August 8th, 2022 — Heritage Behavioral Health Center names Mary E. Garrison, LCSW, ACSW as President and CEO following the retirement of Heritage President and CEO, Candi Clevenger. Garrison has over 25 years of practice experience in mental health services, policy and advocacy working in community mental health and academia.
“It is with gratitude and the utmost respect that the Board of Directors of Heritage Behavioral Health Center announces the retirement of Candi Clevenger as Chief Executive Officer, effective July 31, 2022. We have all grown to appreciate and respect Candi’s dedication, leadership and contributions to the agency, staff, and those that we serve. We wish her the best of luck in her retirement,” stated Ruth Hibberd-Anderson, Heritage Board Chairperson.
Clevenger began her career at Heritage in October 1990, and was named CEO in September 2015. During her tenure at Heritage, Clevenger was the champion of many progressive and innovative projects including development and collaboration of housing projects including Heritage Fields, Heritage Grove, Safehaven, West Main Group Home, Timari Court, Carrie Lane); acquisition of the Oasis Day and Resource Center, the Wellness Recovery Drop-In Center, and the Heritage Corporate facilities; opened Heritage’s first out-of-county facility in Clinton; expanded programming that created new jobs (increased from 80 to 225 Heritage employees); and awarded a federal grant to provide primary health care services on-site for Heritage clients.
Clevenger was also active in local, state, and national boards/associations, including Mental Health Corporations of America (Board Member), Community Behavioral Health Association (Board Treasurer), Macon County Health Department (past Board President, current Treasurer), Illinois Health Practice Alliance Board and Macon County Continuum of Care.
“I am humbled and honored to embrace this new role as President and CEO of Heritage Behavioral Health Center. I am beyond excited to work with agency staff, community stakeholders and individuals served by Heritage to advance treatment for all impacted by mental illness and substance use. Heritage has just celebrated its 66th year and under my leadership, Heritage will be a flagship for those in need of treatment in our community,” stated Garrison.
Garrison serves as a representative for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Delegate Assembly and is chair of the NASWIL Chapter Ethics Committee. Mary is currently a board member of Kennedy Forum Illinois, NAMI Illinois, the Farm Family Resource Initiative Advisory Board, the Good Samaritan Inn, Webster Cantrell Youth Advocacy, and the Macon County Continuum of Care. Mary advocates passionately and fights for social justice for individuals facing issues regarding mental health and addiction. Mary is a past recipient of the NASW Illinois Social Worker of the Year Award and the Cesar Chavez Social Justice Award (2 times) Mary published a co-authored book entitled “Your Playbook for Beating Depression: Essential Strategies for Managing and Living with Depression”.
Garrison has a son and resides with her partner, David Horn, Millikin Professor of Biology, in the west end of Decatur.
For more information, visit www.heritagenet.org.
