Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (IDHS/DBHR) introduced recovery-oriented values, principles, and services into its system upon implementation of the federally funded Access to Recovery (ATR) program in 2004. Since then, IDHS/DBHR has made progress in reorienting the system of care in Illinois from focusing solely on traditional acute care to a chronic, community-based care approach. IDHS/DBHR has utilized the Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC) framework to shift the entire system (i.e., prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support services) to embrace recovery principles.
In 2018, Illinois launched Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) Councils across the state to foster the development of strong recovery-focused care systems in local areas. These councils have achieved significant success in creating stakeholder networks committed to promoting recovery in their communities. ROSC Councils engage in local initiatives that promote recovery readiness and participate in a Statewide ROSC Learning Collaborative (SRLC) to support their work. Councils send representatives to semi-annual SRLC meetings in-person and participate in monthly calls. Their membership encompasses representatives from various community sectors, with the size and structure determined by each ROSC Council. While leadership and organizational approaches may differ, they typically involve leaders or "champions" who have lived experience who help with guiding and shaping the council's efforts.
The central focus of a ROSC Council is to create an infrastructure or system of care with the resources available to effectively address the full range of substance use and/or co-occurring disorders within a community. IDHS/DBHR continues to commit to building and sustaining a recovery infrastructure that supports a Recovery Ready Illinois for people using substances, those actively treating their substance use and/or co-occurring disorders, and those in recovery.
A ROSC Council is a local collaboration of organizations that seek to improve the support that their community provides to individuals who are on a pathway to recovery. Through their work in the community, ROSC Councils will:
- Promote a culture that nurtures recovery.
- Build capacity and infrastructure to support a recovery-oriented system of care.
- Develop a commitment to implement, enhance and sustain a recovery-oriented system of care.
The goals of the ROSC Councils include:
- Reducing stigma
- Promoting Medication Assistance Recovery and other evidence-based practices
- Promoting harm reduction
- Ensuring effective service delivery
- Prioritizing equity
IDHS is working to counteract systemic racism and inequity, and to prioritize and maximize diversity throughout its service provision process. This work involves addressing existing institutionalized inequities, aiming to create transformation, and operationalizing equity and racial justice. It also focuses on the creation of a culture of inclusivity for all regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or ability. ROSC Councils establish community level system change that combats stigma and identifies places where system change can broaden the support and increase access to resources for people in recovery.
If you are interested in learning more about ROSC Councils, please contact Johanna Gonzalez (Johanna.Gonzalez@illinois.gov).
IDHS: Illinois Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC) Councils
If you would like to learn more or if you are a stakeholder interested in connecting with your local ROSC Council, please refer to: https://www.govst.edu/Recovery-Support/Find-Your-Local-ROSC-Council/.
Map: ROSC Map Jan 2024 (pdf)
ROSC Councils
The Statewide ROSC Leadership Center was designed to support each ROSC Council to set goals and objectives to develop and grow a ROSC in their community, specific to the needs of the community as defined in a needs assessment and a readiness assessment. Each ROSC Council has a "lead agency", an organization that is providing leadership for the Council and is supported by IDHS/SUPR. These funds support lead agency staff to organize the logistics of ROSC Council meetings, stipends to ensure the participation of persons with lived experience, and training costs. The size of each community is defined by the local ROSC Council.
The Lead Agencies of the ROSC Councils currently participate in a Monthly Learning Collaborative call to develop linkages with ROSC Councils throughout the state in order to develop a consistent and collaborative approach to a statewide ROSC. The Lead Agency will also participate in bi-annual in-person statewide ROSC meetings.
To view a list of ROSC Councils, please check the Governors State University's Recovery Coaching Network website:
https://www.govst.edu/Recovery-Support/Find-Your-Local-ROSC-Council/
Definitions
ROSC - A Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) is a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that is person-centered and builds on the strengths and resilience of individuals, families, and communities to experience recovery and improved health, wellness, and quality of life for those with or at risk of substance use and/or co-occurring conditions. The central focus of a ROSC is to create an infrastructure, or "systems of care", with the resources to effectively address the full range of substance use and/or co-occurring disorders within communities.
ROSC Councils - Local ROSC Councils are defined by IDHS/DBHR as local membership organizations that seek to improve the local ROSC and participate in the statewide ROSC Council. Their membership encompasses representatives from various community sectors, with the size and structure determined by each ROSC Council. While leadership and organizational approaches may differ, they typically involve leaders or "champions" who have lived or current experience, guiding and shaping the council's efforts. Membership may include but not limited to individuals that live in the community as well as local hospitals, primary care, mental health, law enforcement, local business owners, local government representatives and policy makers, persons with lived experience and SUD intervention, treatment, prevention, and recovery support service providers.
Lived Experience - Lived experience means personal knowledge about substance use disorder (SUD), including co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (COD), treatment, and recovery gained through direct involvement, which may include that individual's involvement as a patient, family member or loved one of a person receiving SUD/COD treatment services.
Peer - An individual trained and certified to utilize their own, personal lived experience in recovery from mental health and/or substance use challenges to support other individuals in their journey of recovery from substance use and/or mental health or other behavioral health challenges.
Recovery - A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. Recovery signals a dramatic shift in the expectation for positive outcomes for individuals who experience mental and substance use conditions or the co-occurring of the two. (SAMHSA Working Definition, https://store.samhsa.gov/product/SAMHSA-s-Working-Definition-of-Recovery/PEP12-RECDEF).
Recovery Community Organization (RCO) - RCOs are independent, non-profit organizations led and governed by representatives of local communities of recovery. (More information at RCO Toolkit - Faces & Voices of Recovery).
