Russell to lead county's mental health board

July 17--DANVILLE -- A new leader and been selected to take the reins of the county's mental health board next month.

The Mental Health Board met Friday evening and approved the selection of Jim Russell as the newest executive director of the Vermilion County 708 Mental Health Board. He officially begins work on Aug. 1.

Russell, minister at Orchard Hills Church of Christ in Covington, Ind., has been in this area since 1985 and in supervisory positions in mental health since 1996, including working for the Center for Children's Services in Danville.

"So there is some familiarity with how the board has operated," he said. "There's also some familiarity with services that are in the community and also some knowledge of the needs that exist.

"I think all of those can be assets in taking the job," Russell added.

In addition, Russell has a master's degree in counseling and holds a license as a clinical professional counselor and as a sex offender treatment specialist.

Russell announced news of his new position to his congregation on Wednesday. He said he plans to continue as minister of the church during his tenure as 708 Board executive director.

The Mental Health 708 Board, established by the Community Mental Health Act, works on planning, reviewing and evaluating community programs and facilities providing mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities services to local residents.

Board members allocate local tax revenues to five service providers: WorkSource, Prairie Center Health Systems, Crosspoint Human Services, Hoopeston Multi-Agency and Wraparound/Complex Service Planning.

"It's still for the most part, it's a lot of the same programs, a lot of the same needs, a lot of the same goals that are in place that we can try to make sure are being addressed in the best possible way," Russell said. "We can look at better ways for some of those."

Russell takes of the position held for a number of years by Dee Ann Ryan. Harsha Gurujal, vice president of the 708 Mental Health Board, said Ryan left at the end of March. She has opened her own consulting firm and also teaches as Danville Area Community College, he said.

Gurujal said Russell was selected from a field of nine candidates. Four of the candidate met with a search committee put together to fill the executive director's seat.

Gurujal noted the field of applicants is a point of pride, noting each had as least a masters degree and some social welfare or mental health background.

"And every one was from the community; not one was from out of town," he said. "That made me truly excited."

Gurujal said Russell had a nice presentation and offered an excellent vision of the future for the community.

"His experience is congruent with what we need going forward," he said.

Russell is scheduled to meet with representatives of agencies making up the 708 Mental Health Board at a July 28 meeting.

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