VP-CST Community Behavioral Health Specialist

Metropolitan Family Services • Chicago, IL

17d • Hybrid

About The Position

Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) is seeking a Community Behavioral Health Specialist for its Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA) office. MFS is dedicated to empowering families to learn, earn, heal, and thrive, with a strong emphasis on community. This role is ideal for someone looking to make a significant impact beyond a company's bottom line.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field from an accredited college or university required.
• 2 + years of related post-Master’s experience at an intermediate skill level, required.
• Current Illinois LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) or LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) required.
• Must become IM+CANS certified within 3 months of hire and maintain re-certification annually required.
• Ability to maintain mobility and manage a community-based caseload, including school visits required.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups required.
• Satisfactorily pass all relevant screenings and criminal background checks.
• Driving for work required with a personally owned vehicle.
• Travel between sites required.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual in English/Spanish or another language prevalent in the service community preferred.
• Prior experience working within a community violence prevention, trauma recovery, or outreach model preferred.
• Familiarity with Medicaid documentation and performance-based contracting requirements preferred.
• Additional certification or training in trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, or harm reduction approaches preferred.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care principles, behavioral interventions, and violence dynamics in urban communities preferred.
• Experience providing drug and alcohol screening, assessment, linkage, and integrating substance use interventions for dually diagnosed clients, or willingness to be trained in these areas preferred.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to engage individuals and families who may initially be reluctant to participate preferred.
• Knowledge of, commitment to, and passion for serving adults and families living in Chicago communities experiencing concentrated socioeconomic disadvantage and high rates of community violence preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with outreach teams, hospitals, justice system partners, and community stakeholders to support participants preferred.

Responsibilities

• Performs comprehensive, in-depth psycho-social assessments and intakes to determine client needs.
• Provides a full range of case management, counseling, advocacy, and educational services to VP-CST participants.
• Identifies and utilizes internal agency and external community resources to meet client needs.
• Assesses broader community conditions impacting clients to identify systemic issues and resource gaps.
• Provides group-based services as indicated by program needs.
• May be responsible for meeting contractual obligations such as 24-hour crisis coverage.
• Represents and interprets agency programs to the community, fostering collaboration and partnership.
• Supports and attends community events, including initiatives to increase safety and community cohesion.
• May serve on regional or agency-wide committees to advance program or agency goals.
• Establishes and maintains a strong referral network with outside agencies to ensure continuity of care for participants and their families.
• Takes a proactive role in the development and enhancement of services and programming that integrate trauma-informed care principles.
• Meets agency expectations for quantity and quality of direct service delivery.
• Completes all required agency documentation and record-keeping in a timely and accurate manner.
• Works effectively and respectfully with a diverse staff and participant population.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 to individual, and $4,000 to family, HSA accounts, pro-rated to your benefits start date.
• FREE General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services provided to all team members.
• Ascensus 401K plan services with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level