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Elise Cadigan, LCSW
Elise Cadigan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who has been in private practice at the Glenwood Center since 1980. Born in Topeka, Kansas, Elise holds a bachelor of science in social work and psychology from Washburn University and a master of social work (MSW) from the University of Kansas (1977). She completed the Family Therapy Training Program at the Menninger Foundation, Topeka. Following completion of her MSW, Elise was a full-time instructor in the Social Work Department of Ottawa University (KS), a social worker in the Lawrence (KS) and Harlem (Loves Park, IL) School Districts, and a psychotherapist at Family Service & Guidance Center, Beloit, Wisconsin.
From 1982-88, Elise developed and managed the Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Programs at Swedish American Hospital, Rockford. She has served as Adjunct faculty in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois School of Health Science, Rockford since 1985 and has provided workshops, specialized training and consultation to educators, attorneys, mental health professionals and community agencies/organizations for the past 30 years. Elise co-chaired the 17th Judicial Circuit Task Force on Setting Standards for Custody/Visitation Evaluations and served as a Court-Appointed Mediator and Custody Evaluator for over 20 years in northern Illinois.
Elise joined NASW in 1972 and is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (1979), holds an NASW Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (1987), an American Board of Examiners Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (1988) and is a Qualified Mental Health Examiner for the State of Illinois. She has been a member of the NASW Illinois Chapter Ethics Committee & Committee on Inquiry since 1991. Elise has held certifications in Clinical Hypnosis, EMDR treatment/approved consultant, and in Critical Incident Stress Management. In 1985, Elise received the NASW Jane Addams Social Worker of the Year Award and in 2011 received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jane Addams District of NASW.
In the Rockford Community Elise served as a Trustee of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois and served as Board Chair in 2012-2013. She has served as a member of the Head Start Medical Advisory Board, the Carrie Lynn Center Consultation Team, and is past Chair of the Dean's Advisory Council of the University of Illinois, Rockford. With over 30 years of clinical experience, Elise has served on the boards of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Children’s Development Center, Rockford Area Substance Abuse Council, Rockford College Board of Counselors, United Way of Rock River Valley, Rockford Womans’ Club, and the University of Illinois Chancellors Committee on the Status of Women. While a member of the Junior League of Rockford, she participated in the development of Youth Services Network. Elise joined the Rockford Rotary Club in 1988 and served as their first woman President (1999-00). In 2009-10, she served as District Governor for the 49 Rotary Clubs of Northern Illinois. Since 2007, Elise has led Rotary service teams to Nigeria and Uganda for project development and End Polio Now immunizations. In 2013, Elise received the Rotary International Service Above Self award and in 2018 was a recipient of Crusader Clinics' Spirit of Caring award. Elise remains committed to providing quality mental health services to children, adolescents and adults.