Peer Recovery Support Specialist--Crisis Services

Engagement Specialist

Mobile Crisis Response | Behavioral Health Division

Summary

The Engagement Specialist is a peer recovery professional and essential member of Bridgeway's Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT). This position is designated for individuals with lived experience with mental health and/or co-occurring conditions who can draw on their own recovery journey to build rapport, reduce barriers to care, and serve as a bridge between individuals in crisis and the services they need.

The Engagement Specialist functions as a co-equal responder alongside the Behavioral Health Professional on every crisis deployment — not as support staff, but as an active peer partner in the response. This position requires the Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) credential or active pursuit of certification, and is staffed consistent with the IDHS Mobile Crisis Response Team framework.

Mobile Crisis Response operates on a 24/7 basis. 

Customer Service

Customer service is a foundational element of this position. Internal customers include immediate coworkers and all Bridgeway employees. External customers include all individuals served, their families and caregivers, and the communities in which Bridgeway operates.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are essential to this role:

Crisis Response and On-Site Engagement

• Respond as part of a two-person MCRT alongside the Behavioral Health Professional to individuals experiencing a mental health or co-occurring crisis, meeting them in homes, workplaces, or wherever in the community they are located.
• Actively participate in crisis screenings and assessments, utilizing lived experience to establish rapport and reduce barriers to disclosure and engagement.
• Apply de-escalation skills and recovery-oriented approaches to support individuals in moving from acute crisis toward stabilization.
• Support safety planning with the individual and, when appropriate, with family members or caregivers.
• Respond to calls through the crisis line or referral system and conduct initial triage to determine appropriate level of response.

Post-Crisis Follow-Up and Care Linkage

• Provide timely post-crisis follow-up contact with individuals and families to ensure connection to ongoing care.
• Support individuals and families in navigating referral and intake processes to access appropriate levels of service.
• Assist individuals in transitions between levels of care, including participation in hospital discharge planning to ensure sufficient external supports are in place.
• Assist clinicians in identifying individual and family strengths, needs, and barriers to ongoing engagement.

Outreach, Advocacy, and Community Engagement

• Participate in outreach activities to increase community awareness of available crisis and behavioral health services.
• Attend community meetings, court proceedings, school staffings, public aid appointments, and other settings alongside individuals and/or family members to provide advocacy and navigational support.
• Attend multi-disciplinary staffings at community agencies in compliance with applicable confidentiality requirements.
• Maintain a current resource directory of service options within the geographic service area.
• Work with Bridgeway staff to ensure family involvement in all aspects of services, where applicable and desired by the individual.

Recovery Support and Empowerment

• Draw intentionally on lived recovery experience to model hope, resilience, and the possibility of sustained recovery.
• Support consumer rights and empower individuals and families to make informed, self-directed decisions about their care.
• Assist individuals in understanding, seeking, and working toward the best possible outcomes for themselves, including complete recovery.
• Participate in the orientation of new individuals and families to Bridgeway services.

Documentation, Coordination, and Professional Development

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all crisis response activity, follow-up contacts, and referrals in compliance with agency and regulatory standards.
• Be available to individuals, family members, and caregivers by phone or in person within agency-established time parameters.
• Participate in regularly scheduled supervision with the Mobile Crisis/SASS Director and in all required continuing education and training activities.
• Follow all organizational policies, procedures, and performance standards; maintain compliance with all applicable state and federal requirements.

Education and/or Experience

High school diploma or GED equivalent required, with a minimum of two years of demonstrated personal recovery from mental health, substance use, or co-occurring conditions. The individual must have personal recovery experience and be willing to share their own journey — with appropriate boundaries — while maintaining deep respect for the varied paths others take toward recovery.

Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) credential in good standing with the State of Illinois is required. Candidates without current CRSS certification must demonstrate active steps toward obtaining the credential and must achieve certification within one year of hire. CRSS certification is maintained through the Illinois Certification Board (IAODAPCA). Must have a reliable vehicle and have a valid driver's license. Must meet Bridgeway's MVR insurability. 

Employment with Bridgeway is conditional upon completion of all background checks.

Bridgeway is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the objective of Bridgeway to make Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) a reality for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, race, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability or unfavorable discharge from military services and to prevent sexual harassment in employment.