Mental Health Professional, Youth/Family (IPS)

Heritage Behavioral Health Center•Decatur, IL

8d•$23 - $67,000

About The Position

You will provide short‑term, intensive intervention services for youth in foster care at risk of placement disruption. Working in partnership with DCFS and community providers, the IPS program uses System of Care (SOC) values and evidence-based approaches, including the ARC Framework (Attachment, Regulation, and Competency), to stabilize placements, strengthen caregiver capacity, and support long-term positive outcomes for youth.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent plus 5 years of supervised mental health or social service experience, OR
Bachelor’s degree in a human services field, OR
Graduate degree in counseling, social work, clinical psychology, or related field
Minimum of 21 years of age
Valid driver’s license
Reliable transportation and proof of auto insurance
Child and adolescent development
Mental health diagnoses and evidence‑based interventions
Trauma‑informed care and culturally responsive practices
Understanding of youth in foster care and DCFS systems
Strong communication and rapport‑building with youth, caregivers, and community partners
Ability to complete assessments and implement therapeutic interventions effectively
Crisis intervention, safety planning, and conflict resolution
Organizational skills for managing caseloads and timely documentation
Adapt to diverse client needs and dynamic community environments
Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams
Maintain professional boundaries, ethics, and confidentiality at all times

Responsibilities

Provide intensive, community‑based mental health services to youth in foster care experiencing behavioral or emotional instability.
Deliver interventions rooted in evidence‑based models (e.g., ARC) to support emotional regulation, attachment, safety, and skill development.
Conduct strengths-based assessments and collaborate on individualized service plans focused on placement stabilization.
Offer coaching, psychoeducation, and support to foster parents, caregivers, and placement providers.
Utilize System of Care (SOC) principles, ensuring services are youth‑guided, family‑driven, culturally responsive, and trauma‑informed.
Coordinate services with DCFS caseworkers, schools, therapists, and other partners to ensure continuity and wraparound supports.
Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and de-escalation strategies as needed.
Document services, progress, and outcomes in the electronic health record in compliance with agency and contractual requirements.
Participate in team meetings, case staffings, and interdisciplinary collaboration to monitor progress and adjust service plans.
Engage youth and families using relational, strengths‑based, and trauma‑informed approaches aligned with IPS program expectations.