Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC is an international speaker and consultant in behavioral health whose presentations have reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, West Indies, and Guam. He is the recipient of four lifetime achievement awards including the prestigious NAADAC Enlightenment Award. He was one of three finalists for the National Association for Addiction Professionals 50th Anniversary Legends Award. Mark is also the recipient of the Illinois Certification Board's Professional of the Year Award, The Illinois Certification Board, Jessica Hayes Lifetime Achievement Award and The Barbara Bacon Award for outstanding contributions to the social work profession as a Loyola University of Chicago alumni. 

 

Mark is the author of five books on behavioral health recovery. Recent writings include: Slipping Through the Cracks: Intervention Strategies For Clients With Multiple Addictions Disorders and Relationship Detox: A Counselors Guide To Helping Clients Develop Healthy Relationships In Recovery. He was lead writer on a trauma informed gun violence prevention curriculum which is being implemented in several large cities in the United States. His groundbreaking monograph Recovery Management co-authored with historians William White and Earnest Kurtz helped shift addictions treatment and recovery from the acute care model solely towards a Recovery Oriented System of Care. Mark has had two stories published in the New York Times bestselling book series, Chicken Soup for The Soul.

 

Mark has also had a 30 year career as a university educator having taught at The University of Chicago, Loyola University of Chicago, and Illinois State University School's of Social Work. He is co-founder of Serenity Academy Chicago, a program which sponsors recovery-oriented peer groups in local high schools.

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Joseph Check, LCSW is a retired licensed clinical social worker and a Board Certified Diplomate in clinical social work.  Joseph had his own practice in Hyde Park in Chicago and offered psychotherapy by appointment. He is also a retired school social worker and high school teacher, whose dream is to build a recovery highschool in Chicago, now named Serenity Academy of Chicago. Joseph earned a MEd. At Northeastern Illinois U. Center for Inner City Studies. a MSW at U. of Illinois Chicago and attended Jane Addams College of Social Work.