Rosecrance Residential

Craig A. Stallings is the Regional Vice President of Operations for Rosecrance Illinois. He received his bachelor’s degree in social work from Southern Illinois University and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in counseling from Northern Illinois University. With more than 25 years of experience in behavioral health, he is both a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Additionally, he has extensive experience working with first responders and young adults as well as individuals and families seeking treatment for opioid use disorders and medication-assisted treatment. He joined Rosecrance in 1997.

Debra McGuire is a unit coordinator at Rosecrance Harrison Campus in Rockford, Illinois, with almost two decades of experience in behavioral health. She supervises a team of clinical staff, implements evidence-based treatments, and works with a multidisciplinary team to provide the best care possible to clients seeking treatment in residential care. She has worked with youth, older adults, and co-occurring populations and specializes in women’s health needs. She holds a Master of Science in Psychology from the University of Phoenix and joined Rosecrance in 2008.

Denita Lynde directs operations at the Rosecrance Griffin Williamson Campus. She completed her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at Walden University and has more than 30 years in the behavioral health field with both clinical and administrative experience. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Denita is responsible for the development and oversight of programming for adolescent and adult residential services, and the adolescent recovery home at the Rosecrance Griffin Williamson Campus. Her approach is focused on implementing evidence-based programming and counseling interventions that build upon clients’ strengths and enhance their resilience through a holistic approach.

Hillary Schraufnagel coordinates care—including supervising counselors, creating treatment schedules, and working closely with site leaders—for adolescents in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders at the Rosecrance Griffin Williamson Campus in Rockford, Illinois. She joined Rosecrance in 2019 as a primary counselor. She earned her bachelor’s degree in family social services and her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Northern Illinois University. She is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Qualified Mental Health Professional. She has a strong background in family therapy and works to incorporate dialectical behavioral therapy in family relapse prevention planning to reinforce lessons and skills for parents and families in the home environment.

Jill Blake oversees access services for Rosecrance Iowa. Blake joined the Rosecrance team in 2006 and has over 30 years in the behavioral health field. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Wayne State College and is certified as an International Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Prior to her current role, she held both clinical and administrative roles at Rosecrance, including access counselor, access supervisor, and admissions coordinator.

LaShonda Walker oversees client care and the team at the Rosecrance Harrison Campus in Rockford, Illinois. She also manages the campus’s health center that offers detox/withdrawal management services, supports the nearby Greendale Recovery Home, and partners with the medical/nursing team to ensure the campus is providing premium services aligned with the Rosecrance mission. Walker earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Northern Illinois University and her Master of Science in clinical counseling from National Louis University. She has two decades of experience in the behavioral health field working with adolescents, adults, and co-occurring substance use and mental health populations. Walker joined Rosecrance in June 2004 at the Rosecrance Griffin Williamson Campus working with adolescents as a direct care staff. She then joined the clinical team as an addiction counselor and became a coordinator in 2017. Walker was actively involved in many projects at the Rosecrance Griffin Williamson Campus, including the rollout of serving adolescents with primary mental health diagnoses and implementation of the Butterfly Project, Emotions Anonymous, and Codependency Anonymous. Her treatment philosophy includes the use of DBT, CBT, reality therapy, and a trauma-informed approach.

Lisa Espig is a Unit Manager who leads behavioral health residential treatment for adults with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders at the Rosecrance Griffin Williamson Campus in Rockford, Illinois. She joined Rosecrance in 2019 as an addiction counselor at the Griffin Williamson Campus. Over the years, she has contributed to the development of several programs, including services for clients just beginning treatment and those with primary mental health diagnoses. Espig earned her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from National Louis University and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts (LPHA). She is passionate about promoting empowerment, increasing self-esteem, and supporting emotional regulation using dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and acceptance commitment therapy (ACT). Her ongoing professional goal is to continue developing and enhancing effective, person-centered programs that support individuals in overcoming addiction and building lasting recovery.

Meghan Cook is the Director of Access. She has been with Rosecrance Behavioral Health for over a decade and has been an integral part of access, admissions, client accounts, and utilization review. She holds a master’s degree in applied child and family studies and a License in Social Work and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor credentials.

Melissa Pappas is the Executive Director of Rosecrance Central Illinois, overseeing behavioral health programming in over six different counties. She has over a decade of experience working within the behavioral health field and began her career as an addiction counselor in southern Illinois. Much of her direct service career was as a clinical therapist within the state criminal justice system before becoming a clinical supervisor for a residential treatment program serving youth sex offenders. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who holds a Master of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Mika Leinonen is the Unit Coordinator for the health center and men’s units at Rosecrance Jackson Centers in Sioux City, Iowa. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology with a focus on criminology from the University of Iowa and is working on his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling through Walden University. Leinonen joined Rosecrance in 2017. Prior to his current role, he worked as an addiction counselor in the adult outpatient program and as a unit specialist in the adolescent residential program. He is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the state of Iowa.

Peter Mowris works with families of adult clients in residential treatment for substance use disorders. He has a Ph.D. and has taught nationwide before coming to Rosecrance. His work on the young men’s residential unit and the traditional men’s unit ignited an inner passion for the Rosecrance mission, which continues to grow in his current position. He also runs groups for clients in treatment to help them learn how to make amends with their families.

Traci Merchant oversees residential programs at Rosecrance Jackson Centers in Sioux City, Iowa. She joined Rosecrance in 2001 and has over 20 years of leadership experience. Merchant earned her bachelor’s degree in addiction studies and psychology and Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in nonprofit leadership from the University of South Dakota. She is an Advanced Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the state of Iowa and previously served as a board member for the Iowa Board of Certification. Prior to her current role, Merchant held both clinical and administrative roles within the organization, including therapist, access counselor, access supervisor, administrative director of prevention and adolescent operations, and performance improvement and accreditation coordinator.