Tag: Illinois Certification Board

USF News

USF Student Elected to the ICB Board of Directors

Joliet, Ill. – University of St. Francis (USF) recently announced that student Monika Gomez has been elected to a two-year term on the Illinois Certification Board (ICB). Gomez, who began her term earlier this month, will be filling a newly created Board seat and will be representing students enrolled in ICB-accredited training programs in the State of Illinois.

This past May, Gomez graduated Cum Laude from USF with a bachelor’s degree in substance abuse counseling. At that time, Gomez also began coursework at USF toward a master’s degree in social work in pursuit of plans to become a licensed clinical social worker where she can apply her tremendous passion for the field of mental health and substance abuse counseling.

“As student advisor of the Illinois Certification Board, I am thrilled to help in not only ensuring that students are getting the most out of their education/training program but ensuring that the population we serve is getting the best quality treatment. I am so excited to have been provided this opportunity and I look forward to what the next year will bring,” Gomez said.

Jessica Hayes, ICB Executive Director, offered that Gomez presents many positives in her new role with the organization.

“It is with great pleasure the ICB announces the addition of Monika Gomez to the Board of Directors. Ms. Gomez was seated, by unanimous vote, as the Student Advisor for this term. Passion and energy are the words that come to mind within the first few minutes of interacting with Ms. Gomez. A breath of fresh air, coupled with a sound knowledge base, Ms. Gomez will serve as a voice for students in the ICB Accredited Training Programs,” said Hayes.

Lawrence (Larry) Dunbar, USF Substance Abuse Counseling Program coordinator and instructor, believes Gomez’s preparation and passion will have wide-reaching impact.

“I am so excited for Monika and very proud of all she has accomplished in her coursework and in her internships. I am confident that she is going to bring her passion and dedication to helping other individuals, and their families, rebuild their lives. She will be a wonderful asset to the ICB Board,” Dunbar said.

About the ICB Board of Directors

The ICB Board of Directors is responsible for the workings of the ICB, which serves as the certification organization for human service professionals such as substance abuse counselors, prevention specialists and recovery specialists. The ICB Board of Directors also oversees the executive director of ICB, maintains the organization’s code of ethics, develops new certifications, and ensures that certification exams are up-to-date, reliable and defensible. Visit iaodapca.org for more information.

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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.

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USF News

Illinois Certification Board Authorizes USF to Offer Combined Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) has received Illinois Certification Board authorization to offer a specific program designed to combine both mental health and substance abuse training and education in its Substance Abuse Counseling program. The authorization places USF in select company among its Illinois peers, as only a handful of the state’s colleges and universities offer a similar program.

“Substance use and mental health disorders are often diagnosed together in patients,” said Lawrence Dunbar, USF professor and Substance Abuse Counseling program coordinator.

“Mental illness and substance use both occur on a continuum of severity in people. We see a varied population with ranges from slight or moderate issues to truly severe and profound. Mental illness and substance use both occur on a continuum of severity, and can vary independently and concurrently across individuals, within individuals, across time and between settings,” Dunbar said.

The Illinois Certification Board and the Substance Abuse Counseling program at the University of St. Francis both endorse the concept that the treatment of dually diagnosed substance use and mental health disorders is a specialty field requiring performance by competent professionals, Dunbar explained.

Students that complete the Substance Abuse Counseling degree program at USF, and complete the CADC credential, will have fulfilled the education requirements for the Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorder Professional Level 1 Registration (CODP-1) as credentialed by the Illinois Certification Board.

“It is in the news every day. There is an alarming amount of problematic use of alcohol and other drugs. In many cases there are, in addition, co-occurring mental health problems. Physical problems, difficulty at work, deteriorating relationships, and ultimately, death, dictate that our society provide care and counsel to people where mental illness and substance use coexist,” Dunbar said.

The CODP-1 registration, in addition to the CADC certification, helps prepare students to work in this difficult but growing field. This is a highly valued and requested combination of credentials, education and experience by Illinois behavioral health providers.

“The CODP-1 is a credential combining human services with behavioral science. We will lead and mentor students through at least 21 semester hours of AOD education and 6 semester hours in mental illness education,” Dunbar said.

“The Substance Abuse Counseling program at the USF prepares students to become the professionals that we need to go out into the community and assist others in their rebuilding their lives, creating healthy relationships and putting families back together,” Dunbar added.

For more information on USF’s Substance Abuse Counseling program, visit stfrancis.edu/substance-abuse-counseling.

The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves over 4,000 students nationwide, offering undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 50,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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