Community Support Specialist - Peer

$44,720 - $49,920/Yr

Thresholds - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Entry Level

Chicago, IL

Social Assistance

About the position

The Community Support Specialist (Peer) at Thresholds is a vital role focused on providing mental health and substance use treatment support within the community. This position leverages personal lived experiences with mental health recovery to assist clients in their recovery journey, offering case management, care planning, and transportation to various appointments. The role emphasizes a compassionate and supportive culture, encouraging collaboration and advocacy for clients while providing opportunities for professional development and training in evidence-based practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide mental health and substance use treatment support in the community.
• Assist clients with care planning and case management to remove barriers to mental healthcare.
• Transport clients to appointments, benefits offices, and grocery stores as needed.
• Share personal recovery experiences to foster mutual learning and support.
• Advocate for clients and provide insights based on lived experiences of recovery.
• Collaborate with the team to ensure the best client care and support.

Requirements

• Lived and living experience with personal mental health recovery.
• Passion for mental health advocacy.
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills.
• Good writing skills.
• Strong time management and organization skills.
• At least 21 years old.
• Valid driver's license, current car insurance, and daily access to a car.

Nice-to-haves

• High school diploma or GED certificate with 5 years of supervised clinical experience.
• Active CRSS credential.
• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field.
• Bachelor's degree in an unrelated field with 2 years of supervised clinical experience.
• Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field.

Benefits

• Competitive pay - Base Rate: $21.50 - 24.00 per hour, with increases based on education and experience.
• Generous PTO including 9 federal holidays, 8 days of sick leave, and 15-22 days of personal and vacation leave.
• Dental and vision insurance, with a choice of 4 medical insurance plans.
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match.
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP).
• Mileage reimbursement and cell phone reimbursement (up to $50/month).
• Public service loan forgiveness.
• Supervision for clinical licensure at no cost (CRSS, LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC).
• Reimbursement for professional licensure and license renewal.