Resources

Behavioral health careers span a wide range of specialties that support the mental, emotional and psychological well-being of individuals and communities. Professionals in this field focus on how habits, environments and medication impact a person’s overall health. Some roles require advanced degrees and licensure through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Others require a certification through the...

Integrated care is an evolving field that provides patients with comprehensive, coordinated support for their medical and mental health needs. It can take different forms across various organizational settings, ranging from minimal collaboration between medical and behavioral health (BH) providers to fully co-located, team-based care. For those hoping to work in this field, preparing for an integrated care role requires careful thought and...

As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), my journey in mental health care began during my undergraduate studies. I was working on my bachelor’s degree in psychology while also on my own counseling journey. I realized the impact my LGBTQ+ counselor had on my life and the importance of having people from our community as counselors with the lived experience to know how to truly relate to and help others. That’s when I decided to become a...

What is a CRSS? A Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) is a mental health professional who uses their lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery to help others. Illinois is one of the several states to address the shortage of behavioral health professionals and increase CRSSs. How is a CRSS trained? To become a CRSS in Illinois, an individual may go through a state program to meet requirements or...