Community Support Specialist

Job Description:

A Community Support Specialist helps individuals adapt to living in their communities by creating personalized plans that address their specific needs. They use evidence-based techniques and collaborate with other professionals to provide comprehensive mental health services. Their goal is to empower clients and their families to build strong foundations for long-term wellbeing and independence. By connecting them with local resources and fostering a robust support network, they promote growth, stability, and resilience.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide community-based mental health services to children, adolescents, and/or adults including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and intervention implementation.

• Collaborate with clients, families, and other stakeholders to develop and implement individualized treatment plans that address the client's specific needs and goals.

• Utilize a strengths-based approach that emphasizes empowerment, skill-building, and resilience, incorporating evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing, Positive Reinforcement Techniques, Trauma-Informed Strategies, and skills based in CBT and DBT approaches.

• Provide behavioral interventions, including motivational interviewing, operant conditioning, interpersonal and group dynamics, cognitive processing, and other evidence-based interventions.

• Coordinate care with other service providers, including primary care physicians, psychiatrists, schools, and community organizations.

• Maintain accurate and timely records of client interactions, treatments, and progress, in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.

• Participate in staff development activities, including training and education programs, to enhance knowledge and skills related to youth mental health services.

• Contribute to the organization's quality improvement initiatives, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.

• Work collaboratively with other members of the team, including case managers, therapists, and support staff, to ensure effective coordination of care and support for clients.

• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including parents, teachers, counselors, and other professionals involved in the client's care.

• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor or as deemed necessary by the department.

• Preparing for and facilitating PSR group sessions as pertinent to client treatment plan goals.

• ACT/ACT TAY/IMPART Only: Knowledge of the basic elements of ACT, the theory behind the ACT model, the core processes that ACT teams follow, and the types of services that ACT team members provide.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of case management and rehabilitation methods, principles and techniques as they relate to mental health and/or substance use disorders.

• Knowledge of the problems encountered by persons with mental health and/or substance use disorders and how to access the various community resources available.

• Knowledge of the methods and modalities as well as the legal requirements and court procedures related to treating mental health and substance use disorders.

• Ability to problem solve and communicate ideas clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing to produce clear and concise reports.

• Ability to be self-motivated to provide high-level performance while meeting the complex needs of the clients and their families.

• Ability to multi-task and coordinate services from a variety of community resources, while maintaining proper communications with all staff (e.g. admissions, process, and discharge plans).

• Ability to establish effective relationships with youth and their families via telephone and personal contacts.

• Ability to follow direction and accept supervision.

Experience and Education Qualifications:

• An individual with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or other human services specialized field of study; or

• An individual with a Bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field and two years of related work experience; or

• Any four-year combination of higher education and two years of related work experience, or

• An Associate’s of Applied Science in Behavioral Health Support will also fulfill educational requirements; or

• An individual with four years of qualifying experience*.

*Qualifying experience must include delivery of services to individuals with mental health disorders, substance use disorders or developmental disabilities. Experience must include some combination of the following:

• Providing one-on-one or group services with a rehabilitation/habilitation and recovery/resiliency focus;

• Teaching and modeling for individuals how to cope and manage psychiatric, developmental, or substance use disorder issues while encouraging the use of natural resources;

• Supporting individuals in their efforts to find and maintain employment and/or to function appropriately in family, school, and community settings;

• Assisting individuals to achieve the goals and objectives in their individual treatment plan.

Illinois Requirements:

• A bachelor's degree in counseling and guidance, rehabilitation counseling, social work, education, vocational counseling, psychology, pastoral counseling, family therapy, or a related human service field;
  OR...

• A high school diploma / GED and 5 years supervised clinical experience in mental health or human services.

• Demonstrated education, training, or experience in the mental health services

• Adequate written skills to accurately complete required documentation within the time frames prescribed.

• Skilled in case management and community support interventions.

Supervisory Requirements:

None

Employment Requirements:

• Successful completion of background check including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect and fingerprint check.

• Completion of New Hire Orientation at the beginning of employment.

• All training requirements including Relias at the beginning of employment and annually thereafter.

• Current driver’s license, acceptable driving record and current auto insurance.

• Obtain trainings to assist in professional development meeting DMH Standards. 

• Extensive knowledge of the policies, procedures, and regulations of the program to which the employee is assigned.

• Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age to operate a company-owned vehicle.

• Must be at least twenty-three (23) years of age to operate a company-owned fifteen (15) passenger van.

• Must have reliable means of transportation in order to transport clients in personal vehicle.

Physical Requirements:

ADA Consideration - Sedentary work:  Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (exists up the 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (exists 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, or pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.  Repetitive movements of hands, fingers, and arms for typing and/or writing during work shift.

Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.  Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Position Perks & Benefits:

Paid time off: full-time employees receive an attractive time off package to balance your work and personal life

Employee benefits package: full-time employees receive health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more

Top-notch training: initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive

Career mobility: advancement opportunities/promoting from within

Welcoming, warm, supportive: a work culture & environment that promotes your well-being, values you as human being, and encourages your health and happiness

Brightli is on a Mission:

A mission to improve client care, reduce the financial burden of community mental health centers by sharing resources, a mission to have a larger voice in advocacy to increase access to mental health and substance user care in our communities, and a mission to evolve the behavioral health industry to better meet the needs of our clients.

As a behavioral and community mental health provider, we prioritize fostering a culture of belonging and connection within our workforce. We encourage applications from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences, as we believe that a rich tapestry of perspectives strengthens our mission. If you are passionate about empowering local communities and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization dedicated to cultivating an authentic workplace.

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Adult & Child Health is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.