The greatest asset Focus House can offer youth is our dedicated and superior staff. Our staffing commitment begins with the interview process where criminal record checks and urine screens are conducted on all prospective hirings.

Staff are selected not only for their education qualifications (over half of our almost 50 staff members have earned bachelors or masters degrees), but also on their related life experiences. Further, our comprehensive personnel and policy manual dictates our high expectations and needs for personal conduct, absolute confidentiality and on-going training and education requirements.

All staff members are trained in CPR, and those who transport residents to and from school must take and pass an annual driver safety program. Probation officers assigned to Focus House also complete one week of specialized training through the University of Illinois at Springfield.

In short, you can trust Focus House staff members to have the education, experience and passion to make a real and significant difference in the lives of the children placed here, and, that the children will be treated with family-like care and dignity.

Michael Dale

Director

Mr. Dale graduated from Knox College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. In addition to his studies, Mr. Dale played football for four years and was active in the Knox College Student Senate. Mr. Dale continued his education at Northern Illinois University where he earned his Master’s of Education in Counseling in December 2003. Mike began his career at Focus House in February 2000 as an Adolescent Treatment Specialist III and was soon promoted to a Juvenile Probation Officer and boys’ house manager. In March 2001, Mr. Dale became the Residential Counselor for the boys and in 2004 was promoted to Associate Director of the Focus House program. He became Director in July of 2006.

Matt Mekeel

Associate Director

Mr. Mekeel is a lifelong resident of Ogle County and graduate of Polo Community High School. In 1997 he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration from Western Illinois University. Upon graduating from WIU, Mr. Mekeel went to work as a Residential Treatment Specialist for a shelter care facility owned and operated by Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. He began his career as a probation officer in 1998 when he was appointed as a Juvenile Probation Officer in Lee County, Illinois. In 1999, Mr. Mekeel transferred to the Ogle County Probation Department where he served as an Adult Probation Officer in the Rochelle satellite office. In April 2007, he was transferred to the probation office in Oregon, IL assuming the newly created position of Administrative Probation Officer overseeing the administrative caseload as well as all interstate/intrastate transfers. Finally in April 2010, Mr. Mekeel was promoted to his current position of Associate Director of Focus House.

Amanda Rankin

Clinical Supervisor

Ms. Rankin studied psychology and received her B.A. from Northwestern University.  She then continued her studies at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where she received her Master's degree in Social Work.  She began working as a counselor for abused and neglected minors at a residential program outside of Chicago.  Ms. Rankin then worked for several years supervising the admissions department of a psychiatric facility for juveniles. Ms. Rankin joined Focus House as the Clinical Supervisor in the summer of 2007.

Deb Bihlman

Administrative Assistant

Deb graduated from Byron High School and was hired by Ogle County Probation in 1987 as a secretary for the adult department.  In 1989, she started working in the juvenile department as secretary to two juvenile probation officers. In April 2009, Deb became the Secretary/Treasurer for the Foundation for Focus House.  In July of 2009, she started assisting at Focus House two days a week as an  Administrative Assistant.  In January of 2010, Mrs. Bihlman transferred to Focus House full time as the Administrative Assistant.

Tracy Elder, R.N.

Focus House Nurse

Mrs. Elder is a life-long Rochelle resident and graduated with honors from the Kishwaukee College Nursing Program. Tracy joined the Focus House staff in 1999 as a part-time secretary, was promoted to a full-time administrative assistant in 2002, and most recently became the program nurse in spring of 2010. As the Focus House nurse, she is responsible for coordinating the residents’ health care, managing their medication, and educating the children to become self-advocates for both their physical and mental health. In her spare time, she volunteers as an elementary school volleyball coach and on the parish nurse team at her church.

Becca Moser

Residential Counselor / Juvenile Probation Officer

Ms. Moser attended the University of Illinois-Springfield (formerly Sangamon University) where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education/History, and completed graduate studies in Public History. Rebecca spent nine years working with DCFS clients at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois before joining the Focus House staff in 2001.

Samantha Buss

Residential Counselor / Juvenile Probation Officer

Samantha graduated from Kaplan University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice.  She is currently working toward her Masters in Social Work at Aurora University, specializing in addictions treatment and school social work.  She began her career at Focus House in 2003 working as an Adolescent Treatment Specialist.  In that same year, Samantha became the House Manager of the girl’s home.  Samantha was promoted to Juvenile Probation Officer/Residential Counselor in November of 2007 and currently remains in that position.

Kelsey Typer

Residential Counselor / Juvenile Probation Officer

Kelsey joined the Focus House staff as an Adolescent Treatment Specialist in 2004 after graduating from Rockford College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Anthropology/Sociology and a minor in Psychology. She was appointed a Juvenile Probation Officer in August 2006 while serving as the House Manager.  Kelsey most recently became a Residential Counselor in 2010.

Jennifer Roser

Juvenile Probation Officer/ Aftercare Counselor/ Ogle County Reporting Program Counselor

Jennifer graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justices Sciences.  She began her career at Focus House in 2000 as a part -time Adolescent Treatment Specialist.  In 2001, Jennifer became the House Manager at the female residence and later that year, was promoted to a Juvenile Probation Officer position.  In 2003, Jennifer became one of Focus House's  Aftercare Counselors.  In 2008, Jennifer also started working as the Ogle County Reporting Center's Counselor.

Liz Rickert

Juvenile Probation Officer

Liz was hired as an Adolescent Treatment Specialist in 2004, and was soon promoted to Juvenile Probation Officer and House Manager of one of the boy's homes. Ms. Rickert has served as Training Officer since 2006. Liz graduated from Northern Illinois University, first with a Bachelor of Science Degree in English, and later with a Master of Science Degree in Education in 1996. She has served on the Substance Abuse Committee of the Illinois Probation and Court Services Association. In 2007, she joined the board of Illinois Balanced and Restorative Justice and has served as vice-president since 2008. IBARJ is the primary coordinating body in Illinois working with restorative justice practitioners statewide to expand and strengthen restorative justice practices.

Matt Schiltz

Juvenile Probation Officer

Mr. Schiltz earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration from Western Illinois University. Matt worked as an activity therapist with Lutheran Social Services of Illinois for three years prior to joining Focus House as an Adolescent Treatment Specialist in 2000. Matt became a Juvenile Probation Officer in 2004 and is assigned to one of the boy's homes.

Mary Anchondo

Community Outreach Coordinator

Mary Anchondo began working at Focus House directly out of high school and has been here for over 35 years. For many years she served as one of the primary Adolescent Treatment Specialists working with both male and female residents. Prior to her current position, Mary was the house manager for the girls’ residence as well as assisted in training and scheduling of new staff members. In Mary’s current position as Community Outreach Coordinator, she oversees our public service work program, volunteer program and foster care program.  Mary also acts as our Events Planner and Auction Coordinator.