Community Support Specialist - Community Mental Health - Peer Program

Thresholds • Chicago, IL

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

Community Support Specialists (CSS) provide mental health and substance use treatment support where it makes the most impact – in a person’s community. We value personal lived experiences with mental health recovery and are seeking a peer professional, who either has the CRSS (Certified Recovery Support Specialist) credential or is able to get the CRSS within a year. Working as a Community Support Specialist is a unique opportunity to use your lived experience to support others. Through care planning, you will be an integral part of a client’s growth and recovery. You will remove barriers to mental healthcare through case management: connecting our clients with resources and helping them navigate complex systems. You will help clients strengthen daily living skills as you drive them to doctors’ appointments, to benefits offices, or to the grocery store. As the identified Peer on the team, you will share your recovery story with our clients in a mutual, two-way helping process where you will learn from each other and model that recovery can happen. Each day will be a little bit different, requiring you to adapt to your client’s schedule, needs, and treatment plan. The culture at Thresholds is compassionate and supportive, providing you with the tools and resources you need for the best client care. As a peer professional, you will collaborate with your team by advocating for the clients and providing insight about the lived experience of recovery. Opportunities for training and professional development will deepen your knowledge and expand your clinical skills in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and other evidence-based practices. To support the CRSS credential, we offer free clinical supervision, fee reimbursement, and scholarship opportunities. This invaluable experience will set you up for a variety of career paths and growth opportunities within our organization.

Requirements

• Lived and living experience with personal mental health recovery
• Passion for mental health advocacy
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills
• Good writing skills
• Strong time management and organization
• At least 21 years old
• A valid driver’s license, current car insurance, and daily access to a car
• Willingness to provide transportation to clients

Nice To Haves

• CRSS (Certified Recovery Support Specialist) credential
• Ability to obtain CRSS credential within a year

Responsibilities

• Provide mental health and substance use treatment support in the community.
• Develop care plans to support client growth and recovery.
• Remove barriers to mental healthcare through case management.
• Connect clients with resources and help them navigate complex systems.
• Assist clients in strengthening daily living skills.
• Drive clients to appointments, benefits offices, or the grocery store.
• Share recovery story with clients in a mutual, two-way helping process.
• Adapt to client schedules, needs, and treatment plans.
• Collaborate with the team by advocating for clients and providing insight about lived experience of recovery.
• Participate in training and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Generous PTO (9 federal holidays, 8 days of sick leave, 15-22 days personal and vacation)
• 4 medical insurance plans
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP)
• Mileage reimbursement
• Cell phone reimbursement (up to $50/month)
• Public service loan forgiveness
• Supervision for clinical licensure at no cost (CRSS, LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC)
• Reimbursement for professional licensure and license renewal
• Opportunities for training and professional development
• Free clinical supervision for CRSS
• Fee reimbursement for CRSS
• Scholarship opportunities for CRSS

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED