|
 The Illinois Department of Human Services has
presented Heartland $710,088 in grant funding to support the
Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) program. The CRSS
program prepares students for entry-level positions as behavioral
health workers, specifically in the areas of substance abuse and
mental health disorders recovery. Recovery Support Specialists work
in a variety of capacities, such as outpatient drug and alcohol
treatment, sobriety maintenance settings like sober houses, and
behavioral health.
“The Recovery Support Specialist program is based in
recovery-oriented systems of care, a newer model of treatment for
substance abuse and mental wellness,” said Kelly Pyle, Associate
Dean of Health Sciences. “This model recognizes the value of people
with lived experiences in substance abuse, mental illness, or the
legal system in providing support to others going through these
challenges. It’s a really exciting field, and the need for recovery
support specialists is growing.”
The grant will allow Heartland to expand the established CRSS
program with more support resources to students, including funded
practicum experiences and assistance with tuition, books, fees, and
certification costs.
Heartland’s CRSS program was launched in the fall of
2021 with nine students in its first sequence of courses. The
program is the first of its kind at an Illinois community college.
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“The state recognizes this critical need for more workers in
behavioral health, and this grant will help us expand our program and serve more
of our community,” said Jennifer O’Connor, Dean of Health Sciences. “With the
help of this grant, in addition to academic courses, we will develop paid
practicum experiences in addition to other wrap-around support services. This
helps quickly move these students directly into this vital area of the
healthcare workforce.”
The CRSS program was developed in collaboration with Chestnut Health Systems in
response to a projected need for certification programs in substance abuse,
behavioral disorders, and mental health. Peer recovery programs are becoming
more widely adopted in the U.S., following the recommendations of the
President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, published in July, 2003.
Job growth is promising, as Illinois is one of several states working to
establish guidelines for education and certification.
Enrollment is now open for the Heartland CRSS program, with classes beginning on
February 7. For more information www.heartland.edu/recoverysupport or call
309-268-8740.
[Steve Fast
Director, Public Information
Heartland Community College] |
