The CRSS Success Program1 is a grant-funded program operated through designated post-secondary educational institutions in Illinois. The program is designed to support students with lived experience of mental health and/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.
This document will answer many of the questions that are frequently asked of DMH about this program. Please feel free to reach out to us with any requests for clarification or further information at DHS.DMHRecoveryServices@illinois.gov
1. Is the CRSS Success Program the only way to earn your CRSS or CPRS?
No. The ICB also maintains the original pathway, referred to in this document as the "independent pathway," to earning the CRSS and CPRS credentials. For more information on this option, see our CRSS/CPRS FAQs and Application To-Do List documents on the IDHS Recovery Support Services website2.
2. What is the difference between the DMH CRSS Competency Training Series and the CRSS Success Program?
The CRSS Competency Training Series provided by DMH each year is one way to earn a portion of the education hours that are required to apply for the CRSS or CPRS credential using the independent pathway.
The CRSS Success grant-funded college program is a comprehensive option that covers all the education hours and includes all the other requirements to apply for the CRSS or CPRS, including work experience and supervision.
The CRSS Success program also provides funding to support students in removing barriers to participation. Barriers addressed may include, but are not limited to, transportation, childcare, and technology.
3. Does the CRSS Success Program include the CPRS?
Yes. Individuals in the CRSS Success Program can obtain either the CRSS or the CPRS from any of the participating institutions. The training content is identical for both credential paths. Students have the option to choose which exam to take upon completion. For more information on the differences and similarities between the two credentials, please see our page on Comparing the CRSS & CPRS3.
4. How long does the CRSS Success Program take to complete?
The time it takes to complete the CRSS Success Program will vary between programs and individuals, but generally lasts about a year or more, on average, to complete the coursework and internship requirements. Once an individual has completed the requirements of the program, it does take additional time to schedule and sit for the credentialing exam through the Illinois Certification Board.
5. What are the minimum required hours of classroom training included in the program?
The training programs must have a classroom component that consists of 110 clock hours of training. The 110 hours must include the following, at a minimum:
- 10 hours advocacy
- 10 hours recovery/wellness support
- 10 hours mentoring/education
- 16 hours in ethics & professional responsibility
- 5 hours specific to family
- 5 hours specific to youth
The remaining 54 hours may be in the Core Functions, which are areas of knowledge relevant to the four domains and can include a wide variety of support services skills such as communication, leadership, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, confidentiality, cultural competency, conflict resolution, or evidence-based practices.
6. What are the minimum required hours for practical experience (internship) included in the program?
The training programs must have a practical experience (internship) component to ensure students develop skills appropriate to minimum recovery support specialist competencies. This component will consist of no less than 300 contact hours and shall be no less than three months in length.
7. Why is the required number of hours of practical experience lower for this program than for the independent pathway to CRSS/CPRS credentialing?
The internships in the CRSS Success Program are subject to greater accountability and oversight. Interns in this program are supervised by both the internship site supervisor and an academic supervisor.
8. Does each program need to offer more than one internship site option?
Yes. A training program shall have written agreements with a variety of practical experience sites. This is essential, especially for the student who has experience in one service component of the recovery support field and needs another setting for well-rounded training.
9. What qualifications does a person need to be an instructor in one of these programs?
Each program may determine their own instructor qualifications, but at minimum, they must have experience in providing recovery support, substance use, mental health, and/or co-occurring disorders (mental health and substance use) services. It is recommended that instructional faculty be credentialed as a CRSS or CPRS by ICB.
10. Are these programs being evaluated?
Yes. The human service field is dynamic and requires constant attention to quality of the content of material presented to students. The demand for trained recovery support specialists requires that training programs undergo a constant evaluation to identify problems, implement solutions, and initiate innovative responses to the changing demands of the field. Therefore, DMH has engaged a formal evaluation process for these programs.
11. What is the employment outlook for people who earn their credential through the program?
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) groups certified peer specialists into one of two career categories. The first is "substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors" for which BLS projects a 22% job growth rate. The second is "health educators and community health workers" for which BLS projects 11% job growth rate. These job growth rates refer to growth between the years 2018 and 2028. Therefore, certified peer specialists will likely experience strong job stability and have several career opportunities available to them.
Resources:
- CRSS Success Program page: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=143289
- IDHS Recovery Support Services: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=36696
- IDHS Comparing the CRSS & CPRS: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=154617
- CRSS Success NOFO page: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=137276
- Illinois Certification Board Peer Recovery Support Training Program Accreditation Standards for CRSS and CPRS: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=137327
Please send any questions about this document to: DHS.DMHRecoveryServices@illinois.gov
