Education and Training

Recovery University is a 60-hour advanced training and certification program funded in part by the CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for persons in recovery from mental health or co-occurring disorders. It is the only state authorized program to certify individuals as meeting the requirements of Certification for Recovery Support Specialist. Upon successful completion of the course and the certification exam, graduates will be state certified as Recovery Support Specialists, Peer Delivered Services.

Course topics include the following Certification Exam Competency Areas:

• Effective, Empathetic Communication Skills
• Legal and Ethical Practice, Boundaries, Client Rights
• Introduction to Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Co-Occurring Disorders
• Principles of Psychiatric Rehabilitation
• Medicaid Mental Health Waiver / Money Follows the Person
• Using Your Recovery Story, Role of Peer Supports on Teams, Recovery Culture
• Role Challenges, Conflict Resolution, Self Care
• Recovery Planning and Documentation
• Entitlements and Benefits Management
• Cultural Awareness

Many mental health organizations and agencies, including the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, have or are likely to be offering positions for Recovery Support Specialists. Many, if not most, of these job openings require that candidates be certified graduates of the Recovery University program.

Advocacy Unlimited cannot offer transportation to the Recovery University classes. Every effort will be made to hold all classes at a location on a bus line. For CT Transit bus schedules, see CT Public Transportation.

Before applying… be sure to read Recovery Support Specialist General Information for more information regarding the Recovery University Certification program (MS Word document)

For questions or more information…
Contact Deron Drumm, AU Director of Recovery University or Linda Lentini, AU Director of Grants and Programs, or call (toll-free in CT only) 1-800-573-6929.

All fees are non-refundable. Fees should be made by check or money order payable to Advocacy Unlimited, Inc.  Unfortunately, there are no scholarships for the course fees available at this time.

• 60-Hour Recovery University Course Fees:

Please note that applications cannot be submitted online. They must be mailed or delivered to the AU Office with the application fee.

Before completing the application form, be sure you have read the Recovery Support Specialist General Information.

Also be sure to read the application instructions that are included on the Application Form. The form also includes an optional Equal Opportunity section.

You can download and print a copy of the application form below. Complete your printed application form and mail or hand deliver it to the AU Office with the appropriate fees. If you are submitting an application to get on the Waiting List, you do not need to submit any fees at this time.

Download and print the Application Form

Mail or hand deliver your completed application and fees to:

Advocacy Unlimited, Inc.
Recovery University Application
300 Russell Rd.
Wethersfield, CT 06109  [directions]

For questions, contact Deron Drumm, AU Co-Executive Director and Director of Recovery University or Linda Lentini, AU Director of Programs.

* Note to RU Graduates…
If, as a result of your certification, you obtain employment as a Recovery Support Specialist, please inform AU and let us know your name, where you are employed, and when you started. Thank you!

* For help preparing for your job search…
See resume writing, cover letter, and interviewing help

Job Listings…

• New!  Peer Support Specialist openings (Job Fair on June 27th) -- Center for Human Development, Hartford
• Human Services Advocate -- Capitol Region Mental Health Center, Hartford
• Peer Support Specialist -- Community Health Resources, Inc., Bloomfield
• Peer Support Clubhouse Assistant -- Community Health Resources, Inc., Enfield
• Peer Support Warm Line Operator -- Community Health Resources, Inc., Enfield
• Community Support Specialist -- Community Health Resources, Inc., Manchester
• Recovery Pathways Specialist -- Community Health Resources, Inc., Manchester
• Community Support Worker (Bilingual) -- Community Health Resources, Inc., Norwich
• Recovery Specialist -- Advanced Behavioral Health, Middletown, CT
• Recovery Specialist/Recovery Case Manager -- Advanced Behavioral Health, Willimantic/Middletown, CT
• Recovery Specialist/Recovery Case Manager -- Advanced Behavioral Health, Norwich, CT
• Multiple Recovery Specialist openings -- Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA), New Britain, CT
• Full-time Recovery Specialist -- Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA), New Britain, CT
• Peer Internships -- South Central Behavioral Health Network (SCBHN), New Haven, CT
• Recovery Assistant -- Handz-on, Inc., Hartford, CT
• Recovery Assistant (2 part-time openings) -- MHAC, Stamford, CT
• MASSACHUSETTS -- Peer Specialist -- The Edinburg Center, Lexington, MA (for info about The Edinburg Center and all their job openings, see Edinburg openings on our Employment Opportunities page).