Illinois CRSS Condensed Study Guide UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Recovery The process in which persons are able to live, work, learn, and participate fully in
their communities. For some individuals, recovery is the ability to live a fulfilling
and productive life despite a disability. For others, recovery implies the reduction
or complete remission of symptoms. Science has shown that having hope plays an
integral role in an individual's recovery
Recovery Support The process of giving and receiving non-clinical assistance to help facilitate the
process of recovery; recovery support is provided by individuals with lived
experience in recovery
Recovery Support Specialist A person with lived experience in mental health recovery who helps others with
psychiatric conditions on their recovery journeys in a formal manner and is paid
for his/her services
Recovery Support Services Peer-based recovery support services which are delivered through organizations
and through the specialized roles of paid Recovery Support Specialists
The Expectation is Recovery! All persons with mental illnesses can recover and participate fully in a life in the
community.
System A set of parts working together in an organized way for a common purpose
Advocacy Communicating effectively in order to get needs met
Systems Advocacy Communicating effectively within an organization to get the needs of persons
participating in services met. This often involves changes that affect groups of
people.
Advance Directive a legal document created when a person is well. It describes what kind of mental
health treatment the individual prefers and what person can make decisions about
their care if they become unable to due to illness. Only the individual can decide
if they want to create an advance directive and what it contains
Declaration for Mental Health Treatment includes personal preferences about: Medication
• Hospitalization
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
• An Attorney in Fact, chosen by the individual, who can view their mental health
records and make decisions about the individual's care, on their behalf.
Power of Attorney for Health Care Is a person chosen by the individual in advance. Can direct both the individual's
mental health treatment and other medical care
, Person Driven Recovery persons have the primary decision-making role regarding the care that is offered
and received. Treatment involves options that the individual chooses from within
the range of what is medically appropriate. The person is informed of and
involved in every decision regarding their care, all the way from medication
choices to employment options. Above all, the person's life goals, hopes and
dreams are the end toward which all treatment and approaches must work
Person Centered Language Person centered language may also be referred to as person first language. It is
important to refer to people as people, instead of using labels. The goal of
person centered language is ultimately to change attitudes and practices, not
simply to rename them. By modeling the use of empowering language we help to
accomplish this goal. In conversations we will find opportunities to gently
encourage others to use empowering language by using it ourselves.
Having vs. Being To HAVE an illness, or to have the diagnosis of an illness, is notably different than
to BE the illness. When we talk about an individual as separate from their mental
health condition, we recognize the person first, and we acknowledge the
person=s power to overcome that condition and live a full life separate from it
Wellness Focused Approach is strength based. It begins with an understanding of what a person is like at their
best and what strengths and resources they have to recover their wellness. The
wellness focused approach facilitates hope and helps to motivate the person to
take an active role in the recovery of their wellness. Science has shown that
having hope plays an integral role in an individual's recovery
Cultural Competency each person has a unique cultural perspective. Our cultures affect our thoughts,
behaviors and ways of life. Despite our differences, we can all share certain goals
in the lifelong process of becoming more culturally competent
How to Improve Cultural Competency Understand the role of culture in behavior and society
• Build relationships across cultures and intentionally involve people of diverse
backgrounds in projects and teams
• Recognize the strengths that exist within various cultures
• Humbly pursue ongoing education and training to better understand social
diversity and oppression
• Respect differences
Accountability Accountability is about behaving responsibly toward one another and
communicating openly about our responsibilities. Through accountability, we
ensure that actions are consistent with what we as individuals, peers and
organizations have committed ourselves to
Confidentiality no person with the CRSS credential may disclose an individual's Protected Health
Information (PHI) without a signed Authorization for Release of Information from
the individual or their legal guardian, with limited exceptions. When in doubt,
CRSS professionals should err on the side of confidentiality and consult with a
supervisor or legal professional.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Recovery The process in which persons are able to live, work, learn, and participate fully in
their communities. For some individuals, recovery is the ability to live a fulfilling
and productive life despite a disability. For others, recovery implies the reduction
or complete remission of symptoms. Science has shown that having hope plays an
integral role in an individual's recovery
Recovery Support The process of giving and receiving non-clinical assistance to help facilitate the
process of recovery; recovery support is provided by individuals with lived
experience in recovery
Recovery Support Specialist A person with lived experience in mental health recovery who helps others with
psychiatric conditions on their recovery journeys in a formal manner and is paid
for his/her services
Recovery Support Services Peer-based recovery support services which are delivered through organizations
and through the specialized roles of paid Recovery Support Specialists
The Expectation is Recovery! All persons with mental illnesses can recover and participate fully in a life in the
community.
System A set of parts working together in an organized way for a common purpose
Advocacy Communicating effectively in order to get needs met
Systems Advocacy Communicating effectively within an organization to get the needs of persons
participating in services met. This often involves changes that affect groups of
people.
Advance Directive a legal document created when a person is well. It describes what kind of mental
health treatment the individual prefers and what person can make decisions about
their care if they become unable to due to illness. Only the individual can decide
if they want to create an advance directive and what it contains
Declaration for Mental Health Treatment includes personal preferences about: Medication
• Hospitalization
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
• An Attorney in Fact, chosen by the individual, who can view their mental health
records and make decisions about the individual's care, on their behalf.
Power of Attorney for Health Care Is a person chosen by the individual in advance. Can direct both the individual's
mental health treatment and other medical care
, Person Driven Recovery persons have the primary decision-making role regarding the care that is offered
and received. Treatment involves options that the individual chooses from within
the range of what is medically appropriate. The person is informed of and
involved in every decision regarding their care, all the way from medication
choices to employment options. Above all, the person's life goals, hopes and
dreams are the end toward which all treatment and approaches must work
Person Centered Language Person centered language may also be referred to as person first language. It is
important to refer to people as people, instead of using labels. The goal of
person centered language is ultimately to change attitudes and practices, not
simply to rename them. By modeling the use of empowering language we help to
accomplish this goal. In conversations we will find opportunities to gently
encourage others to use empowering language by using it ourselves.
Having vs. Being To HAVE an illness, or to have the diagnosis of an illness, is notably different than
to BE the illness. When we talk about an individual as separate from their mental
health condition, we recognize the person first, and we acknowledge the
person=s power to overcome that condition and live a full life separate from it
Wellness Focused Approach is strength based. It begins with an understanding of what a person is like at their
best and what strengths and resources they have to recover their wellness. The
wellness focused approach facilitates hope and helps to motivate the person to
take an active role in the recovery of their wellness. Science has shown that
having hope plays an integral role in an individual's recovery
Cultural Competency each person has a unique cultural perspective. Our cultures affect our thoughts,
behaviors and ways of life. Despite our differences, we can all share certain goals
in the lifelong process of becoming more culturally competent
How to Improve Cultural Competency Understand the role of culture in behavior and society
• Build relationships across cultures and intentionally involve people of diverse
backgrounds in projects and teams
• Recognize the strengths that exist within various cultures
• Humbly pursue ongoing education and training to better understand social
diversity and oppression
• Respect differences
Accountability Accountability is about behaving responsibly toward one another and
communicating openly about our responsibilities. Through accountability, we
ensure that actions are consistent with what we as individuals, peers and
organizations have committed ourselves to
Confidentiality no person with the CRSS credential may disclose an individual's Protected Health
Information (PHI) without a signed Authorization for Release of Information from
the individual or their legal guardian, with limited exceptions. When in doubt,
CRSS professionals should err on the side of confidentiality and consult with a
supervisor or legal professional.
