CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced today that Illinois has surpassed 1,000 certified peer professionals, with 1,010 individuals now credentialed as Certified Recovery Support Specialists (CRSS) and/or Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS). The milestone reflects the State’s continued investment in peer recovery support services and behavioral health workforce development and represents a 335% increase in the certified peer workforce since 2022.
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“Growing our behavioral health workforce has been one of the most impactful investments we’ve made in strengthening our system,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This milestone reflects real, statewide momentum—and we’re committed to continuing to grow this workforce so more Illinoisans can access the hope, support, and connection they need.”
In 2022, Illinois had approximately 230 certified peer professionals statewide. Today, certified peer professionals are serving individuals and families across Illinois in community mental health centers, substance use treatment programs, hospitals, mobile crisis teams, recovery homes, and Living Rooms, which provide a safe, welcoming environment for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
“Reaching more than 1,000 certified peer professionals is an important milestone for Illinois and a powerful example of what can happen when we invest in people,” said Dulce M. Quintero, Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services. “Through the CRSS Success Program, individuals with lived experience are gaining the training and support they need to enter the behavioral health workforce and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”
A key driver of this workforce growth has been the CRSS Success Program, launched in 2022 through IDHS’s Division of Mental Health, now the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery. Supported by adult-use cannabis tax revenue from the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act signed into law by Governor Pritzker in 2019, the program helps students prepare for entry-level positions in behavioral health while covering costs such as tuition, textbooks, certification fees, transportation, and childcare.
"We are grateful to the more than one thousand people here in Illinois who have turned their own lived experience with behavioral health conditions into a lifeline for others through the peer certification process,” said State Representative Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago). “The integration of well-trained peers into our behavioral health system is a powerful emblem of hope and recovery. As Illinois and other states endure an assault on evidence-based behavioral health investments via forthcoming Medicaid cuts and calls for institutionalization at the federal level, we must keep up the momentum for what works, which includes education and employment security for lifesaving peers.”
Since its launch, the CRSS Success Program has supported nearly 1,500 students pursuing peer certification and behavioral health careers, helping strengthen the pipeline of qualified professionals entering the workforce.
One of those professionals is Darren A. Dunham, a graduate of the CRSS Success Program who now works as the Program Manager of Peer Services at Trilogy, Inc. of Chicago. Drawing on his personal lived experience, he supports individuals navigating mental health and substance use recovery, connecting them to services and resources that support long-term recovery. In addition, he has helped countless peers across the state obtain their CRSS credential through his work as an instructor in the program and through support of individuals with lived experience in the community.
“The CRSS Success Program has turned out to be even better than advertised. It has not only given me the professional credibility to earn multiple promotions, it has also provided enhanced personal insight, improving my own recovery journey,” said Darren A. Dunham. “I cannot applaud the benefits of this program enough. In a word: life-changing!”
Today, certified peers are serving communities across every region of Illinois, including approximately 600 in Northern Illinois, nearly 100 in Central Illinois, and over 300 in Southern Illinois.
“Growing the behavioral health workforce by uplifting those with lived expertise has been a priority of this administration, one that is based on best practice and compassion,” said Dr. David Albert, Director of the IDHS Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery. “We are honored to be a part of this monumental work and look forward to many years of growth across Illinois.”
Peer professionals play a vital role in helping people engage in services, sustain recovery, and build meaningful connections in their communities. By using their lived recovery experience, they help individuals build hope, overcome barriers, and work toward their recovery goals.
The expansion of the peer workforce supports Illinois’ broader efforts to address behavioral health needs, increase access to care, and advance recovery-oriented services statewide. As Illinois marks this milestone, IDHS remains committed to supporting peer-led services and expanding pathways for Illinois residents to enter the behavioral health workforce.
