Crisis Support Specialist, Living Room

Thresholds•Chicago, IL

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Living Room McHenry offers an alternative to the emergency department for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis on the South Side of Chicago. It is a community crisis center providing a welcoming, accepting, and calm environment where Crisis Support Specialists offer advocacy, information, and peer support. Specialists utilize their personal experiences with mental health recovery to support and educate guests, engage them in conversation to understand their stories, interests, and strengths, and encourage their recovery process. This role involves modeling coping strategies, assisting guests in developing crisis recovery plans, and connecting them with supportive services. A key aspect of the role is creating a welcoming atmosphere by greeting guests and learning their names, empowering them to lead their recovery path. Additionally, Crisis Support Specialists are responsible for preparing food for guests and maintaining the tidiness of the space. Continuous learning is encouraged through training opportunities to stay updated on mental health trends and evidence-based practices, with the possibility of gaining supervision for CRSS certification and reimbursement for associated fees.

Requirements

Lived experience of mental health recovery preferred but not required
Effective communication and relationship-building skills
Good writing skills
Strong time management and organization skills
Must be at least 21 years old
High school diploma or GED certificate required

Nice To Haves

Higher education in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or related field preferred
Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) preferred

Responsibilities

Use personal experience with mental health recovery to support and educate Living Room guests on managing crisis.
Engage guests in conversation to hear their stories, learn about their interests and strengths, and respectfully encourage them to take steps in their recovery process.
Model coping strategies.
Help guests develop their own crisis recovery plans.
Link guests with supportive services for after their crisis.
Greet guests and learn their names to foster a welcoming environment.
Prepare food for guests.
Ensure the space is neat and tidy.
Keep up to date on current trends in the mental health field and deepen knowledge of evidence-based practices through training opportunities.
Gain supervision for CRSS certification and reimbursement for testing and application fees.