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Faith communities are one of the first places individuals and families impacted by substance use disorders and other mental illnesses turn to for help. We seek to support and empower faith communities in their work by providing free training, toolkits, community mentoring, and connections to local resources.
Certified Recovery Faith Organizations have been formally trained and recognized as safe, supportive and informed community resources for individuals and families affected by substance use and mental health challenges. Certified Recovery Faith Organizations are known and promoted publicly as:
Safe and welcoming to people in recovery and/or families and loved ones of those in recovery.
Equipped and informed communities for people currently experiencing substance use and mental health challenges.
A place to go for resources and information when help is needed with substance use or mental health challenges.
Connection to local resources.
Printed materials and resources.
Engagement in advisory and collaborative groups.
Access to local support program development toolkits.
Ongoing support from the Center for Community Engagement.
Specialized training for faith communities on mental wellness, substance use, overdose response, and suicide prevention.
The Illinois Faith and Recovery Collaborative (IL FRC) partners with faith communities across Illinois to increase understanding of substance use, mental wellness, suicide prevention, and overdose prevention. Through education, connection, and collaboration, we help communities become more informed, compassionate, and prepared to support individuals and families impacted by behavioral health and substance use challenges.
Learn. Connect. Respond.
Better understanding of mental wellness, behavioral health, and ways faith communities can support individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
Increase understanding of substance use, substance use disorders, recovery, and the ways faith communities can provide support.
QPR is a suicide prevention training that teaches participants how to recognize warning signs, communicate with someone who may be experiencing a suicidal crisis, and connect them with appropriate help.
Recognize and respond to opioid related overdoses and increasing faith community awareness of overdose prevention.
This training is an absolute necessity for those in the faith community. Awareness of our mental health and that of others is helping us to better serve the people we love.”
- Kingdom Church (Decatur, IL)
This training enriched our team by laying down foundational concepts for some who have limited experience with mental health training, reinforcing principles that some have studied, and further nuancing response strategies with updated insights to help us serve our community well.”
- 1st Assembly of God Church (Normal, IL)
Chestnut provided an informative series of trainings for our pastoral staff. We are grateful for the knowledge and understanding the sessions provided. The issues surrounding addiction and mental health are complex, and were taught with understanding in very practical settings.”
- Eastview Church (Normal, IL)
Faith communities often serve as places where people seek belonging, connection, guidance, and support. That makes them uniquely positioned to help reduce stigma surrounding mental health and substance use.
Better understand mental wellness, behavioral health, and ways faith communities can support individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
Make people feel ashamed or isolated.
Discourage individuals from seeking help from their faith community or help in general.
Reinforce misconceptions about mental illness and substance use within faith communities.
Affect families, caregivers, and the members within their faith community—not only individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges.
Create barriers to recovery and faith community connection.
Increase understanding of substance use, substance use disorders, recovery, and the ways faith communities can provide support.
Instead of: “Why don't they just stop?”
Try: “How can we support our brother/sister in faith that is struggling?”
Instead of: “They're an addict.”
Try: “They're a person experiencing a substance use disorder.”
Instead of: “They need to have more faith.”
Try: “How can we uplift them and walk alongside them?”
A Train the Trainer Portal is in development and will be available soon. Stay connected for updates.
