Human Support Services Selects New Executive Director
The board of directors of Human Support Services (HSS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Monroe County, has selected Anne King to succeed longtime Executive Director Robert J. Cole when he retires in September.
King, a licensed clinical social worker, is currently serving as the nonprofit’s chief program officer.
She will become the first female to serve as executive director of the nonprofit when she takes over on August 1.
“Since joining our organization in 2014, Anne has expressed a tremendous commitment to making Human Support Services Monroe County’s primary resource for excellent, accessible and affordable services for those affected by mental and behavioral health concerns and developmental disabilities,” said Janice Crawford, president of the HSS board of directors. “Her familiarity with our agency, her leadership role in the greater community, and the accomplishments she has already achieved at our organization made her the front-runner in a field of strong applicants.”
King serves on the executive board of the Monroe County Coalition for Drug-Free Communities and is a consultant to the House of Neighborly Services.
Over the last year, King has trained dozens of first responders, clergy and community members in Mental Health First Aid, a program dedicated to educating the public on how to respond in a mental health emergency and offer support to someone who appears to be in emotional distress.
“HSS plays a pivotal role in Monroe County – we are one of the top 10 employers, and we provide services that are invaluable to our clients and the community at large,” King said. “It is an honor to be given the opportunity to build on that foundation, and to strengthen our community partnerships and relationships.”
Before she joined HSS, King served as vice president and chief program officer of Hoyleton Youth and Family Services. She also worked in leadership positions at several other human services agencies in the region. She earned a master’s degree in social work from St. Louis University in 2002.
Cole, who has served as HSS executive director for 11 years, joined the organization after 20 years of leadership roles in community mental health centers in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
During his tenure at HSS Cole led an expansion of the agency’s residential programs and provided strong financial leadership during a prolonged period of financial stress due to State of Illinois funding cutbacks.
Cole is only the second person to fill the leadership role for the organization. Jim Poschel served as executive director of Human Support Services for the first 33 years.
Human Support Services was founded in 1973 to provide a local source of mental health services in Monroe County.
Since that time, HSS has expanded to include a full range of outpatient mental health services; an affordable housing program for persons with disabilities; a day and work services program for persons needing assistance in acquiring vocational and independent living skills and experience; and DUI/DWI services.