MPI Mental Health Practitioner

Metropolitan Family Services•Chicago, IL

6d•$60,000 - $70,000

About The Position

Metropolitan Family Services is hiring a Mental Health Practitioner for its Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA) office. The role supports Communities Partnering 4 Peace, a framework focused on reducing violence and gang activity through community-driven strategies and services for people at high risk of driving violence, alongside broader community engagement. The practitioner provides behavioral health and community-based services in community and transit settings, including trains, train platforms, and transit stations. The position has two stated shifts, 12:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.–3:00 a.m.; the posting also specifies a fixed overnight schedule of 7:00 p.m.–2:30 a.m. Candidates must have open availability for both shifts, and no alternative shifts are available. The role requires travel across different city neighborhoods and work with community and home-based caseloads. The position conducts assessments and intakes and provides case management, counseling, advocacy, educational, group, and related services. It coordinates behavioral health services in community and transit systems, supports complex cases and high-risk crisis responses, and develops partnerships and referral linkages. The practitioner also contributes to training, facilitation, curriculum development, trauma-informed programming, documentation, and contractual service requirements, including 24-hour crisis coverage.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work or a similar field from an accredited college or university.
Two years of related post-master’s experience at an intermediate skill level.
Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license.
Availability for the stated overnight shifts and comfort riding trains and working on train platforms and at transit stations.
Mobility to work with a community-based caseload and ability to maintain assigned community- and home-based services.
Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
Ability to meet the position’s physical demands, including sustained sitting and standing, frequent talking, hearing, and hand use; occasional bending, stretching, stooping, kneeling, and crouching; and occasional lifting or moving of up to 25 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual Spanish.

Responsibilities

Identify, de-escalate, and mediate tense situations related to mental health concerns; build trust with diverse individuals and groups; and provide post-crisis follow-up to promote stabilization and healing.
Engage with community members, local businesses, and high-risk individuals professionally and using trauma-informed approaches.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation of incidents, interventions, and referrals while respecting confidentiality and professional standards.
Conduct comprehensive clinical assessments, psychosocial assessments, and intakes as assigned.
Provide case management, counseling, advocacy, educational, group, and related services to Community Safety and Transit Operations.
Coordinate behavioral health services within community and transit systems, including reviewing complex cases, supporting high-risk crisis responses, ensuring compliance with clinical, ethical, and organizational standards, and implementing strategies to improve service effectiveness and team performance.
Develop and strengthen partnerships with community stakeholders, behavioral health systems, hospitals, public safety agencies, and leadership to support program expansion, continuity of care, and collaborative crisis response.
Collaborate with CPRU team members on high-tension mental health situations and post-crisis support.
Provide support for MPA, trainings, facilitation, ongoing support, and curriculum development.
Identify and use agency and community resources; assess community conditions to identify resource gaps and problems.
Join or develop groups and coalitions to address community needs.
Recommend financial assistance for clients.
Meet contractual requirements, including 24-hour crisis coverage.
Represent and interpret agency programs in the community and support and attend Light in the Night events.
Attend regular team meetings, case consultations, and individual supervision; may serve on regional or agency-wide committees.
May provide clinical guidance and shadowing opportunities for students.
Establish referral networks and linkages with outside agencies for participants and their families.
Take a proactive role in developing social work services and programming that supports trauma-informed care.
Meet agency expectations for direct-service quantity and record keeping.
Work effectively with diverse staff and service populations and travel to different city neighborhoods as needed.