​​CONTACT

Maggie Lyons
President/Parent Liaison

Maggie Lyons has worked in various social service agencies in Illinois.  She worked with DCFS as a Case Worker, as well as a Surrogate Parent.  She was Director of an In-Home Support Program for Little Friends, Inc. for more than 15 years and continues to support and mentor families who have children and adults with developmental disabilities.   She has served as President of the Will County Catholic Charities Head Start Board, President of The Alpha Christian Training Center Board, and Sunday Bible School Director at the Alpha M.B. Church for several years.  Mrs. Lyons has been a part of the Illinois Respite Coalition Board for more than 10 years and has represented the coalition at many national ARCH Respite Conferences.  She is also a Family Support Facilitator for NAMI of Will County (National Alliance for Mental Illness) at the Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital. Mrs. Lyons is married with 4 children, 2 of whom have developmental disabilities.


Sherryl Heinz
Secretary/Treasurer

Sherryl Heinz has volunteered as a respite care worker through Clearbrook since 2009. Through this work, she has been able to provide times of rest and relief for the primary caregivers. Mrs. Heinz's specialty is turning play time into learning time without the care recipient even being aware of it. Her favorite thing about being a respite care worker is the smile she sees when she shows up at the door for her shift.  As a board member of the Illinois Respite Coalition, she is happy to be able to assist families with their special care needs.


Lynn Betts
Board Member

Lynn Betts has been employed at the Family Resource Center on Disabilities (FRCD) in Chicago for 16 years.  Mrs. Betts is the Assistance Director at Family Resource Center on Disabilities.  She has worked on the Family Supported project and the Youth Advocate Project.  She provided Transition services to families and linked families to needed services.  Mrs. Betts also provides Special Education Rights training seminars at local school districts, Head Start programs, social services agencies, parent organizations, and in the FRCD office.  Additionally, Mrs. Betts is a parent of two young adults who received Special Education services in the local school district and one young adult who attended a Chicago Community College.


Mel Liong

Secretary

Cheryl Smith 
Board Member 

Cheryl Smith currently works in the Collection Department of the Internal Revenue Service for 35 years. She has been involved in the developmental disability arena for over 25 years within her community and church.  She has been an active member of Alpha Missionary Baptist Church for the past 30 years. Mrs. Smith has also been involved in the following ministries; Children’s Choi Director, Discipleship Coordinator and Sunday Bible School Director. She is also a Family Support Facilitator for the NAMI of Will County (National Alliance for Mental Illness) at the Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital.  Mrs. Smith is married with 2 children. 


Illinois Respite Coalition Board Members