Decision Support Specialist jobs in Illinois

CONTINUING EDUCATION - CERTIFIED RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALIST (CRSS) INSTRUCTOR - PART TIME
GRANT FUNDED
MALCOLM X COLLEGE 

Community and Continuing Education non-credit courses are available for students and community members seeking occupational skills or personal enrichment. Are you interested in collaborating in the development of high-quality recovery support training for individuals with lived expertise of mental health, substance use, or co-occurring mental health and substance use recovery? If you have passion for recovery support, teaching, and learning, consider joining our team. When you join, you will have the opportunity to inspire, motivate, and empower learners to succeed and deeply impact the recovery community in Illinois.  

About CRSS (Certified Recovery Support Specialist) Success Program 

Illinois faces a statewide crisis in behavioral health access due to its inadequate workforce capacity. The CRSS Success Program (a grant awarded by the Department of Human Services of Illinois) will provide high quality recovery support training, supervise practical experience, and wrap-around supports. This program seeks to increase the number of individuals in Illinois who successfully obtain the Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) credential through the Illinois Certification Board (ICB d/b/a IAODAPCA), as one mechanism to address the behavioral health workforce shortage.  

CRSS professionals are individuals trained to incorporate their unique personal experience in their own recovery with a distinct knowledge base and human service skills. This combination of experience and training allows the CRSS professional to facilitate the recovery and build the resilience of persons with mental illnesses or those dually diagnosed with mental illness and substance use disorder. 

Strengthening the behavioral health workforce requires alignment of resources and enhancement of career pathways that allow behavioral health centers to attract, train, and retain providers in Illinois. Post-secondary education programs for individuals to successfully obtain either the Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) credential is one aspect of broadening and strengthening the pipeline for individuals to enter the behavioral health workforce.  

As a recipient of this grant, Malcolm X College will develop curricula that meets the training standards outlined in the Illinois Certification Board Peer Recovery Support Training Program Accreditation Standards for CRSS and CPRS; providing a minimum of 110 hours of training and education in recovery support; developing linkages for practical experience (internship) components; stipends for practical experience (internship) component; maintaining a list of affiliations with other segments of the recovery support community, the education community, and other professions, as resources; and providing wrap-around supports for students to overcome practical barriers to full participation such as student tuition, books, and fees; Credentialing fees; stipends to cover costs of childcare, transportation, or other needs essential for students to maintain participation in the program.  

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Utilizing the resources found in Illinois Certification Board’s Peer Recovery Support Training Program Accreditation Standards for CRSS and CPRS, identify curriculum gaps in Malcolm X College’s Community Health Worker program. 
• Develop an inclusive curriculum that closes these gaps and provides a continuation of internship experience that prepares students for certification and career as a CRSS/CPRS. 
• Culminates in the final product of three courses: 1) Preparation for Certification Exam, 2) Advanced Internship Course, and 3) CRSS and CPRS Advanced Training Course. 
• Conduct needs assessment for incoming students and develop strategies to remove barriers to success. 
• Regular attendance and involvement in curriculum-related meetings with the college or state. 
• Collaborate with supervisors and related departments as required. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Commitment to the belief that recovery is possible for everyone; that recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to achieve their full potential. 
• A working knowledge of current trends and developments in the fields of mental health, substance abuse disorders, co-occurring disorders, and peer recovery services. 
• Current CRSS or CPRS certification and/or related experience within the field, preferred. 
• High School Diploma required; some college preferred.   
• West Side resident, preferred.  
• Demonstrate good communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with college faculty and leadership. 
• Moderate proficiency of personal computers and applicable software. 
• Must be able to develop, prepare and present information. 
• Must be able to work in a multicultural environment and embrace our vision and mission.

For the second time in three years, Malcolm X College was selected as a Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges award winner! The award is given by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD), a membership organization committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching and leadership at community and technical colleges, and Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, a leading academic publication.  

MXC was recognized for its best-in-class student and staff recruitment and retention practices, inclusive learning and working environments, and meaningful community service and engagement opportunities. 

Malcolm X College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. 

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