Illinois Certification Board

Plan well by planning ahead! Early bird registrants for Fall not only received a discounted rate, they get the option of splitting their payment with an easy deposit, followed by a final charge on August 15th.

Don’t miss your chance to connect with colleagues, collect CEUs towards recertification, celebrate professional successes and be revitalized in your practice!

Fall Conference 2026 will be held October 21-23, 2026 at Northfield Inn, Suites & Conference Center in Springfield, Illinois.

You are also invited to get tickets to the 2026 Inaugural ICB Gala & Awards from 7-9pm, October 21, at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, when you register.

Don’t delay! Register today: https://favoredconferencesandevents.regfox.com/2026-icb-fall-conference

More from the archives! This we have a mixed selection of familiar faces.

What’s a good memory you have from Conferences of the past?

Wishing everyone a safe and thoughtful holiday. 🇺🇸

Friendly reminder to our certified professionals! Important updates like this can usually be found on our homepage.

Trying to fulfill your CEU requirements? Check out our Continuing Education Bulletin at https://iaodapca.org/Recertification/Continuing-Education-Bulletin or register for our upcoming Fall Conference! Early bird registration is currently open.

https://favoredconferencesandevents.regfox.com/2026-icb-fall-conference

Time for another ! Zeke Reyes is the IT Associate at the Illinois Certification Board (ICB). In this role he troubleshoots technical issues for the staff, does inventory control, and application management. He also assists in reviewing recertifications and approving CEU extension requests.

Born and raised in Northern Illinois, as a kid he was always interested in technology—taking apart and rebuilding computers and various equipment. When he realized he could make a career in IT, he focused his efforts in that direction. He enjoys helping others solve problems.

Outside of work, Zeke is a collector of parts cables and miscellaneous adapters, waiting for the moment he can say, “I have that!” He is a certified pharmacy technician, where he also enjoys improving the lives of others.

His hobbies include vintage photos, tv shows and movies, riding his bicycle, and making healthy recipes.

We’re grateful for all you do, Zeke! ✨

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) 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 CPRS professional to facilitate recovery and build the resilience of persons in recovery. Persons served by a CPRS include persons with substance use disorders, mental illnesses, persons dually diagnosed with mental illness and substance use disorder, family members/significant others and/or staff of organizations seeking consultation on the behavioral health recovery model.

The professional CPRS is recognized as the direct support professional, with formal recovery support services responsibilities available to individuals. The professional CPRS at this level is expected to have knowledge of the principles of recovery and peer support services. Following approved training, CPRS professionals at this level will be able to identify services and activities which promote recovery; articulate points of their own recovery story that are relevant to the obstacles faced by others; promote personal responsibility for recovery; and implement recovery practices in the broad arena of the behavioral health service delivery system.

Find out more about becoming a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist at https://iaodapca.org/Credentialing

Earlier this week an ICB delegation, along with Board Members Jil Johnson and Jacob Bradshaw, joined our lobbyist Margaret Vaughn at the Capitol for a day of discussions with legislators about the behavioral health workforce in Illinois, future concerns, and how ICB envisions our credentialed professionals can meet the needs of Illinoisans around the state. It was invigorating to find our representatives actively engaged in Committee Hearings and willing to sit down for face-to-face conversations about what matters.

We hope to continue working with legislators to ensure the behavioral health workforce in Illinois is supported now and in the future.

We also awarded Representative Lindsey LaPointe with our “Legislator of the Year” award for everything she has done for mental and behavioral health in Illinois.

It was a productive and informative day!

Our Spring Newsletter is live! Check out our revamped design and format, with feature articles, interviews, and news from the field.

Find the link in our comments!

You’re Invited to an Exclusive Screening of “Welcome Home – An Oxford House Story.”
 
This inspiring film captures the power of recovery, community, and the life-changing impact of Oxford House.
 
This exclusive event will bring together community leaders, advocates, and supporters dedicated to recovery and second chances. Be among the first to experience this powerful story and celebrate the impact of Oxford House across our communities.
 
🎟️ RSVP Required:
 
- Granite City Cinema - 5/26/26 (3:30pm - 6pm) 
- Classic Cinemas Elk Grove- 5/27/26 (4pm - 6pm) 
- Peoria Riverfront Museum- 6/10/26 (6pm - 8pm) 
- Father Robert V. Carney Performing Arts Center- 6/4/26 (5pm - 8:30pm)
 
LINK TO RSVP
———————
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqCMRN2vETrNQqmppLtvbPfQEMrO8LY3Uy1nFEpzR6Bthv8Q/viewform

This week a small delegation of ICB staff attended the conference in Denver of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing—what’s affectionately called NatCon. It was an incredible week of learning and networking (and getting ideas for our own conferences!). We can’t wait to apply everything we learned to better serve our members and ensure Illinois is at the forefront of providing quality behavioral healthcare. Much to do (and much to look forward to)!