About Us
Mission
We partner with communities
to support people of all ages
to navigate life’s challenges
through personalized prevention,
intervention, treatment, and recovery.
Vision
Together We Thrive.
Our Work
Kenneth Young Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit fostering healthier communities through:
- Counseling for adults, children, families
- Assessment, stabilization, linkage for adults/children in psychiatric crisis
- Treatment, support, and recovery services for those with serious mental illness
- Service coordination and in-home services for older adults
- Substance use prevention and recovery
- Alcohol, drug, and pregnancy prevention programs for youth
- LGBTQ+ Center for youth and young adults
- Volunteer opportunities
We are accredited by the Joint Commission, a nationally respected body with stringent standards of excellence in healthcare.
Board of Directors
- Elizabeth Demaret, President, Carrier Services, Sedgwick
- Eileen Gillespie, Principal, Huron Consulting
- Dominice LaPorte, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Mather
- Scott Saxe, President, Saxe Enterprises, LLC
- Elizabeth J Stigler, PhD, Director of Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging, American College of Chest Physicians
KYC is proud to be accepting applications for our Board of Directors. To learn more, please click here.
Leadership Team
- Steven Gaydos, Interim Chief Executive Officer
- Crissy Castillo, Director of Older Adult Division
- Kate Garbarek, Director of Development and Communications
- Dr. Jerry Gibbons, Medical Director
- Lisa Hendrickson, LCSW, Director of Recovery Services
- John Horsley, LCSW, MSW, MBA, Director of Outpatient Services
- Jonathan McKay, Director of Business and Operations
- Gongmin Mou, Technology Director
- Adan Rodriguez, CPA, Director of Finance
- Linda Springer, Senior Clinical Director
- Elaine Vinson, Director of Talent and Culture
Steven Gaydos
Steve joined the KYC team in January 2024, taking on the roles of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. He became Interim Chief Executive Officer in September 2024. Steve spent the first part of his professional career as a healthcare consultant. While serving as a Board member of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet, Steve discovered a passion for mission-driven financial work. This led him to become the Director of Finance and Administration at Catholic Charities. Later, Steve brought his expertise to All Chicago Making Homelessness History as Chief Financial and Operations Officer. At both organizations, he played a key role in substantial financial growth and operational improvements, earning recognition as a “CFO of the Year” by the Daily Herald in 2015. Inspired by KYC's mission, Steve feels honored to be chosen as its first CFO.
Steve holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois, Urbana, and a Master’s Degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He is a licensed CPA and received the Elijah Watt Sells Award and the Illinois Bronze Medal for his performance on the CPA exam. Outside of KYC, Steve enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. He is actively involved in his church, contributing his musical talents to the church choir by singing and playing soprano saxophone.
Crissy Castillo
Crissy came to KYC in 2006 as a Choices for Care Screener on the Older Adults Team, completing nursing home prescreen evaluations at Alexian Brothers Medical Center. In 2009, she was promoted to become the Choices for Care Program Team Lead, overseeing and growing the program for five years. Leaving KYC for just a few months in 2016, Crissy returned to be the Director of Older Adult Services, advocating for clients while leading the Older Adults Division. “KYC puts clients first and goes above and beyond the call of duty to make sure we serve our clients” said Crissy.
Crissy got her Bachelor’s degree at Northeastern Illinois University and a Master’s degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago, both in Social Work. When not at KYC, Crissy can be found with her husband Arnie and two young children, Sophia and Santino.
Kate Garbarek
Kate joined the KYC Team in 2016 after managing the Friendship Senior Options Foundation in Schaumburg. With over a decade of experience in fundraising and communications, as well as a degree in Strategic Communication from Miami University, Kate continued her education at the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and received her Certificate in Fund Raising Management.
Within her role, Kate oversees the fundraising, community outreach, and marketing for KYC's programs and services. When not at KYC, Kate is an avid traveler, gardener, and tennis player.
Dr. Jerry Gibbons
Since 2000, Dr. Gibbons has served KYC as a psychiatrist and then Medical Director. As a Licensed Physician and Surgeon, Dr. Gibbons works closely with KYC staff and patients to ensure quality medical care and medication monitoring. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts from Kalamazoo College, Dr. Gibbons completed his pre-medical studies at Loyola University and became a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois. Dr. Gibbons completed an internship at St. Joseph Hospital in Family Medicine and pursued his psychiatry residency at Northwestern University Medical School. He is a member of American Psychiatric Association, Illinois Psychiatric Society, and the American Medical Association. “I have dedicated much of my career to KYC because of our commitment to serve clients in need, regardless of their ability to pay. The client always comes first.”
Dr. Gibbons enjoys golf, exercise, travel and working on home improvement projects with his wife Laura.
Lisa Hendrickson, LCSW
Lisa joined KYC in 2007, beginning her work as a Vocational Counselor supporting adults with disabilities as they found and maintained employment. She transitioned to support the opening of Myers Place, KYC’s first permanent supportive housing development, and was quickly promoted to develop KYC's new Community Support Team services. Lisa has served as the Director of Community Living since 2020 and oversees a variety of community-based programming across the Northwest Suburbs, including intensive support to adults with serious mental illness and PRIME services under the Williams & Colbert Consent Decrees that support individuals transitioning from institutions into independent housing in the community. Outside of her work at KYC, Lisa worked in the criminal justice system, advocating for the fair treatment and improved living conditions for incarcerated persons in Illinois prison system, specifically transgender and intersex individuals who are at especially high risk.
Lisa received her Masters in Social Work from the University of St. Francis and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. When not at KYC, she volunteers on the Board of the Center for Advancing Domestic Peace and is a passionate scuba diver.
John Horsley, LCSW, MSW, MBA
John joined KYC as the Director of Outpatient Services in 2022, overseeing behavioral health programs for youth and adults. Prior to KYC, he spent more than a decade at Oaklawn Psychiatric Center in various leadership positions, most recently as the Vice President of Adult and Addiction Services. He established peer services, an opioid mobile crisis program, same-day access services, and their mobile crisis unit. John also taught various graduate courses at Indiana University School of Social Work, in addition to providing field clinical supervision to post graduate students.
John received his Bachelor of General Studies and Master of Social Work at Indiana University, and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from Western Governors University. Outside of his work at KYC, John enjoys spending time with his family, watching/participating in various sports, and spending time outdoors backpacking or kayaking.
Jonathan McKay
Jonathan joined KYC in early 2019 as New Business Development Director to help expand our capabilities to better serve our community and leverage the talent at KYC. Jonathan brings decades of experience ranging from being a partner in a leading management consulting firm, to being a professor at Northwestern University, to being an executive in several startups. He has also volunteered in numerous community-based organizations spanning education, churches, and poverty alleviation.
Jonathan has an MBA from Harvard Business School and an engineering degree from Pennsylvania State. When not at KYC, he loves being dad to his two sons and their buddies.
Gongmin Mou
Gongmin has worked at Kenneth Young Center since 1997, developing CIS, a nationally certified electronic health record system. As CIS’s founder and KYC’s Technology Director, Gongmin oversees the daily operation of data collection and processing for all behavioral health services, as well as the technology needs for the agency.
Gongmin was a Ph.D. Candidate at Northern Illinois University with a concentration in Information Management in Government and has a Masters of Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Shandong University in Jinan, China.
Adan Rodriguez, CPA
Adan Rodriguez, CPA, joined KYC’s Leadership Team in 2024 as the Director of Finance with over a decade of experience serving nonprofit financial services. Most recently, Adan was the Senior Director of Finance for All Chicago Making Homelessness History. In his role, he refined financial operations to implement financial policies and procedures for their growing operational budget, while monitoring the organization’s financial health and security. He has extensive experience with federal and state grant funding, financial reporting and reconciliation, investment accounting, and cross collaboration with programmatic staff to ensure operational needs are met.
Adan is a Licensed Certified Public Accountant and earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago. When not at KYC, Adan enjoys spending quality time with family and beloved pets. Additionally, he is dedicated to giving back to the community through volunteering. Helping others and making a positive impact is something he truly values.
Linda Springer
Linda Springer is Senior Clinical Director of Behavioral Health at the Kenneth Young Center with 36 years of experience helping people with behavioral health challenges recover, thrive and live their best lives.
Linda began her tenure at KYC in 1987 where her journey commenced as a Crisis Services therapist that provided comprehensive counseling encompassing individual, family, couple and group therapy for both children and adults.
Linda has held various leadership positions in her three plus decades at KYC. In 1998 she was appointed Manager of Adult Services heralding a pivotal role where she provided robust leadership and direction to the Adult Services Team. In 2008 Linda moved into the Director role for all Adult Outpatient and Recovery services where she facilitated the expansion of services to include a Drop in Center, CST, and ACT services. Under Linda’s leadership KYC became a prime agency and provides transitional services for Colbert and Williams Consent Decree members. Front Door diversion services were added as well. A need was determined for Substance Use Services thus Linda led the way for KYC to attain their SUPR license and KYC now provides intensive outpatient services to both adults and adolescents struggling with substance use issues.
In 2019 Linda took over oversight of all clinical programming at KYC which included all Child and Adolescent services as well as crisis services. Under Linda’s leadership expansion in Child and Adolescent and Crisis services also transpired. Multiple school counseling programs were implemented, KYC became a CCSO and Pathway services were implemented. Linda oversaw the addition of Mobile Crisis Response services under the 590 grant and most currently is overseeing the development of a Living Room.
Work force development has been a passion for Linda in her career directing the intern program at KYC from 1989 to 2014. She provided clinical supervision to post graduates for many years and shaped the program into an outstanding experience for students coming into the field of community mental health. She was an Adjunct Faculty Lecturer at Northwestern University from 1996-2000. She currently sits on the Advisory Council for the Human Services Department at College of DuPage in particular support of the CRSS training program.
Linda’s unwavering dedication, from her inception in 1987 to her current pivotal role, stands as a testament to her invaluable contribution to KYC and the individuals it serves.
Linda has her Master of Science in Psychology from Western Illinois University and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.
When not a KYC, Linda enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and spending time outdoors camping and hiking.
Elaine Vinson
Elaine joined the KYC Leadership Team in March, 2024, bringing 30 years of human resources experience to support KYC’s growing team. Specializing in the healthcare industry and for nonprofit organizations, Elaine’s broad experience includes talent acquisition and recruitment, employee relations and culture building, performance and change management, and more. Most recently, she served as the Director of Human Resources for Community First Medical Center in Chicago, building strong and diverse teams that effectively and compassionately serve others.
Elaine earned both her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science as well as her Master of Public Administration from Iowa State University. While not at KYC, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Most Recent Annual Report
Our annual report outlines the highlights of our fiscal year: July 1 to June 30.
Who Was Kenneth Young?
Kenneth Young was a dedicated Board Member and community leader for our organization and the agency took his name in honor of his service.
Kenneth Wayne Young played many roles in his life: husband, father, pastor, military man, scholar, advisor, friend. He was many things to many people. He loved to preach and give speeches, and when he spoke, everyone listened. He had a way of making each listener feel as if he was speaking just to them. He had a spirit that captivated others and inspired greatness. He knew when to lead and when to let others shine as leaders. Over thirty years after his death, those who knew him talk about him with warmth, reverence, and always a smile.
But one of Ken’s greatest titles had to be “community activist”. During desegregation, he fought to integrate his community in Cicero, Illinois. He worked tirelessly for the Family Service Center there to give equal rights to people of all colors, believing to his core that every human being had the right to be cared for and respected.
When his family moved to Hoffman Estates, he worked as Pastor of Our Saviour’s United Methodist Church and quickly got involved with the Elk Grove-Schaumburg Township Mental Health Center, which would later be renamed in his memory as Kenneth Young Center. An idealist and revolutionary at heart, he volunteered for the center as a member of the board, becoming a trusted advisor to the CEO and leadership team. At that time, the center focused exclusively on mental health services, advocating for the most vulnerable in the community to have access to quality and compassionate mental health care. Despite years of his own health problems, Ken’s tenacious spirit never faltered. He tried to never miss a Sunday at the pulpit and helped at the center whenever possible. At 60 years old, Ken passed away from cancer in October, 1986. Just months later, the center where he spent so much of his time got a new name: Kenneth Young Center.
The rest, KYC friends, is history.
