The CRSS Success Program is a grant-funded program operated through designated post-secondary educational institutions in Illinois.
The CRSS Success Program is designed to support students with lived experience of mental health or substance use recovery to successfully complete all requirements necessary to obtain either the Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) and enter the behavioral health workforce.
The program provides support for eligible students to overcome practical barriers to full participation and success, including but not limited to student tuition, books, and fees; ICB credentialing fees; general technology needs (e.g., laptop, tablet, hotspot, etc.); stipends for practical experience (internship) component; clothing for practical experience (internship) component (e.g., polo shirts, professional attire, etc.); childcare and transportation (including parking); employment and housing supports; counseling, advising, and transfer services; legal support to address barriers to employment related to criminal history or citizenship status; any other needs and/or accommodations essential for students to maintain participation in the program.
Scholarship Fund
Designated post-secondary educational institutions (listed below) maintain and manage a needs-based scholarship fund for Illinois residents who are CRSS and CPRS candidates or credentialed professionals, available to qualified Illinois residents, not just students in the CRSS Success program.
Illinois residents can apply for scholarship funds to cover any of the following: ICB credentialing fees (application, exam, annual renewal); transportation costs to and from exam site.
Interested students can apply for the program at the following colleges and universities:
Chicago Area:
Northern Illinois:
| Location |
Contact |
Phone Number |
| College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn) |
Jason Florin
florin@cod.edu |
(630) 942-2043 |
| College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn) |
Andrea Polites
politesa@cod.edu |
(630) 942-2103 |
| Elgin Community College (Elgin) |
Wendy Chen
wchen@elgin.edu |
(847) 214-7379 |
| Elgin Community College (Elgin) |
David Meraz
dmeraz@elgin.edu |
(847) 214-7455 |
| Northern Illinois University (DeKalb) |
Paul Priester
ppriester@niu.edu |
(815) 753-5198 |
Central Illinois:
Heartland Community College (Normal)
Sonja Workman
Sonja.workman@heartland.edu
309-268-8740
Southern Illinois:
SIU Edwardsville (Edwardsville)
Jayme Swanke
jswanke@siue.edu
618-650-5976
