I was reminded of the importance of increasing recovery capital when I attended the Illinois Certification Board's Annual Fall SUD Conference on October 29, 2024, and witnessed Kashena McDonald receive the Illinois Certification Board's distinguished Professional of the Year Award. Kashena coordinates the Certified Associate Addictions Professional Program (CAAP) for incarcerated individuals housed at Southwestern Correctional Center in East St. Louis, Illinois.
During this year’s conference, several speakers shared the impact and reach of the CAAP program. Chris Boyster, executive director of the Illinois Certification Board, reported that the CAAP program has a 95% completion rate. Dona Howell, former director of SUD services for the Illinois Department of Corrections, said individuals completing the CAAP Program have the lowest recidivism rate in the state. Howell went on to state, "The CAAP Program is an excellent way to allow people who have suffered from the dual challenges of substance use disorder and justice involvement to develop a marketable skill and career post-release and widening the field of the peer recovery workforce."
Dan Lustig, PsyD, president and CEO of Haymarket Center, has hired numerous CAAP graduates upon their release to provide recovery support services for Haymarket Center. Dr. Lustig stated, "The CAAP certification represents a crucial step in strengthening Illinois' network of care by equipping individuals with the knowledge, skills, and dedication necessary to support individuals on their journey to recovery. It is more than a credential. It is a commitment to creating healthier communities through compassion, expertise, and unwavering support."
Tim O., a graduate of the CAAP program over a decade ago, was another conference speaker who described how the program has changed his life. Since graduating, he has gone on to achieve a great deal of success, including earning a master’s degree and currently working on a second degree. He also has provided training, consultations, and coordination of alumni services for justice-involved individuals throughout Illinois who are reentering communities. According to Tim, the CAAP program "provides hope for new futures through the development of job and life skills which reduce recidivism and increase public safety."
Congratulations to Kashena McDonald for the success of the CAAP program and for being the newest recipient of the Illinois Certification Board's Professional of the Year Award.
Laudet, A & White, W. (2008). Recovery Capital as A Prospective Predictor of Sustained Recovery and Life Satisfaction. Substance Use and Misuse, 43(1) 27-54.
Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, is the Illinois state project manager for the Great Lakes ATTC. He is an international speaker and behavioral health consultant whose presentations and publications have reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, West Indies, Lithuania, and Guam. He is the recipient of four lifetime achievement awards, including NAADAC’s prestigious Enlightenment Award, the National Association for Addiction Professionals’ 50th Anniversary Legends Award, the Illinois Certification Board's Professional of the Year Award and Jessica Hayes Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Barbara Bacon Award for outstanding contributions to the social work profession as an alumnus of Loyola University of Chicago.
