Community Support Specialist

Thresholds; Gurnee (IL); On-site; USD 34,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Generous PTO

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Medical plans

403(b) match

EAP program

Mileage reimbursement

Cell phone allowance

Public service loan forgiveness

Licensure supervision

Licensure reimbursement

Job summary

Thresholds is seeking a Community Support Specialist to deliver mental health and substance use treatment support in clients’ communities. You will participate in care planning, help remove barriers to care, and connect clients with essential resources to support recovery and growth.

Role includes transportation to clients, coordination with multidisciplinary teams, and daily living skills coaching. Monday–Friday shift, with competitive pay and generous benefits described by Thresholds.

Qualifications

• Passion for mental health advocacy.
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills.
• Good writing skills.
• Strong time management and organization.
• To be at least 21 years old.
• A valid driver’s license, current car insurance, and daily access to your own car.
• Willingness to provide transportation to clients.
• Shift: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

Responsibilities

• Provide mental health and substance use treatment support in client environments.
• Conduct case management to remove barriers to care and connect clients with resources.
• Assist clients with navigating complex systems and schedules, including appointments and benefits offices.
• Support clients in developing daily living skills and independence.
• Travel with clients to appointments, services, and community resources as needed.

Skills

Mental health advocacy

Communication skills

Writing skills

Time management

Driver's license

Access to own car

Transportation to clients

Schedule flexibility

Education

High school diploma or GED + 5 years supervised clinical experience

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or Social Work

Bachelor’s degree in unrelated field + 2 years supervised clinical experience

Master’s degree in Psychology or Social Work

Job description

At Thresholds, we believe in meeting people where they’re at – in their environment and on their journey to recovery. Community Support Specialists (CSS) provide mental health and substance use treatment support where it makes the most impact – in a person’s community.

Working as a Community Support Specialist is a unique learning opportunity. Through care planning, you will be an integral part of a client’s growth and recovery. You will remove barriers to mental healthcare through case management: connecting our clients with resources and helping them navigate complex systems. You will help clients strengthen daily living skills as you drive them to doctors’ appointments, to benefits offices, or to the grocery store. Each day will be a little bit different, requiring you to adapt to your client’s schedule, needs, and treatment plan.

The culture at Thresholds is collaborative and supportive, providing you with the tools and resources you need for the best client care. Opportunities for training and professional development, including clinical supervision, will deepen your knowledge and expand your clinical skills in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and other evidence-based practices. This invaluable experience will set you up for a variety of career paths and growth opportunities within our organization.

To succeed in this role, you need:

• Passion for mental health advocacy
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills
• Good writing skills
• Strong time management and organization
• To be at least 21 years old
• A valid driver’s license, current car insurance, and daily access to your own car
• Willingness to provide transportation to clients
• SHIFT: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Many education and experience paths are eligible for this role:

• High school diploma or GED certificate and 5 years of supervised clinical experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field
• Bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field and 2 years of supervised clinical experience
• Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field

What sets Thresholds apart:

• Competitive Pay: Pay Range: $24.85 - $26.83 per hour (Annually $51,688 - $55,800)
• Based upon education, experience, and licensure
• $1000 salary increase for LSW or LPC licensure
• $1000 salary increase for CRSS
• Generous PTO
• Dental insurance, vision insurance,4 medical insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement plans with 3% employer match
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP)
• Mileage reimbursement
• Cell phone reimbursement (up to $50/month)
• Public service loan forgiveness
• Supervision for clinical licensure at no cost (LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC)
• Reimbursement for licensure and licensure renewal

Thresholds is a mission-driven agency with a deep commitment to fostering an environment where all feel valued and respected, a place where every employee can be themselves, thrive, and support the agency’s mission.

One of the oldest and largest community mental health organizations in Illinois, we pride ourselves in being a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and one of Chicago’s 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For, several years in a row.