It Takes A Community

Nicasa Behavioral Health Services has so many reasons to be proud of the work we do every day, but without our engaged and incredibly active community supporters, volunteers, and donors, we simply could not function at the level we have been for 60 years.

One of the generous ways we receive support is through Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs). For many people, they want to see their donations put to use and be of action in their communities. Being able to connect with others is crucial at all levels of the work Nicasa does every day. Often what Nicasa sees is that recovery isn’t just about the treatment, it’s all the other factors and support structures in place that assist someone to thrive after their hardest challenges.

Recovery Isn’t Just “Treatment”

Nicasa’s continuum of care operates because of a unique ecosystem of compassionate supporters who understand that the individuals we provide care for have multifaceted needs, and require hands-on committment to help them succeed. Much of what Nicasa does to assist individuals and families in our care are not always things that we ask for support for from traditional philanthropic organizations, governmental fundings, and other places. To meet the rapid, changing needs of our community, we rely on support from individuals like you. There are hundreds of ways your donations and DAF grants supports Lake County. Below are our top 10 ways your DAF grants get to work immediately so people can go from surviving to thriving.

1. Resume Writing: Having a new job is often the turning point, and foundation that many individuals begin to rebuild their lives on when they enter recovery. The ability to write an eye-catching resume is crucial for many individuals in recovery who are seeking employment for the first time, or are reentering the workforce. Having a professional resume helps new jobseekers stand out and achieve new roles to further an existing career. Our team assists individuals by reviewing their job history, crafting a quality resume, and praticing their interview skills so that individuals can show up at their new job with confidence.

2. Hygiene Kits and Sanitary Supplies: Basic hygiene and sanitary supplies are life-saving necessities. Many of us often take for granted the ability to shower frequently and have access to safe, sanitary hygiene products inside of our homes. Being able to provide these basic hygiene supplies to individuals and families in our care is crucial to keep them focused on their treatment and improving their quality of life while in our care. While there are many great community-providers that Nicasa frequently collaborates with, the need is often greater than what is available to access

3. Transportation Assistance: A 2024 American Community Survery reported approxiately 5% of households in Lake County did not own any vehicles, and 29% of households only had 1 vehicle. Approximately 13% of individuals carpool, take public transit, or walk/ride their bike to work. With so many individuals facing transportation needs to get to work, there is very little flexibility to safely and efficently manage getting to healthcare and other required appointments. Nicasa’s Family Advocacy Center is fortunate to have some (limited) access to funding and vehicles to assist individuals and families, but often it is not enough to fully cover the complex needs among our community members.

4. Making A House A Home: For many families and individuals, where they live is not always a home. Some are in transition from being unhoused or are on the brink of losing their home. Others have suffered devastating loses or have fallen behind due to health concerns. Whatever the need is, Nicasa collaborates with community partners like PADS Lake County and charity donation organizations to help individuals find housing stability. Often larger furniture items, like beds and living room sets, are expensive investment items that our families and individuals cannot afford. Your support allows us the opportunity to help families get back on their feet, find comfort in their housing, and start feeling in control of their home again.

5. Community Outreach: Being able to stand with our community members and breaking stigma with evidence-based knowledge is an important part of what we do with community outreach events. Sharing our stories and providing a safe place to ask questions can change hearts and minds when it comes to prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. One of the biggest areas of interest in Lake County is talking about the warning signs of problem gambling, ways to reduce gambling harm, and preventing underage gambling. Nicasa is incredibly proud of the lunch and learns, trainings from a local level all the way to international conferences, our Before the Bet podcast, and outreach team who travel across the state to answer these important calls and bring knowledge to our communities.

6. Volunteer Networks: We are inspired by the dedication and willingness we see in others who want to give. Nicasa is proud of all the work our volunteers do to support out clincians and people who seek care from us. Coordinating with our volunteer schedules and organizing events and opportunities takes an eye for details and understanding when things change unexpectedly. When you support Nicasa, you are also creating an opportunity for others within our community to connect with the mission in other ways to show support.

7. Training The Future Workforce: If you want to be a part of the future, you must be present with those who will inherit it. Your giving, enables others the opportunity to pursue their career dreams. Our internship program is an invaluable experience for staff and students to learn pratical skills and apply their knowledge directly. Nicasa also supports current staff with professional development training and certifications for individuals with lived experience–one of the fastest growing areas in behavioral healthcare. Interns and entry-level positions are the training grounds for building brighter futures at all levels. Social Workers are more valuable than ever before as the work they do has broader impact on the future of our community. Social Workers and other behavioral clinicians are in a unique position to address immediate needs, navigate complex healthcare systems, and walk side-by-side with individuals and families going through darker seasons of their lives.

8. Keeping Families Together: 100% of the families who are a part of Nicasa’s Family Advocacy Center do NOT experience instances of abuse and neglect. Our Family Advocacy Center recieves support from the Department of Children and Family Services, but gifts from our community is really what helps keep families together. Our Family Advocacy Team is a small and extrordinarily dedicated group who listens, advocates, and finds new resources, so families can stay together. Family members know what they need to thrive and our team is there to help them achieve their goals, build up protective factors, and stabilize families before they enter a crisis.

9. Peer-Led Programs: A Peer Recovery Support Specialist is a person who is in active recovery from substance use, mental health, and/or problem gambling challenge and mentors others through their lived experiences. Our Peer Team is a robust group who frequently visits community members in need, helps those in treatment find new pro-social support networks, educate and break stigma surrounding overdoses, and more so that no one feels alone on their recovery journey. As this is typically a non-clinical role, these services and aftercare programs are invaluable and offered at no charge to the individuals who need them most.

10. Teen Court: One of Nicasa’s longest running and most successful youth programs is Teen Court. Teen Court’s focus is balanced and restorative justice to help teens connect meaning to their behaviors, and develop pro-social coping skills so that they can thrive into adulthood. As this program focuses at the point that an offense has occured, many justice and behavioral health organizations do not offer grant opportunities for us. Nicasa’s Teen Court is 100% donor funded, and DAF accounts help us every year during our #GivingTuesday campaign. Nicasa will once again be receiving support from the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County from November 24, 2026 to December 15, 2026 with a matching grant.

We Transform Lives Because Of Your Impact.

DAF Day gives donors a dedicated moment to amplify their impact by giving with others and sharing socially with their communities. Over the past three years, DAF Day has created a catalyst to activate generosity across the nation to support the urgent needs in our communities from one of the largest, fastest growing areas of philanthropic giving. Nicasa is proud to be a part of this movement of inspired, active generosity for Lake County. Learn more about using your DAF for Nicasa and other ways to support by visiting nicasa.org/donate/

Thank you for all the incredible generosity we have recieved over the past 60 years. We look forward to what the upcoming years have in store because we know we have you supporting us along the way. If you haven’t received your acknowledgement letter after a DAF donation, let’s connect. Contact us at development@nicasa.org so we talk about our programs, volunteer opportunities, and more.