Billie Hartgrove, Ed.S., LPC, NCC
Billie is the School-Based Mental Health Coordinator for the DeSoto School District. She obtained an Education Specialist in Counseling degree from Southeast Missouri State University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) with 15 years of experience in Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention. In 2018, Billie became a collaborating member of ASPEN to help connect the community to resources and to help bridge the gaps within mental health. Billie is also the 2022 recipient of the Missouri School Counselor Association Advocate of the Year award.
Steve Horn
Steve is a principal at the Jefferson R-VII School district in Jefferson County Missouri. In this role he works with students and families to ease access to mental health and related services. Steve has a rich background that includes working as a Deputy Juvenile Officer and Project Coordinator with the Jefferson County Juvenile Office. His unique background drives him to improve the lives of students not only in the district and community he serves, but throughout Missouri.
Lori Epley – Director of Project Access with Chestnut Health Systems
I am the Director of Project Access with Chestnut Health Systems – ASPEN Consultant
I have been with Chestnut since January 2020 and prior to that worked for Children’s Division in a variety of roles for almost 20 years. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and earned by Master’s in Social Work from UMSL. I currently provide clinical services to children and adults as well as supervise staff who provide adult outpatient mental health and substance use services at our Hillsboro office. I also supervise staff that provide School Based Counseling Services in 5 districts in Jefferson County. I have been honored to work with the other team members in creating ASPEN and have enjoyed collaborating with other agencies to make this project a success and help our community as well.
Jim Wallis – ASPEN Consultant from Chestnut Health Systems
With over 32 years in behavioral health in Missouri, Jim Wallis, B.S., M.A., began his career in 1989 as a Deputy Juvenile Officer, working with at-risk adolescents in Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles Counties. He further was employed with the Missouri Division of Youth Services as a Service Coordinator and Facility Manager. Jim is currently the Missouri Director of Business Development at Chestnut Health Systems, a fully integrated Behavioral Health company, serving Missouri and Illinois .
As an adjunct faculty member at the University of Missouri St. Louis, Jim also teaches a master’s level “Family Policy and Advocacy” class at the School of Social Work.
Jim currently serves on the Board of Directors for Hope Creates, UMSL Alumni Board of Governors, the Delta Center, BHN Youth Advisory Board, and the St Louis Regional Response Team Advisory Council
