CONGRATS-BETTY LINDQUIST

104th Regular Session Introduced by Michelle Mussman

This ceremonial resolution commends Betty Lindquist for decades of service in private and nonpublic special education and child mental health, highlighting her leadership, advocacy

Resolution Adopted

Summary of HR 888 (104th General Assembly, Illinois) – CONGRATS-BETTY LINDQUIST

Purpose and intent

This is a House Resolution recognizing and congratulating Betty Lindquist on her retirement after a long career in the field of special education and child mental health services.

The resolution honors her professional achievements, leadership, and advocacy on behalf of students with disabilities and their families.

Key provisions and changes

Unlike typical bills, this resolution does not create new laws, regulations, or appropriations. Instead, it:

Commends Betty Lindquist for her decades of service.
Highlights milestones in her career, including:
Early work in special education with Lake County Juvenile Probation (mid-1970s).
Founding Counseling Connections in 1982 to provide mental health services for children, adolescents, and juvenile court-involved youth; development of a program addressing custody issues in divorces.
Expansion from a small practice to one of Lake County’s largest private mental health practices for children and adolescents.
Establishment of the first of five nonpublic therapeutic special education day schools in Waukegan (1998) and expansion to serve Lake, McHenry, DuPage, and Cook counties.
Creation of autism-focused programs and the first virtual school in Illinois for students with school refusal.
Involvement with IAPSEC (Illinois Association of Private Special Education Centers) since 1998, including leadership roles (Chair of Membership; Chair of the Legislative Committee 2019–2026) and active advocacy on funding, Part 401 Rules, restraint and time-out policies, and committee testimony.

The resolution also notes her role in mentoring administrators and guiding families, and her broader impact on equity and access in special education.

Who is affected

Primarily Betty Lindquist as the recipient of the commendation.

Indirectly, it recognizes and acknowledges the broader field of private and nonpublic special education programs in Illinois, including:

Students with mental health and special education needs who benefited from her programs.
Colleagues, administrators, and families connected to IAPSEC and the schools and services described.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Sponsorship and status:

Filed with the Clerk on May 11, 2026.
Sponsored by Rep. Michelle Mussman (co-sponsor listed).

Type of action:

A ceremonial resolution (no legislative changes, funding, or regulatory impact). It serves to formally acknowledge and honor Betty Lindquist’s career.

Effective date:

Resolutions typically become official upon passage by the House and presentation, with no regulatory effective date since there are no operative provisions.

Notable details

The resolution provides specific biographical highlights, including:

Marriage to the late Stephen Katz, two daughters, and five grandchildren.
Personal interests (golf and gardening) and a bi-state living pattern (Illinois and Florida) outside work duties.

The document emphasizes her lasting dedication to students with mental health needs, families, and equity in education.

If you’d like, I can convert this into a plain-English brief for non-legislative readers or compare it to other similar ceremonial resolutions.