Gambling Recovery Support Specialist

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.

• 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…