and services in response to industry trends, population changes, and shifting approaches to the treatment of behavioral health concerns,” Bruce Johnson, Nicasa’s chief executive officer, said in the release.
According to the news release, Nicasa adapted its services in 1972 to be bilingual and bicultural for the growing Latino population and opened Lake County’s first co-ed halfway house. In 1984, it developed ground-breaking prevention programming for substance abuse. Just one year later, it began providing substance abuse services for adolescents. In 1988, Nicasa piloted workplace-based parent education and support program that received national recognition and is now replicated across the country.
In 1996, Nicasa opened the Teen Court program for first-time youth offenders. Today, Nicasa is the largest provider of youth courts in Illinois. In 2000, Nicasa developed after school programming for at-risk students. In 2004, Nicasa began a collaboration with Lake County Drug Court to improve the success rates of men and women with multiple drug convictions. In 2010, Nicasa became a Family Advocacy Center, providing family crisis management and emergency support services to struggling families with minor children. In 2011, Nicasa expanded its youth services to include intensive outpatient treatment. In 2013, Nicasa piloted mental health services to meet an overwhelming need in Lake County.
The 50th anniversary year will include a number of special events. The year kicked off with the Annual Charity Golf Outing, held on June 20 at White Deer Run. A Celebration Event for supporters, donors, individuals in recovery, and community members will be held on September 30. Open houses will provide opportunities for supporters throughout the Lake County to participate in Nicasa's 50th celebration.
"Life as a non-profit in the state of Illinois has become very challenging in recent years. We're very fortunate to have these incredible supporters that have sustained us over the years and allow us to focus on the people who need us," Johnson said.