ABOVE: (L to R) STEPUP Steering Team member Terri White, Crosspoint Human Services CEO Lisa Rhodes, Crosspoint VP of Clinical Services Michelle Nelson, OSF Health Care’s President for Danville & Urbana Medical Centers J.T. Barnhart, Danville Police Chief Christopher Yates, and Vermilion County Sheriff Pat Hartshorn.
It was this past July that a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Danville, the Danville Police Department, and Crosspoint Human Services was passed at a Danville City Council meeting. And Friday (Sept 18) morning during the Vermilion County STEPUP meeting at Danville’s Second Church of Christ, those in attendance heard on update on the new team effort to get those who need treatment for mental health issues TO THAT TREATMENT as soon as possible.
Sheriff Pat Hartshorn stated that over the last three to four decades, Illinois hospitals have been providing needed mental health treatment less and less. And as a result, sometimes someone needing treatment can end up in jail for an extended period of time, which can cause their mental health situation to decrease even further. Sheriff Hartshorn later explained the situation to CIMG.
AUDIO: It’s a two-edged sword here. There are some people that are not responsible for their actions because of their mental health. Those people need to go on to a state facility, but the state doesn’t recognize their obligation to pay for these facilities. And that’s the problem with why we have so many laying around in county jails that need mental health treatment.
(1st Picture) STEPUP founder Deanna Witzel welcomes everyone to Friday morning meeting. (3rd Picture) J.T. Barnhart, President of OSF HealthCare Sacred Heart Medical Center in Danville and HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana, explains plans to provide needed Mental Health Treatment at OSF’s Urbana facility.
As Sheriff Hartshorn explained further, some mentally ill patients have done something legally wrong and need the treatment immediately after released from custody. That’s ONE problem. But the second problem is, what if law enforcement comes across a disturbance where someone CANNOT be arrested, but DOES need help?
AUDIO: Police officers go on a lot of calls that have nothing to do with crime. So, they’re going to be able to get with these people early on; and hopefully get appointments set up, and get professionals working with them; even though they’re not being arrested by the police.
And that’s where the Danville Police partnership with Crosspoint Human Services comes in. Danville’s Police Chief Yates stated that for about seven years Danville’s been hoping for the right funding and right partnership for such an effort. And with the new “Law Enforcement Crisis Worker” position funded by Crossroads and stationed at the Public Safety Building, things are in place. If officers see someone who needs immediate help, they know who to call to get the process going. Hired for the position was Vickie McCarty. Chief Yates says McCarty previously did some chaplain work for the police department.
AUDIO: And at that time we did not have a chaplain. And I challenged her. I said “if this is something that you can do; and go in and build a rapport with the officers, fantastic.” She’s well thought of in the department, and I think this is a perfect fit. I wasn’t aware that she was putting in for the position, but when I found out I was pleasantly surprised.
Yates says he is hoping to add a second Law Enforcement Crisis Worker. He says anyone interested should get on Crosspoint’s Job Board, learn more about the position, and see if you would like to join the team.
Also at Friday’s meeting; J.T. Barnham, president of OSF’s facilities in Danville and Urbana; stated that if someone in Vermilion County needs the special mental health treatment being offered at their Urbana location, OSF will be able to get them there.
AUDIO: We have two car services, two different agencies that we work with that have behavioral health car transport services. That’s probably going to be the majority of how patients get transported from this community. Crosspoint’s doing Mobile Crisis Screening; so (it’s designed to determine) that patients don’t actually need to go to come to the ER (Emergency Room) for medical. They can actually come straight to Urbana, and go up to the Acute Mental Health floor.
Attending the STEPUP meeting from Crosspoint Human Services were CEO Lisa Rhodes and Vice-President of Clinical Services Michelle Nelson.
VRMILIONCOUNTYFIRST.COM STORY ON MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING PASSAGE FROM JULY, 2026: https://vermilioncountyfirst.com/2026/07/07/danville-city-council-approves-new-law-enforcement-crisis-worker-for-police-dept-funded-by-crosspoint-human-services/
