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POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Prevention Supervisor, the Gambling Recovery Support Specialist serves as part of the Prevention Specialist Team to help establish rapport, share experiences and strengthen engagement with the person in recovery. You will be relied on to provide clients with resourceful information and support in a variety of settings. The Gambling Recovery Support Specialist will model competence to their clients, through their own personal experiences, in successful self-recovery.

The Gambling Recovery Support Specialist provides prevention, outreach, recovery support, screening, referral, and community education services for individuals and families affected by gambling disorder. The position works collaboratively with treatment providers, community organizations, and gambling industry stakeholders to increase awareness, reduce barriers to treatment, and support long-term recovery.

The Specialist conducts screenings, provides recovery coaching and resource navigation, facilitates warm referrals to treatment and support services, participates in public awareness campaigns, and maintains program documentation and reporting requirements in accordance with Illinois Department of Human Services guidelines.

SSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct gambling disorder screenings using IDHS-approved tools and provide brief intervention, motivational support, and early intervention services for individuals at risk of or experiencing gambling-related harms.
• Identify, engage, and support individuals and families impacted by gambling disorder through individualized recovery support planning, follow-up services, and ongoing encouragement to promote recovery and retention in care.
• Facilitate warm referrals and resource navigation to gambling treatment providers, peer support programs, self-exclusion programs, financial counseling services, family support services, and other community resources.
• Develop, coordinate, and implement community outreach, prevention, education, and awareness activities related to gambling disorder, substance use prevention, sexual health, and positive youth development.
• Deliver evidence-based prevention curricula, workshops, presentations, screening events, and educational activities for youth, parents, community members, organizations, and stakeholders in accordance with program requirements and CARE principles.
• Conduct community assessments to identify needs, risk factors, available resources, and prevention priorities; assist with the development and implementation of outreach plans, prevention campaigns, and communication strategies.
• Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, treatment agencies, casinos, sports betting organizations, employers, community organizations, coalitions, advisory groups, and other stakeholders to increase awareness and access to services.
• Coordinate curriculum implementation, scheduling, site development, staff communication, and training activities to support successful program delivery.
• Conduct pre- and post-assessments, collect and analyze program data, participate in program evaluation and continuous quality improvement activities, and report outcomes as required.
• Maintain accurate records, service documentation, Prevention HUB data entry, monthly reports, and all required grant and program documentation in compliance with agency, IDHS, state, and federal requirements.
• Participate in statewide initiatives and awareness campaigns, including Problem Gambling Awareness Month, Gift Responsibly campaigns, community events, and coalition activities.
• Attend and participate in required trainings, professional development opportunities, IDHS meetings, annual summits, cross-training events, and workshops.
• Deliver all services in a culturally responsive, trauma-informed, confidential, and professional manner consistent with CARE principles, agency policies, and applicable regulations.
• Maintain certification in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), utilize crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques when appropriate, and respond to behavioral crises in accordance with TCI standards.
• Meet all grant and program goals, objectives, and performance measures, and perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Excellent engagement skills.
• Willingness and ability to flex schedule as program needs change.
• Must possess the knowledge, personal qualities and practice skills to work effectively with professionals in other organizations and from other disciplines and to provide services in a manner that reflects understanding and appreciation of multiculturalism.
• Ability to engage youth, parents, and community members on sensitive topics.
• Understanding of community needs and the ability to analyze local data.
• Capacity to recruit program sites and mobilize community leaders around prevention efforts.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Must meet DCFS/CANTS Clearance Requirements.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and maintain proof of automobile insurance.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Must have personal lived experience.
• High school diploma, GED or higher education is required.
• Within one year of hire staff providing gambling services must have or obtain gambling-specific training and credentials such as:
• Problem and Compulsive Gambling Counselor (PCGC)
• International Certified Gambling Counselor (ICGC)
• Completion of IDHS/DBHR's 30-hour Gambling Disorder Training
• Community Health Worker certification and/or Peer Recovery Specialist experience
• Experience providing outreach, prevention, behavioral health, recovery support, or case management services.
• The ability and willingness to actively participate in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary team environment.

CARE & TCI

Hoyleton has adopted the CARE (Children and Residential Experience), developed by Cornell University, to guide our culture and practice. CARE is grounded in six core principles: Developmentally Focused, Family Involved, Relationship Based, Ecologically Oriented, Competence Centered, and Trauma Informed.

Completion of CARE and TCI training is an internal requirement for all staff and must be completed upon hire. Ongoing application of these principles is expected and essential to successful job performance.

TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention). Employees must:

• Pass the written test annually
• Pass the physical test every six months (if applicable to their role)

Consistent participation and application of both CARE and TCI principles drive company culture and are essential to job performance.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position operates in a community-based environment and may require travel to agency sites, client locations, and partner organizations based on role responsibilities.

The role involves periods of walking, standing, or sitting, and may occasionally require climbing stairs, bending, kneeling, or lifting materials up to 10 pounds depending on job duties.

Minimal exposure to environmental factors such as noise, dust, or varying indoor/outdoor temperatures may occur depending on program needs and client-related activities.

BENEFITS

• Medical insurance with company funded Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Dental and vision insurance
• Paid vacation, sick, and personal days
• 10 company holidays and 1 floating holiday
• Monthly cell phone reimbursement
• 6 weeks paid parental leave
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to 5% employer match
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Optional supplemental benefits including: voluntary life, short-term disability, long-term disability, accident, and critical illness coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available to employees and their household members for additional support
• Tuition reimbursement to encourage continued learning and growth
• BenefitHub Perks Program offering valuable employee discounts