Community Support Specialist
Brightli•Potosi, WI
About The Position
The Community Support Specialist helps individuals adapt to living in their communities by creating personalized plans that address their needs. The role uses evidence-based techniques and collaborates with other professionals to provide comprehensive mental health services, empowering clients and families to build foundations for long-term wellbeing and independence. The specialist connects clients with local resources and helps foster support networks that promote growth, stability, and resilience. This position provides community-based mental health services to children, adolescents, and/or adults. Work includes assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, interventions, care coordination, documentation, and participation in quality improvement and staff development activities. The specialist works collaboratively with clients, families, team members, and community stakeholders. The role may also prepare and facilitate PSR group sessions as appropriate to treatment plan goals.
Requirements
- Knowledge of case management and rehabilitation methods, principles, and techniques related to mental health and/or substance use disorders.
- Knowledge of problems encountered by people with mental health and/or substance use disorders and how to access community resources.
- Knowledge of methods and modalities, legal requirements, and court procedures related to treating mental health and substance use disorders.
- Ability to problem-solve and communicate clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing, to produce clear and concise reports.
- Ability to work independently and maintain high-level performance while meeting clients' and families' complex needs.
- Ability to multitask and coordinate services from community resources while communicating with staff about matters such as admissions, process, and discharge plans.
- Ability to establish effective relationships with youth and their families through telephone and personal contacts.
- Ability to follow direction and accept supervision.
- Meet one of the following education and experience pathways: a bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, or another human-services specialized field; a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field plus two years of related work experience; any four-year combination of higher education and two years of related work experience; an Associate of Applied Science in Behavioral Health Support; or four years of qualifying experience.
- Qualifying experience must include delivering services to individuals with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, or developmental disabilities, and some combination of rehabilitation or habilitation and recovery or resiliency services; teaching and modeling coping and management skills while encouraging natural resources; supporting employment and appropriate functioning in family, school, and community settings; or helping individuals achieve treatment-plan goals.
- Successfully complete background checks, including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect, and fingerprint checks.
- Complete New Hire Orientation at the beginning of employment and all required training, including Relias, at the beginning of employment and annually thereafter.
- Have a current driver's license, an acceptable driving record, and current auto insurance.
- Obtain training to support professional development and meet DMH Standards.
- Have extensive knowledge of the policies, procedures, and regulations of the assigned program.
- Be at least 21 years of age to operate a company-owned vehicle and at least 23 years of age to operate a company-owned 15-passenger van.
- Have reliable transportation to transport clients in a personal vehicle.
Responsibilities
- Provide community-based mental health services to children, adolescents, and/or adults, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and intervention implementation.
- Collaborate with clients, families, and other stakeholders to develop and implement individualized treatment plans.
- Use a strengths-based approach emphasizing empowerment, skill-building, and resilience, incorporating evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing, Positive Reinforcement Techniques, Trauma-Informed Strategies, and skills based in CBT and DBT approaches.
- Provide behavioral interventions, including motivational interviewing, operant conditioning, interpersonal and group dynamics, cognitive processing, and other evidence-based interventions.
- Coordinate care with service providers, including primary care physicians, psychiatrists, schools, and community organizations.
- Maintain accurate and timely records of client interactions, treatments, and progress in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
- Participate in staff development activities, including training and education programs related to youth mental health services.
- Contribute to quality improvement initiatives, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Collaborate with case managers, therapists, and support staff to coordinate care and support for clients.
- Develop and maintain relationships with parents, teachers, counselors, and other professionals involved in client care.
- Perform other duties as assigned by a supervisor or deemed necessary by the department.
- Prepare for and facilitate PSR group sessions as pertinent to client treatment plan goals.
Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program providing 24/7 counseling services, legal assistance, and financial consultation for the employee and household at no cost.
- Mileage reimbursement for work functions requiring travel.
- Employee discounts on hotels, theme parks, attractions, and college tuition.
- Paid time off for full-time employees.
- Health, dental, vision, retirement, and life benefits for full-time employees.
- Initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive training.
- Career mobility and advancement opportunities, including promotion from within.
