Cara Zitko (Jacobsen), MSW
Director of Illume
As Illume’s Director, Cara oversees leadership for department planning and development, quality assurance and improvement activities, managing staffing and budgets; monitoring and achieving department outcome goals.
Prior to joining Places for People, Cara started her career in research at Siteman Cancer Center. She earned her Masters of Social Work at Saint Louis University, specializing in Health Care Administration. She joined PFP in 2017 as an Employment Specialist, becoming the Employment Services Team Leader in August 2017 where she gained Exemplary fidelity status for the department in 2019. Cara held that role until joining the Center of Excellence in September 2020. Cara Lead’s Illumes Advisory Board and is serving on various regional committees including BHN’s Older Adult Council, STLCC’s Prevention Coalition, The Kauman Fund’s Mental Health Collaborative, including a committee member of Places for People’s Employee Development Committee and Operational Infrastructure – Strategic Plan steering committee.