Diversion Specialist

Trilogy Careers • Chicago, IL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Diversion Specialist provides case management, referrals, and connections to long-term services and housing for adults eligible for the Front Door Diversion program. The Illinois State grant-funded program is designed to divert people from inpatient psychiatric or other institutional settings into community-based services rather than nursing home placement. Services may include integrated community mental health supports and long-term housing supports through transitional programs or subsidy services.

The specialist determines program eligibility through screening, intakes, and assessments; develops treatment plans; and provides short-term, solution-focused case management and housing linkage. Services are client-centered, strengths-based, trauma-informed, and use a harm reduction approach for people with severe mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use or addiction disorders.

The schedule is Wednesday through Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is located at 1607 W Howard St., Chicago, IL 60626. The pay range is $22.89–$26.32 per hour.

Requirements

• Meet at least one of the following qualification pathways: a bachelor’s degree in counseling and guidance, rehabilitation counseling, social work, education, vocational counseling, psychology, pastoral counseling, family therapy, or a related human services field; a bachelor’s degree in another field plus two years of supervised clinical experience in a mental health setting; Licensed Practical Nurse status under the Illinois Nurse Practice Act; a Certificate of Psychiatric Rehabilitation from a DHS-approved program, a high school diploma or GED, and two years of experience in a mental health setting; CRSS certification through IAODAPCA; a Family Partnership Professional certificate in good standing with IAODAPCA; Illinois licensure as an Occupational Therapy Assistant plus one year of experience in a mental health setting; or a high school diploma or GED plus five years of supervised clinical experience in a mental health setting.
• At least one year of experience working with people with mental health and/or substance abuse diagnoses.
• Valid Illinois driver’s license and daily access to a well-maintained vehicle with $100,000/$300,000 liability insurance.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, or Counseling.
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
• IM+CANS certification.

Responsibilities

• Assess clients’ personal, medical, emotional, social, and environmental situations through home, community, and office visits.
• Screen Front Door referrals and determine eligibility for services and program participation.
• Provide intake, assessment, and treatment-planning services.
• Recognize opportunities to move clients to appropriate levels of care.
• Coordinate care in support of an integrated health model and refer clients to additional services as needed.
• Help clients identify signs and symptoms of decompensation and develop coping skills to manage symptoms and stressors.
• Provide medication monitoring and education about medication use and care.
• Help clients learn and improve independent living skills, including personal hygiene, housekeeping, nutrition, and shopping for food and personal items.
• Educate and assist clients with applications for entitlements, including Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and LINK.
• Accompany clients to important community appointments and support them with housing, substance use, budgeting, social support, and medication-related issues.
• Advocate on clients’ behalf and empower them to advocate for themselves when appropriate.
• Provide on-call coverage and immediate crisis intervention as needed.
• Communicate with the team for consultation and information sharing.
• Complete documentation in a timely and thorough manner.
• Perform other related duties and projects as assigned.

Benefits

• Free virtual primary care, urgent care, and mental health counseling for all employees.
• Paid maternity and paternity leave.
• Medical insurance through BCBS of IL.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Long-term and short-term disability insurance.
• Pet insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts for health, dependent care, and transit.
• Telemedicine.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match.

What This Job Offers

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