People talking with exhibitor

Community Network Anchor

A regional collaboration focused on strengthening mental health, family support, & student well-being

Community Network Anchor

The Community Network Anchor is a regional effort to bring schools, health providers, and community partners together to improve access to mental health, public health, and social supports for children, youth, and families.

ROE4 serves as the Community Network Anchor for the nine counties in the Rockford Region.

Families do better when systems work together - and systems work together better when youth and family voices guide the way.

In this role, our goal is to coordinate, organize, and grow local community networks. Our efforts are focused on:

  • Aligning existing systems
  • Strengthening referral pathways
  • Improving communication across systems
  • Ensuring youth & family voices drive decisions

Our role


As the Community Network Anchor, ROE4 will: 

  • Host 4 Regional Convenings to bring together schools, providers, and community partners who will identify what we have, what we need, and how we can align the two. 
  • Establish and support Lived Experience Advisory Panels consisting of parents, caregivers, and youth to ensure family and youth voice guide planning. 
  • Strengthen referral pathways by improving coordination and consistency between schools and mental health providers. 
  • Raise awareness of and boost usage of the BEACON Care portal.
  • Collect & share Regional data with IDPH.

parents,
caregivers,
& youth


We need your voice! Your perspective ensures this work reflects real needs, identifies real gaps, and develops real solutions. 

  • Attend regional convenings and advisory panels
  • Share what has worked - and what hasn't
  • Help identify barriers families face
  • Guide decisions with real-life experience

schools, providers, & community Stakeholders


We need your expertise & collaboration! Your participation helps ensure that efforts are aligned, efficient, and impactful. 

  • Attend regional convenings
  • Share existing resources and challenges
  • Help strengthen referral & communication pathways
  • Partner across systems to improve access & coordination
McDanel, Linsey (1) (1)

Linsey McDanel

Community Network Specialist
lmcdanel@roe4.org
(815) 238-3467

Meet Linsey

My name is Linsey McDanel. I'm a veteran educator, Community Network Specialist, and the Founder and Executive Director of Hope WINS, a family-run organization built from lived experience. I'm also a parent of children who have navigated trauma, adoption, and complex mental health needs, so I understand firsthand how hard it can be for families to find coordinated support. 

In light of this grant award, I'm partnering with ROE4 to bring schools, providers, and community partners together to better align what already exists, so families experience clearer pathways and more responsive systems of care.