The experienced staff at IABH, in coordination with the IABH Board of Directors, advocates at the state and federal levels in both Springfield, IL and Washington, DC.

Sara Moscato Howe, MS, CHES, is Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health (IABH).  Her responsibilities include state and federal policy analysis and advocacy efforts on behalf of the IABH's Membership. Ms. Howe also oversees the planning and implementation of the Association’s substance abuse prevention programs: Operation Snowball (OS) and the Cebrin Goodman Teen Institute (CGTI).  She is Chair of the Illinois Department of Human Services Social Services Advisory Council, a member of Illinois’ Human Services Commission, and serves as Public Policy Chair of the National Council for Behavioral Health.  Ms. Howe holds a Master of Science in Health Promotion with a research emphasis in collegiate peer alcohol abuse prevention a Bachelor of Arts in Health Promotion from Purdue University.  She is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. She is a member of the Animal Protective League of Springfield and Sangamon County and has previously served on their Board of Directors.  

Eric Foster guides the development of public policy recommendations for internal and external programming and research activities supporting IABH’s mission and strategic objectives for a state wide, comprehensive system of community-based Mental Health (MH) & Substance Use Disorder (SUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery support services.  Mr. Foster is actively engaged in state wide committee and workgroup discussions to ensure MH/SUD prevention, treatment and recovery support services are a continued priority as the state rolls out implementation of Medicaid Managed Care, Care Coordination efforts, Medicaid Expansion, and other healthcare reform initiatives in Illinois.

Mr. Foster began working in the field of addictions in 1997.  Prior to joining IABH in 2009, he served as the Director of Outpatient Services for the South Suburban Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, worked with children and teens from families of domestic violence, and was an educational trainer on the relationship between alcohol, drugs, and domestic violence.  He holds a master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Chicago, Social Services Administration a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Illinois State University, and is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.

Ashley Webb is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Illinois Association for Behavioral Health (IABH). She is the Director of CGTI, oversees Operation Snowball, Inc (OS), the OS Board of Directors, and the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) grant. Ashley is responsible for the planning, implementation, recruitment of volunteers and Community Action Teams (CATs), and providing technical assistance. She is also a part of IABH’s policy staff and supports the associations on-going advocacy efforts. 

Ashley joined the Association in 2014. Prior to joining IABH, Ashley worked as a Prevention Specialist where she gained experience working with a mentoring and tutoring program, a social norms communication campaign, interacted with local coalitions, and educated middle school and high school students, professionals, and communities on the importance of youth prevention.  Ashley holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in human development from DePaul University.

Raabiah Ali, MPH joins IABH as our first-ever Technical Assistance and Training Coordinator. She will serve as primary contact for members, agencies and individuals seeking technical assistance and/or training to accelerate adoption and implementation of mental health related evidence-based practices. She will also serve as the Association’s primary Mental Health First Aid instructor. Raabiah will be the local point of contact for mental health assistance requests to the regional Mental Health Technology Transfer Center. 

Prior to joining the Association, Raabiah served as an intern at DuPage County Community Services where she conducted outreach and assessments and provided supportive services to low-income individuals and families to connect them with mental health services and assist them in entering and sustaining permanent housing. Raabiah completed her Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and Master’s degree in Public Health at Benedictine University.

As Prevention Program Coordinator, Riley Blythe, MSW will work in concert with the Director of Strategic Initiatives to develop, implement and evaluate the Association’s prevention, wellness and leadership programs – Operation Snowball (OS) and the Cebrin Goodman Teen Institute (CGTI). She will support OS chapters and CGTI Community Action Teams through trainings, technical assistance, outreach, and fundraising, and work with community members to increase prevention programming throughout Illinois. 

Riley was first introduced to CGTI in 2012 and since has participated as a discussion group leader, Activity Coordinator, Conference Advisor, Care Team member, as well as a workshop presenter. Prior to joining IABH, Riley worked with individuals in recovery from substance abuse, members of the HIV community, and provided individual and group therapy to at-risk youth in the greater Chicago area. Riley holds a Master’s degree in Social Work with a specialization in Children and Family from Loyola University Chicago. As an alumnus of Homewood-Flossmoor High School, she has been volunteering with their Operation Snowball chapter in various leadership roles since 2010.

Laurie Thomas serves as Executive Assistant to the Vice-President for Mental Health Policy, handling administrative functions such as scheduling and correspondence.  Ms. Thomas also works with the Cebrin Goodman Teen Institute and Operation Snowball programs as a behind the scenes person.  Laurie also worked for IABH as an Administrative Assistant from 2007 – 2010.  Laurie attended Greenview High School and graduated in 2006.  After high school Laurie attended Lincoln Land Community College.  Laurie resides in Menard County with her husband and two sons. 

Laura Brookes, TASC, Inc.
Gary Halbach, Remedies Renewing Lives
Joan Hartman, Chestnut Health Systems
Brian Hazard, Stepping Stones, Inc.
Karel Homrig, Prevention First, Inc.
Deb Howe, Renz Addiction Counseling Ctr
JoAnne Marks, Abraxas Youth & Family Srvs
Tina Martin, Massac County Mental Health 
Heather Olson, Ctr for Alcohol & Drug Srvs
Teressa Perdieu, Central East Alcoholism & Drug Council
Andrea Quigley, Centerstone of Illinois

Donna Rennard, Serenity House
Susan Resko, The Josselyn Center
Mike Schwend, Preferred Family Healthcare
Ramaswamy Srinivasan, South Suburban Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
Jesse Tejada, Healthcare Alternative Systems
Lisa Thompson, Project Oz
Karen Wolownik-Albert, Gateway Foundation