2025 CRSS/CPRS Competency Training

Registration Now Open !


The Illinois Department of Human Services-Division of Mental Health will once again be offering its annual CRSS/CPRS Competency Training series in 2025, and it will continue to be presented in six, half-day Sessions.

  • Participants are not required to attend all Sessions. Each Session's material is independent of the others, and there are no prerequisites.
  • There are 6 Sessions, with 3 Options each (Monday morning, Wednesday afternoon, and Friday morning) to allow participants to select the most convenient time to attend.

 ***Please only choose 1 Option from each Session (Options 2 and 3 are repeats of Option 1)***

  • Most questions about the registration process, CEUs, and much more are answered in this linked FAQ (pdf) document.

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS

Pending approval by the Illinois Certification Board, Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be provided within one month following the last training date for each Session. The number of CEU hours earned will be based on actual time of attendance and active participation in the Session, which are automatically logged by the WebEx software.

The maximum number of CEUs for each session is 2.75, for a total of 16.5 CEUs, if all six sessions are attended in full. (The Illinois Certification Board will not recognize CEUs for attending any given Session more than once.)

Session Dates & Times:

Half-Day trainings

Monday

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Wednesday

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Friday

9:00 AM -12:00 PM

Session 1 June 9 June 11 June 13
Session 2 June 23 June 25 June 27
Session 3 July 7 July 9 July 11
Session 4 July 21 July 23 July 25
Session 5 August 4 August 6 August 8
Session 6 August 18 August 20 August 22

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

  • CRSS & CPRS professionals who wish to increase their skills and/or earn continuing education units (CEUs) to apply for renewal of their credential
  • Individuals interested in pursuing either the CRSS or CPRS credential
  • Supervisors of recovery support specialists and other CRSS or CPRS staff
  • Any person working in a Living Room Program (These positions are required to complete 16 hours of CRSS/CPRS Training annually, and these trainings count toward the requirement)

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN AND PRACTICE:

See Session Descriptions for more details.

Session 1

  • Career Options for Recovery Support Specialists in Various Programs in Illinois
  • Understanding Vicarious Trauma and its Effects on Recovery Support Specialists

Session 2

  • Crisis Intervention Strategies for Recovery Support Specialists
  • CRSS/CPRS Panel, Part 1

Session 3

  • Ethics Part 1 (Standards 3, 4, 6, 16, 17, & 18)
  • Ethics Part 2 (Standards 1, 2, 10, 11, 13, & 14)

Session 4

  • The Importance of Self-Compassion in Recovery Support Services
  • How to Build Confidence in Ourselves and Others

Session 5

  • New Trends and Advances in Peer Support
  • CRSS/CPRS Panel, Part 2

Session 6

  • Ethics Part 3 (Standards 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, & 15)
  • 7 Steps in Ethical Decision Making

Reasonable Accommodations:

Closed Captioning will be available this year. Other reasonable accommodations are provided upon request. All requests must be received by the Event Contact listed below at least 6 weeks prior to event.

Event Contact:

Nicolette Rivera, Recovery Support Specialist II
Illinois Department of Human Services
Division of Mental Health
Bureau of Wellness & Recovery
Nicolette.Rivera@illinois.gov