Behavioral Health Outreach Specialist

Wayspring; Springfield (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

HSA + gym

Parental leave

Disability & life insurance

401k match

EAP

Job summary

Wayspring is seeking a Behavioral Health Outreach Specialist to navigate care pathways for individuals facing SUD and other barriers. The role focuses on street-based and community outreach to hard-to-reach populations in the greater Springfield, IL area, with mileage reimbursement provided for travel.

You will assess needs, support enrollment, and guide members into Wayspring’s clinical services, maintaining trust as they begin recovery journeys in collaboration with partners.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years in a community outreach role.
• Experience with street outreach or door-to-door outreach preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively.
• Willingness to travel; mileage reimbursement provided.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate enrollments from community members into Wayspring’s services.
• Assess member needs and triage accordingly.
• Educate members on Waysspring’s service offerings.
• Obtain consent forms and paperwork for services, and secure first appointments.
• Maintain frequent touchpoints with enrolled caseload and assess ongoing needs.

Skills

Effective communication

Crisis management

Street outreach

CRM experience

Tools

CRM platforms

Job description

At Wayspring, we’re committed to expanding access to care for individuals facing substance use disorder and other complex barriers to health. As a Behavioral Heath Outreach Specialist (known internally as Community Outreach Specialist), you will serve as a frontline care navigator, meeting people where they are, building trust through consistent, compassionate engagement, and helping members take the first step into recovery-oriented care.

This role focuses on street‑based and community outreach to individuals who may be disengaged, experiencing homelessness, difficult to reach, or navigating addiction, behavioral health, and social challenges. You may also meet members enrolled in facility based treatment, such as Inpatient Psychiatric, Residential Detox, and other levels of care. Drawing on experience in recovery support, street outreach, harm reduction, ACT Team, or community-based services, you’ll assess needs, support enrollment, and guide members into Wayspring’s clinical services—remaining a trusted point of contact as they begin their recovery journey through collaboration with providers, nonprofits, and community partners.

This role requires regular daytime travel to meet members in the greater Springfield, IL area and surrounding areas - mileage reimbursement is included!

Responsibilities

• Facilitates and secures enrollments from members in the community to participate in Wayspring’s services
• Acts quickly to assess member needs and triage accordingly
• Successfully engages members and provides them with an educational overview of Wayspring’s service offerings
• Secures verbal and written consent, and obtains appropriate paperwork for services, including consent to clinic services and release of information forms, from members to participate in Wayspring’s services
• Secures members’ first appointment with clinical services
• Provides frequent touchpoints to enrolled caseload and ability to assess individual member needs to determine the frequency of touchpoints needed ongoing
• Initiates creative strategies to facilitate member contact
• Incorporates recovery support and hard reduction themes into engagement
• Regularly reviews member profile for SDoH and clinical updates
• Maintains performance accountability around member enrollment and clinic conversion, and achieves performance targets
• Adheres to Wayspring information security and privacy requirements

Requirements & Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in a community outreach role, with preferred experience around street outreach or door-to-door outreach
• Demonstrated ability working in a matrixed environment
• The ability to communicate effectively and persuasively is required
• Exceptional verbal communication skills
• Exceptional verbal de-escalation skills and crisis management
• Experience with CRM platforms is preferred
• Ability to travel as business needs require (community-based role). Mileage reimbursement is provided.

Our goal is to foster a workplace where everyone feels a true sense of belonging, is supported, and empowered to thrive. We actively seek different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences—because we believe that drives better performance and innovation. We’re committed to identifying and removing barriers for the communities we serve.

Creating a great employee experience takes more than just perks—but let’s be real, those matter too. Here’s how we’re building a company where you, your family, your pets, and your passions can thrive.

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance options – including options for your pets!
• Company funded HSA + Monthly Gym Allowance
• Paid parental leave – all parents included!
• Company paid short term disability, long term disability and life insurance
• 401k with company match
• Premium Employee Assistance Program, inclusive of counseling sessions
• Pardon and Expungement Scholarship Program
• Company Contributions to Future Minded Savings (HSA and Emergency savings fund)
• Generous PTO package (accrual policy based on years of service) and an additional 10 paid company holidays