DRCOG CRS Certification Preparation Package

This package is designed to help anyone preparing to take the CRS Certification test by reviewing the portions of the training manual and standards that the certification test is based on. Completion of this package does not guarantee a passing score on the test nor does it qualify as a replacement to taking the test and grant the user certification. This package is for study purposes only.

  • Contains 1 Component(s)

    This is a FREE self-assessment that evaluates current understanding of the domains, tasks, skills and knowledge in the eight domains covered in the Community Resource Specialist certification test. There are 10 questions in each domain, and you must get 80% correct in each area to pass. Upon completion, AIRS Learn will suggest other AIRS courses that will strengthen your knowledge in areas where you did not meet the minimum expectations in the assessment.

    This is a FREE self-assessment that evaluates current understanding of the domains, tasks, skills and knowledge in the eight domains covered in the Community Resource Specialist certification test. There are 10 questions in each domain, and you must get 80% correct in each area to pass.

    Upon completion, AIRS Learn will suggest other AIRS courses that will strengthen your knowledge in areas where you did not meet the minimum expectations in the assessment.

  • Contains 13 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This course is best for beginners in a Community Resource Specialist role who want to understand more about all aspects of client and confidentiality within an Information & Referral (I&R) environment, including those circumstances when confidentiality must be overridden.

    Learning Concepts and Objectives:

    • To describe the role of I&R in a crisis situation
    • To outline the types of crises that are encountered in an I&R service
    • To assess the nature of a crisis
    • To identify techniques for defusing and handling a crisis
    • To describe the components of a crisis intervention model
    • To define the basis elements of a suicide risk assessment

  • Contains 12 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This course is ideal for beginners and also serves as an excellent review for more experienced Community Resource Specialists who need to understand more about crisis intervention within an I&R environment. Topics discussed include defining the nature of crisis, the search for coping mechanisms, and the types of crisis generally encountered within I&R.

    This course covers all aspects of crisis intervention within an I&R environment. Topics discussed include defining the nature of crisis, the search for coping mechanisms, and the types of crisis generally encountered within I&R. It includes a crisis intervention model and the elements of a suicide risk assessment. The material is primarily geared for front-line staff at I&R services. It is not appropriate for crisis specialists but may be a practical primer for other professionals within health and human services.

  • Contains 9 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Information and Referral is about much more than providing the “I” (Information) and the “R” (Referral). It is about empowering people to help themselves both now and in future situations; while it is sometimes also about advocating for people who are not currently able to help themselves. Empowerment and advocacy are fundamental principles of I&R. This interactive course is for Information & Referral (I&R) Specialists who handle human service inquiries from the public and the supervisors who oversee this essential work. The course describes the nature of empowerment (helping people to help themselves) and advocacy (when people really need additional support) within the context of I&R.

    Information and Referral is about much more than providing the “I” (Information) and the “R” (Referral). It is about empowering people to help themselves both now and in future situations; while it is sometimes also about advocating for people who are not currently able to help themselves.

    Empowerment and advocacy are fundamental principles of I&R. 

    This interactive course is for Information & Referral (I&R) Specialists who handle human service inquiries from the public and the supervisors who oversee this essential work. The course describes the nature of empowerment (helping people to help themselves) and advocacy (when people really need additional support) within the context of I&R.

    This course may not be applicable to human service professionals engaged in case management activities.

    Learning Objectives

    When you have successfully completed this course, you will be able to:

    1. Define the concept of empowerment within an I&R environment.
    2. Describe the meaning of advocacy in I&R and identify situations in which advocacy is necessary.

    Recognize the difference between individual and system advocacy and examples of each.

  • Contains 8 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This course is for beginners new staff at Information & Referral (I&R) organizations who want to understand the I&R process and the communication techniques required to assist in that process.

    This interactive course is for new staff at Information & Referral (I&R) organizations who will be responsible for handling I&R inquiries, for the supervisors who oversee this essential work, and for the existing staff needling to reacquaint themselves with key principles. The content provides and overview of the activities of an I&R Specialist, a detailed analysis of the I&R process and the communication techniques required to assist in that process. 

    It also represents a useful preparation for more experienced staff who are preparing for an Inform USA CRS or CRS - DC examination. 

  • Contains 10 Component(s), Includes Credits

    A resource database is a computerized body of information about community resources maintained by an I&R service. The resource database should include what you need to know about community, social, and health organizations to make good referrals, by answering basic questions such as: What does the agency do? Who does it serve? When and how can people apply? What documents might an applicant need to produce? Who provides the service?

    A resource database is a computerized body of information about community resources maintained by the I&R service. The resource database should include what you need to know about community, social, and health organizations to make good referrals, by answering basic questions such as: What does the agency do? Who does it serve? When and how can people apply? What documents might an applicant need to produce? Who provides the service? This course will help Community Resources Specialists understand the basics of, and the strategies behind, effective database searches.

  • Contains 10 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Within I&R, follow-up is the process of contacting clients in order to determine whether their needs have been met as a result of the earlier referrals provided and if not, why not. Depending on the circumstances of the situation and the client, a Community Resource Specialist may choose to follow up with the client to ensure that the primary need of the individual was met. This follow-up is not conducted for every client but is at the discretion of the specialist and/or the policies of the I&R agency.

    Within I&R, follow-up is the process of contacting clients in order to determine whether their needs have been met as a result of the earlier referrals provided and if not, why not. Depending on the circumstances of the situation and the client, a Community Resource Specialist may choose to follow up with the client to ensure that the primary need of the individual was met. This follow-up is not conducted for every client but is at the discretion of the specialist and/or the policies of the I&R agency.

  • Contains 18 Component(s), Includes Credits

    I&R organizations need to be prepared to play an active role in disaster response. This course introduces the stages of a disaster and outlines the role an I&R may play in each stage. It also explores government and nonprofit organizations that typically respond to and are active in disasters and what resources they typically provide. This course also outlines steps that should be taken to prepare the organization, the technology (including the database), and the individual team members to respond during a stressful and ever changing situation.

    I&R organizations need to be prepared to play an active role in disaster response. This course introduces the stages of a disaster and outlines the role an I&R may play in each stage. It also explores government and nonprofit organizations that typically respond to and are active in disasters and what resources they typically provide. This course also outlines steps that should be taken to prepare the organization, the technology (including the database), and the individual team members to respond during a stressful and ever changing situation.

  • Contains 9 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This course introduces the learner to person-centered approaches and techniques and corresponds to Section 20 in the Inform USA I&R Training Manual.

  • Contains 4 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This course will help you understand the Ethical Principles of a Community Resource Specialist and the values that Community Resource Specialists should display in information and referral (I&R).

    This course will help you understand the Ethical Principles of a Community Resource Specialist and the values that Community Resource Specialists should display in information and referral (I&R).

    The objectives of this course are:

    • Discuss what the Inform USA Standards say about how Comunity Resource Specialists perform their work.
    • Review the Ethical Principles for Community Resource Specialists
    • Review the values needed by Community Resource Specialists
    • Discuss why establishing professional boundaries is important in information and referral

    NOTE: This course was recently revised, and the portions about self-care and wellness were moved to a separate course.