Boone County Mental Health Board of Trustees Members

PRESIDING COMMISSIONER:

Ken Pearson is currently serving his first term as Boone County's Presiding Commissioner and is liaison to the Mental Health Board of Trustees. Ken was sworn in as Presiding Commissioner in January 2007.

CO-CHAIR

Michele Kennett has an advanced degree in nursing and a law degree in addition to advanced training in health law. She has twelve years of nursing experience in a variety of settings. As a health law attorney she specializes in regulatory and compliance issues.

CO-CHAIR

Jerry C. Olson

TREASURER and SECRETARY

Nancy Howard, a consumer advocate, has both personal and professional experience in working with people in recovery from alcohol/other drug addiction. She was the Director of an alcohol and drug treatment program for seven years and of a youth program for three years. She also was co-owner of a business providing training in prevention and treatment of alcoholism, counseling, and marriage enrichment programs. She is a past member of the Missouri Mental Health Commission.

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BOARD MEMBERS

Elaine S. Larson, Psy. D. earned a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She has worked with people with severe and prolonged mental illnesses and personality disorders since 1982. Her current practice is at the Biggs Forensic Center at Fulton State Hospital in Fulton, MO.

Kay Callison is a longtime advocate for the mentally ill. She is a certified Family Educator for NAMI, teacher of Family to Family, a peer taught class for family members of people with major mental illness. She served as Secretary for the BCMHBT from 2000 to 2004 and is a member of the State PAIMI Advisory Council.

Lisa Thomas, MD

Bob Whittet, LCSW, ACSW, is a Vice President with Pathways Community Behavioral Healthcare. He has worked in the field of mental health for over thirty years as a clinician and administrator. Bob has been on the Boone County Mental Health Board of Trustees for approximately ten years.

Jeanette Parker holds a Master's degree in Education and a Master's degree in Agency Counseling. She is employed with Fulton State Hospital, is a member of NAMI Missouri, and NAMI Columbia. She is co-founder of Wakonda Family Institute.

Mike Krohn, Jr. is currently an enforcement sergeant with the Boone county Sheriff's Department. He has over 16 years of law enforcement experience, all in the Boone County area. Mike represents the concerns of law enforcement while being a strong advocate for crisis intervention and awareness.

Michael Yoakum has been active in a variety of community services. He has served as a member, vice-chair, and chair of the City of Columbia Substance Abuse Advisory Commission since 2004. He has also been a member of two different Substance Abuse Task Forces for Columbia Public Schools. He also serves as Director of Basketball Operations for Rock Bridge Boys Basketball.

Scott Perkins, LCSW, earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Since January 2006 he has been employed as a Project Director for the Missouri Institute of Mental Health, a center for policy, research, and training located within the MU School of Medicine. He is a member of the American Association of Suicidology and currently serves as the Coordinator for the Department of Mental Health's Youth Suicide Prevention Project.