The Community Support Specialist is responsible for providing individualized, comprehensive, and community-based treatment, support, and rehabilitation services to persons with severe mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders. The Community Support Specialist provides therapeutic interventions that facilitate illness self-management, psychosocial rehab, skill building, identification of natural supports, and use of community resources. The Community Support Specialist uses intensive outreach strategies to engage participants in services. The Community Support Specialist monitors participants’ symptoms and medication regularly. The Community Support Specialist implements crisis services in consultation with supervisor/psychiatrist and makes sure that participants are safe and obtain timely access to services. The Community Support Specialist serves as a liaison with other systems of care. The Community Support Specialist documents all services using program standards.

Requirements

•  Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, social work, or a related field or CADC certification preferred. 
• AA required or 5 years of experience in behavioral healthcare. Experience working with persons with psychosocial rehabilitation services, psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and/or development disorders required. 
• Experience working with diverse ethnic populations required. English/Spanish bilingual preferred. 
• Personal vehicle, Illinois current driver license and insurance, good driving record acceptable to agency insurance carrier. 
• Carries cellular phone at all times to respond to participant/program needs.
•  Flexibility to work on weekends, evenings, holidays during emergencies.