Meet The Staff
We communicate to our clients that we want to assist in rehabilitating behavior not to penalize them for choosing to get help. We want our services to be within reach, personable and compassionate.
01.
Our Mission
Our mission at Kirby Rehabilitation is to deliver quality mental health and substance abuse services to support individuals and families to achieve healthier and more productive lives. Also, to preserve families exposed to Domestic Violence and Substance abuse.
02.
Our Approach
Kirby Rehabilitation’s approach to behavioral health is client focused; we listen and then meet you where you are at.
From the first point of contact to discharge, referral and follow-up we work with you to develop a personalized plan that addresses your needs.
03.
We designed our behavioral health programs with the goal in mind to preserve our most precious commodities, our families. We want our vision to be expressed as a rehabilitation program that supports and empowers individuals exposed to domestic violence and substance abuse.
Our Philosophy
The Kirby Rehabilitation philosophy is to utilize our expert team of individuals in order to assist in the healing process of our clients. We address our client’s needs with professionalism, empathy and compassion. We take great pride in providing a healing environment for our clients, so they can safely begin the recovery process. By developing a structured environment and implementing a team based staffing approach; our clients feel safe and focus solely on their healing and recovery.


Lea Kirby-Hill
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Lea Kirby-Hill has a MSW from Loyola University with a concentration in Management and Program Development. She has developed and implemented innovative programs for at-risk families for over 20
years. Within her leadership, she has ensured compliance with federal, state, and county regulations and created organizational and financial planning. She has also maintained a working knowledge of significant developments and best practices in the social service industry.
Her innovative activities were designed to decrease recidivism in the City of Chicago and its surrounding south suburbs. The programs included: The Partner Abuse Intervention Program (PAIP); Anger Management; Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Prevention Parent Education Program; Parent Coaching, Individual Counseling; Substance Abuse Outpatient/DUI services, and Restorative Justice programs. Summer camps for Adolescents (Coed violence prevention cheerleading camp and a string program); has written and staged a play on domestic violence performed at the historic Regal Theatre entitled “Relationships.” She has also written, produced, and appeared on the monthly CAN TV show educating the community on domestic violence perpetrators.
Kirby Rehabilitation has recently become a Behavioral Health Center providing Counseling and Crisis services to the south side of Chicago as well as Rich and Thornton Townships to address the Mental
Health Crisis in our society today.
Corey Shumate
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified (PMHNP-BC)
Mr. Corey W. Shumate was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, West Garfield Park, Austin Community and Ravenswood areas. Mr. Shumate graduated from Proviso West High School. Mr. Shumate completed his Associates of general science at Triton College. He completed his undergraduate education at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Soon after receiving his bachelors, Mr. Shumate attended Lakeview College of Nursing earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After working more for more than six years as a registered nurse, charge nurse and nursing supervisor on psychiatric units, Mr. Shumate decided to pursue the advanced practice nurse degree at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. It is there that he earned his Masters of Science in Nursing, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Degree.
Mr. Shumate has practiced for the past six years. Mr. Shumate specializes in depression, anxiety, mood disorders, substance abuse, sleep disorders and ADHD. He considers himself a ‘forever student,’ eager to both build on his academic foundations in advanced nurse practice and psychiatry through continued coursework and professional development. His hunger for knowledge and determination to turn information into action has contributed to his most recent success and the start of Ear to Ear Behavioral Health Solutions.
Dr. Rochelle Hawkins – Medical Director
Dr. Linda McClerklin – Clinical Director

Kenneth Brown
Director
Growing up single parent raised, sometimes I saw my mom struggle, but I never saw her stop helping people. my mother’s commitment to people birthed a similar desire in me,” Kenneth reflects. Starting off his career in social services with children and transitioned-age youth Kenneth got a chance to work with many of the same issues he’d faced as a child and young adult Kenneth wanted a chance to help change the narrative for young people and to give them hope for a brighter future.
After earning a degree in Business Management, Kenneth began growing his leadership skills and climbing up the ladder proving himself valuable as a manager and supervisor. Becoming certified in Crisis-de-escalation/prevention, motivational interviewing, and a myriad of other therapy-based models Kenneth was able to thrive and provide the structure for success and growth. Training became especially important as Kenneth realized that staff development was a cornerstone of positive programmatic. change.
In the process of getting married and starting a family, Kenneth took the next phase of his career and started working with the homeless and less fortunate. Starting off working with clients in a permanent supportive housing complex Kenneth got to learn how to help a new type of person and family deal with poverty, inequality, and homelessness. Kenneth says, “I really bought into the belief that I could help end homelessness.” Toward that end, Kenneth got an opportunity to work in the shelter program as its Director. At the start of COVID-19 Kenneth got the opportunity to completely change the existing shelter model and create a safer and more dignified way to provide emergency-based shelter. For years COVID-19 had put the world into crisis and people were doing almost anything to cope, with that, Kenneth found a new population to help.
Being hired as a Director at Kirby Rehabilitation Kenneth attached himself to crisis, substance abuse, domestic violence, & staff development. combining compassion, care, training, experience, and an innovative mindset, Kenneth hopes to achieve progress as Kirby Rehab leads the charge in the south Suburbs of Cook county to preserve families and create better futures.
Kenneth Brown is a minister who enjoys inspiring change in people. A published author, Kenneth is often found with his face in his computer writing his next great work. *Of all the things I have done in my life, being a husband, a father, and my mother’s son ranks the highest,” Kenneth says.

Elizabeth Agbarah
Assistant Director
A native of the south suburban Chicagoland area, Liz Agbarah has seen firsthand the gaps that exist in our area. Liz has dedicated her life to serving others starting as a youth shelter volunteer while in junior high school. As a married mother of three, Liz and her family make it a mission to help those in need no matter what their issues are. Liz remarked, “Everybody deserves a human kindness and decency. Food, clothing, access to healthcare, and shelter are human rights not privileges.”
As an Assistant Director at Kirby Rehabilitation Liz works to provide structural societal change by writing grants, advocating for services, staff development, strategic growth through organizing and community engagement. Liz’s background and experience in education and leadership make her uniquely suited to serve a community in need of growth, compassion, and human kindness.

Dominique Claiborne
Human Resource Coordinator
Dominique Claiborne was born and raised in Chicago. She is a proud mother of 2 beautiful children. At an early age, she knew that she was very people-oriented and that she wanted to be a voice for others. She excelled in advanced placement classes all throughout high school and well into college. She is currently in school to obtain her Bachelor of Business Management degree with a concentration in Human Resources, which she will complete in the fall of 2023. She continues to maintain her position on the Dean’s List in her current program. She holds 8 years of experience in Human Resources.
Professional Staff
One of the most important components of addiction treatment is having a skilled, ethical, and supportive team, providing consistent and effective encouragement and treatment. At Kirby Rehabilitation our treatment team consists of experienced, highly-qualified professionals. A customized treatment plan combined with the unique experiences and compassion of our staff helps to provide quality care for those who come through our doors.
Stephanie Lee-McKenzie MS, CADC, LPC
Board Certified Counselor
Nathaniel Sneed
CADC Substance Abuse Certified Counselor
Kelly Menges, CPAIP
Domestic Violence Program Manager
LeDarryl Billingsly BA
Domestic Violence Counselor