Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals

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Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals

Illinois Chapter of the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)..comm

The Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals is an affiliate member of the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors. Our purpose is to lead, unify and empower addiction focused professionals to achieve excellence through education, advocacy, knowledge, standards of practice, ethics, professional development and research.

11/04/2026

IAAP 2026 Conference Speaker Updates!

We’re excited to share a few updates to the speaker lineup for this year’s conference, Recovery Takes a Community, taking place November 13–14 in Bloomington, Illinois.

We’re pleased to welcome:

Enchelle’ R. Morris, LCPC, CADC – Owner and Clinical Director of A Bridge 2 Healing Therapeutic Services. Enchelle’ will present Impact of Trauma and Clinician Self-Care on Saturday morning from 9 AM–12 PM.

Jim O’Connor, CADC – Founder and Executive Director of Second Story Foundation and recipient of IAAP’s 2026 Program of the Year Award. Jim will share his personal recovery journey and the vision behind his organization’s programs during Saturday’s Awards Celebration.

Peter Bradley, MA, LCPC, CRADC – CEO of Bradley Counseling & Consulting. Peter will lead Friday afternoon’s workshop, Sustaining Recovery: Another Look at Barriers and Strategies. This will be the scheduled Friday afternoon breakout session for all participants. He will also serve as Master of Ceremonies for the Awards Celebration.

We’re grateful for the professionals and community leaders coming together to make this conference an opportunity to learn, grow, share experiences, and strengthen our collective commitment to recovery.

Make plans to join us!

November 13–14, 2026
ALPHARUS HEALTH (formerly Gateway)
404 N. Hershey Road, Suite B
Bloomington, IL

Don’t forget to join us for the IAAP Awards Celebration on Saturday, November 14, from 12:15–3 PM.

Registration: https://iaap2026.eventbrite.com

11/03/2026

We are excited to welcome our good friend and colleague, Mark Sanders, to the 2026 IAAP Conference & Awards!

Mark has supported IAAP and served on our board for decades before becoming an emeritus board member. His leadership, wisdom, and commitment to the addiction profession have made a lasting impact on our association and the communities we serve.

We are looking forward to spending time with Mark and learning from him during the conference on November 13. Join us for two meaningful days of learning, connection, and celebration on November 13 and 14.

Co-hosted by our good friends at Alpharus Health🤩

Registration links are in the comments.

10/23/2026

The Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals (IAAP) is pleased to announce and congratulate the 2026 IAAP Award honorees. These awards recognize the people and programs strengthening addiction treatment, advocacy, recovery, and the behavioral health profession.

William White Lifetime Achievement Award — Randall Webber
JRW Behavioral Health Services
Recognizes sustained service and lasting contributions to the addiction profession through education, mentorship, and leadership.

Mark Sanders Commitment to Advocacy Award — Avi Asher
SpheraNova
Recognizes ongoing advocacy that advances treatment, recovery, and behavioral health systems.

IAAP Program of the Year — Second Story Foundation
Jim O’Connor
Recognizes evidence-based programming that improves quality of life and strengthens treatment and recovery.

Pamela Frazier Counselor of the Year Award — Dr. Patricia Kimber
Roosevelt University and private practice
Recognizes direct service that supports treatment engagement, retention, and recovery.

IAAP Recovery Services Award — LaShaun Richman Dillon
Recovery Café Chicago
Recognizes recovery support, coaching, and resources that help people maintain and strengthen recovery.

Rising Star Award — Monika Gomez
Drug Court, Will County State’s Attorney’s Office
Recognizes emerging professionals who bring leadership, innovation, and commitment to the addiction and behavioral health field.

IAAP Legacy Award, Posthumously — David Folkes
We honor David Folkes’s memory and recognize the lasting legacy his work leaves in the behavioral health and addiction profession.

Will you join IAAP in celebrating these honorees at our conference and awards event on November 13–14? We look forward to recognizing their contributions with you. Reserve your spot https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-iaap-annual-membership-meeting-awards-celebration-tickets-1998839243986?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios&sg=ad808d77b285329f2b94253bcd897b82bec4547e7c732d25d0a96af90bb7fac59e08e959e16b09e8e095f72adcb009330d15392289f5817a44600e41769f4f415b4cca203e4eb6a395d045f5

10/21/2026

Recovery Takes a Community: IAAP Conference & Awards 2026

Join the Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals November 13–14 in Bloomington, Illinois, for two days of professional development, meaningful connections, and conversations focused on addiction treatment and recovery.

Learn from experienced presenters, explore practical strategies to strengthen your work, and earn continuing education credits. The conference includes 9 CEUs, with additional credit options available.

📍 Alpharus Health, 404 N. Hershey Road, Suite B, Bloomington, IL

🎟️ Individual registration: $70 | Students and IAAP members: $55

Reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/iaap-conference-2026-tickets-1988191754057

Mark Sanders James Randall Webber Janet Mason Jamelia Hand NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals Alpharus Health Pamela Frazier Renee Lee Renata Caldwell

10/08/2026

IAAP CONFERENCE 2026 & AWARDS CELEBRATION: Recovery Takes a Community

Join us for an inspiring and engaging experience where we’ll connect, learn, grow, and celebrate the professionals and advocates making a difference in recovery!

🏆 AWARD NOMINATIONS ARE STILL OPEN!
We’re accepting nominations for the 2026 IAAP Awards through Friday, October 9, at the end of the day!

Help us recognize the best in Illinois across seven award categories. 🌟

✨ The nomination form is quick and easy to complete!
✨ You do NOT have to be an IAAP member to nominate someone.
✨ The person you nominate does NOT have to be an IAAP member either.

👉 Nominate someone today:
https://proxy.link.app/198886819888/forms.gle/GcrZKdoBrUAP7f7b8

📚 IAAP CONFERENCE 2026

Get ready for powerful presentations, practical learning, meaningful connections, and plenty of inspiration!

🎤 Featured Presenters:

Mark Sanders — Ethics in the Clinical Relationship
Terrence Walton — Effective “Use of Self” for Addiction Professionals: Impact on Helper and Helper Seeker
Dr. Courtney Kibble — The Impact of Trauma, plus Clinician Self-Care

🎓 Choose from these workshops:

Mary Roberson — Supervising Persons With Lived Experience in an RCO
Peter Bradley — Sustaining Recovery: Another Look at Barriers and Strategies

9 CEUs Included!
ICB/IAODAPCA, LCSW & LCPC

✔️ Conference fulfills the ethics training requirement for ICB & IDPR
✔️ 9 LMFT CEUs available for an additional $25 fee
✔️ 9 PDHs applied for
✔️ Lite breakfast & snacks Friday and Saturday
✔️ Saturday luncheon included

🎉 BONUS: Stay for our Awards Celebration & Luncheon on Saturday!
No CEUs for the Awards Celebration.

📅 Saturday | 12:15–3:00 PM
IAAP Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon Celebration

Featuring: ⭐ Terrence Walton — Keynote
⭐ Mary Roberson — Recovery Speaker
⭐ Peter Bradley — Master of Ceremonies

🍽️ Come for the education.
🤝 Stay for the connections.
🏆 Celebrate the people who make recovery possible.

Recovery Takes a Community — and we want YOU to be part of it!

🎟️ REGISTER TODAY:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/iaap-conference-2026-tickets-1988191754057

🏆 SUBMIT AN AWARD NOMINATION:
https://proxy.link.app/198886819888/forms.gle/GcrZKdoBrUAP7f7b8

📖 Visit Eventbrite for the full agenda, workshop descriptions, and conference details.

10/02/2026

The Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals (IAAP) supports and advocates for professionals working across the addiction field through education, leadership, professional development, and connection. Our organization exists today because people were willing to build it, serve it, and remain committed to its mission. Pamela “Pam” Frazier is one of those people.

Pamela Frazier, NCAC II, CSADC, CODP II, GCE, co-founded IAAP in 1995 and has faithfully served the organization for 31 years. During that time, she held every executive board position, including president and secretary. Her leadership, wisdom, and commitment have helped shape IAAP and strengthen the addiction profession in Illinois and beyond.

Her service has never stopped at the boardroom. As Founder and Executive Director of N’ The Spirit Transformational Living, Pam has created a place of healing and support for women rebuilding their lives after treatment, incarceration, and other difficult circumstances. She also founded N’ The Spirit Behind the Walls Ministry at Cook County Jail and has been a leader with the United Mental Health and Addiction Coalition.

Pam has always understood that the people doing this work deserve to be seen and valued. In 2002, while serving as IAAP president, she raised a simple but important question at NAADAC’s national conference: “What about the counselors?” Her advocacy helped establish National Addiction Professionals Day, now observed each year on September 20. One person’s willingness to speak up created a national legacy of recognition for addiction professionals.

Her impact also continues through the Pamela Frazier Counselor of the Year Award, which IAAP named in her honor.

As Pam steps down from the IAAP Board, we are grateful that she will remain part of our organization as an Emeritus Board Member. This lifetime distinction reflects the extraordinary service she has given and ensures that IAAP will continue to benefit from her wisdom and guidance.

On behalf of the IAAP Board and our members, thank you, Pam, for your vision, sacrifice, leadership, and steadfast dedication. You have helped build an organization, strengthen a profession, and create opportunities for countless people to be recognized, supported, and heard.

Please join us in honoring Pamela Frazier for her many years of steadfast dedication and service to IAAP, addiction professionals, and the communities we serve.

Janet Mason Jamelia Hand NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals James Randall Webber Renee Lee Renata Caldwell Mark Sanders

10/01/2026

The Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals is proud to host the IAAP Conference 2026:

“Recovery Takes a Community”

In partnership with Alpharus Health, November 13-14 in Bloomington, Illinois.

This year’s conference brings together an outstanding group of speakers:

• Mark Sanders: Ethics in the Clinical Relationship
• Terrence Walton: Effective “Use of Self” for Addiction Professionals
• Dr. Courtney Kibble: The Impact of Trauma and Clinician Self-Care
• Mary Roberson: Supervising Persons With Lived Experience in an RCO
• Peter Bradley: Sustaining Recovery: Another Look at Barriers and Strategies

Registration includes 9 CEUs for ICB/IAODAPCA, LCSW, and LCPC and fulfills the ethics training requirement for ICB and IDFPR. Nine LMFT CEUs are available for an additional $25, and 9 PDHs have been applied for.

Light breakfast and snacks will be provided Friday and Saturday. Stay with us Saturday afternoon for the IAAP Annual Meeting and Awards Celebration, including lunch, a keynote from Terrence Walton, recovery remarks from Mary Roberson, and Peter Bradley as Master of Ceremonies.

Register here: https://iaap2026.eventbrite.com/

We are also accepting nominations for the 2026 IAAP Awards through Monday, October 5, at 5:00 p.m. *Neither the nominator nor the nominee is required to be an IAAP member.*

Submit a nomination: https://forms.gle/GcrZKdoBrUAP7f7b8

Who will you bring with you as we learn, connect, and celebrate the people strengthening addiction services and recovery across Illinois?

NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals Janet Mason Jamelia Hand Pamela Frazier Renee Lee James Randall Webber Renata Caldwell

07/14/2026

The Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals is proud to celebrate Mark Sanders LCSW CADC as the recipient of the 2026 NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals H. Westley Clark Award, the association’s highest national honor for an addiction professional.

Mark’s career began at a storefront agency in Englewood (Chicago), where he learned directly from people in recovery, counselors, mentors, colleagues, and family members who helped shape his commitment to this work. Since then, he has become one of the most respected educators, advocates, mentors, and thought leaders in the behavioral health and addictions field.

For IAAP, Mark’s impact is deeply personal. Over the years, he has brought additional leaders into the Illinois chapter and has continued to support the organization through his service, guidance, and mentorship. Today, he remains an emeritus member and trusted advisor. Our chapter would not be what it is without his leadership.

Mark is connective tissue for this field. He brings people, ideas, generations, and communities together in ways that strengthen the profession and expand its impact. His influence can be seen in the professionals he has mentored, the systems he has helped improve, and the countless people he has inspired to stay committed to this work.

Mark will be formally honored at NAADAC’s upcoming annual conference, and IAAP is proud to stand with him as he receives this well-deserved recognition.

Please join the Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals in honoring Mark Sanders and celebrating his lifetime of leadership, mentorship, advocacy, and service.

How has Mark’s work, teaching, or mentorship influenced your own journey in the field?

06/08/2026

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the IAAP Summer Workshop originally scheduled for June 12, 2026, has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date.

We know many of you were looking forward to joining us, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience. We are working to secure a new date and will share updated information as soon as it becomes available.

Thank you for your understanding, patience, and continued support of IAAP.

Stay tuned for updates.

05/29/2026

I'm seeking to place qualified experienced substance use disorder counselors to provide professional clinical services to individuals suffering from op**te and other substance abuse disorders. Must have a CADC, and DUI certificate and experience is a plus. In box me - serious inquiries only!

Renee Lee, LCSW, CADC

Address

PO BOX 84
Flossmoor, IL
60422

Website

http://illinois-aap.org/

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