Joliet, Ill. – University of St. Francis (USF) Substance Abuse Counseling (SAC) program instructors, students and alumni attended and participated in the Illinois Certification Board’s (ICB) annual spring conference on March 20 – 24, 2023, at the Westin Northwest in Itasca, Illinois. The conference was attended by over 400 professionals in the substance use disorder field and provided workshops and presentations designed to educate and provide information to these professionals. USF participants included: (current SAC students) Rebecca Giese, Hannah Nevin, Jazmyn Warner, Cameo Dixon, (current MSW and SAC graduate student) Monika Gomez, (SAC graduate) Kirsten Leininger, (SAC program coordinator) Lawrence Dunbar, (CRSS program coordinator) Marcia Van Natta, (CRSS internship coordinator) Patti Ferdon, and (CRSS academic coach) Dr. Marisa Scanlon. USF students were able to attend various workshops to increase their knowledge, network with others in the field, and participate in a job fair. The students also helped staff the USF exhibit table at the conference providing marketing exposure to USF and our programs. During the conference, Lawrence Dunbar, Kirsten Leininger and Monika Gomez presented a three-hour evening workshop titled, “Evidenced-Based Complimentary Modalities of Treatment,” that included hands-on modalities such as play and sandbox therapy, meditation, music and drumming therapy, guided imagery, animal-assisted therapy, mindfulness and Reiki. As part of the conference’s “Student Appreciation Day” and annual luncheon meeting, USF junior Cameo Dixon was presented with the John Reese Scholarship Award, which allows the winner to attend the next annual Spring Conference at no cost. The award is presented to a student of an Accredited Training Program who has shown need and a passion for the field. Also during the conference, current and new ICB Board members were introduced, including:

Lawrence Dunbar (current ICB board president) and Marcia Van Natta (current ICB board past-president);
Monika Gomez (new six-year term as an ICB board member);
Rebecca Giese (new two-year term as an ICB board student advisor)
Kirsten Leininger (ratified three-year term as an ICB board member).

About the Illinois Certification Board The Illinois Certification Board (ICB) is a private, non-profit organization that promotes standards for professionals in the addictions whose mission is to protect the public by providing competency-based credentialing of Human Service Professionals. ICB protects the welfare of the public through improvement of quality health care service being provided to the individual, his/her family, and/or significant others by writing and publishing standards, evaluating experience and education, reviewing each application for the respective credential, and upgrading those standards. ICB’s professional standards meet or exceed all international standards for practitioners. The organization also encourages the highest ethical standards for all practitioners. Visit https://iaodapca.org/ for more information. : : The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 53,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu. University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose. # # #

Joliet, Ill. – An Illinois grant that supports the state’s growing need for mental health and substance use recovery support specialists is being awarded to the University of St. Francis (USF). The Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Mental Health selected USF for a grant of $90,000 to partially fund the Certified Recovery Support Specialist/Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CRSS/CPRS) program. “Illinois’ CRSS/CPRS program prepares students for entry-level positions as behavioral health workers, specifically in the areas of substance use and mental health recovery. With programs like this, people who are going through a mental health emergency will be treated by community outreach specialists with lived expertise—people who have been there,” said Elizabeth Davies, dean of the USF College of Arts & Sciences. “Last year, Gov. Pritzker signed legislation that expanded access to mental health care and that measure included funding for expanded services including an enhanced 988 line. While everyone knows calling 911 will connect people to emergency services, 988 is the new emergency number for behavioral health crisis response. People are needed to assist people who call with substance use and mental health issues,” Davies explained. The program at USF is one of several programs and certificates designed to educate and train health care staff. Once certified, specialists work in a variety of capacities, such as outpatient drug and alcohol treatment, crisis response teams, sobriety maintenance settings like sober houses, and mental health. Training is specifically designed for people who have lived experience with mental health and substance use issues. “The certificate is a one semester program that can be done in full time or part time formats. Students earn certification and 14 college credits that can be used toward a degree program at USF. The tuition for the program is fully funded by the grant, so it’s free to students in the program. Plus, the grant also offers assistance to remove barriers to education for students in the program,” said Larry Dunbar, a professor at USF and the coordinator of the university’s Substance Abuse Counseling Program. “The program is based in recovery-oriented systems of care, a newer model of treatment for substance use and mental wellness. This model recognizes the value of people with lived experiences in substance use, 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,” Dunbar said. Students interested in the program can contact the university and find more information online at stfrancis.edu/crss. Enrollment is now open for the USF’s CRSS program, with classes beginning in the Fall of 2022. : : The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 52,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu. University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose. # # #

Tag: Lawrence Dunbar

USF Students Attend 2023 Illinois Certification Board Spring Conference

USF Receives State Grant to Support Certified Recovery Specialist Program

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