About Us

Part of the McHenry County community since 1994.

Empowering individuals and their families through advocacy and education while creating a more inclusive community!

Our Story

Options & Advocacy for McHenry County (O&A) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit agency based in Crystal Lake, Illinois and serving all of McHenry County.

Options & Advocacy has been part of the McHenry County community since 1994. We have provided more than 50,000 infants, children, adults, and families a wide range of services and supports. We offer Early Intervention service coordination through the Child & Family Connections (CFC) program. The Helping Us Grow (HUG) program provides in-home support to pregnant women and young children. The Autism Resource Center (ARC) supports people on the autism spectrum and their families through family education, educational advocacy, and a variety of group opportunities. The Neuro Inclusive Counseling (NIC) program provides therapeutic support for individuals who identify as neurodiverse and are navigating mental health concerns. Individual, family, and group therapy provided.

Our Mission

Empowering individuals and their families through advocacy and education while creating a more inclusive community!

Annual Report

See the difference our programs made across McHenry County last year.

Annual Report (PDF, 35 MB)

Our Commitments

Diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  • Options & Advocacy respects that diversity in all facets of identity creates a strong community.
  • Options & Advocacy honors how the intersectionality of identities fundamentally shape a person’s experience within our community.
  • Options & Advocacy recognizes that people have been systemically discriminated against in society on the basis of their identities, leading to inequitable outcomes and opportunities.
  • Options & Advocacy believes that acknowledging implicit biases and challenging societal norms is what will lead us towards creating safe, welcoming environments.
  • Options & Advocacy understands that building spaces where people can bring their voices and authentic selves leads to a true sense of belonging.
  • Options & Advocacy views this dedication to DEI as critical to achieving our mission of empowering individuals and their families through advocacy and education while creating a more inclusive community.
  • Options & Advocacy acknowledges that building an inclusive, accessible, and equitable community requires an ongoing commitment to cultural humility as society learns, grows, and changes.
  • Options & Advocacy commits to this continual process.

At Options & Advocacy a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace is one where all employees, volunteers, and recipients of our services, whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability, feels valued and respected. Options & Advocacy is committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provides equal opportunity for employment and advancement in all of our departments, programs, and worksites. Options & Advocacy respects and values diverse life experiences and heritages and believes that all voices are valued and should be heard.

Leadership

Meet our Executive Director

Winter Noe, Executive Director

Winter Noe

Executive Director

Winter has been with Options and Advocacy for 15 years. First as Technical Assistant for Child and Family Connections and then as Program Manager for the Autism Resource Center. Prior to her work at Options & Advocacy she provided in-home developmental therapy for infants and toddlers and taught in a self-contained early childhood special education classroom.

Post graduate school, Winter and her husband returned to McHenry County to raise their four children. Winter believes that McHenry County is an excellent community to live in and raise a family. “There is a strong group of like-minded people here who care about developing equitable and inclusive services. This is important to me.”

Winter grew up with a brother who was diagnosed at a young age with Costello Syndrome. Her family benefited from agencies like Options and Advocacy. In many ways her life has come full circle, and she is honored to now have this opportunity as Executive Director.

Email Winter

Support Team

  • Marie, Business Finance/HR Manager

    Marie

    Business Finance/HR Manager

Meet the program teams: CFC Team · HUG Team · ARC Team · NIC Team

Governance

Board of Directors

  • PresidentDr. Mike Thomas
  • Vice PresidentDr. Jonathan Kaufman
  • SecretaryJennifer Wollpert
  • TreasurerJeff Seda
  • DirectorMelissa Bruett
  • DirectorTom Carroll
  • DirectorShabbir Kapadia
  • DirectorSusan Wright
  • DirectorJoe Cicero

Not sure where to start?

For evaluations, screenings, or to get started in any of our programs, complete a referral today — or call 815-477-4720.

Make a Referral