Community Support Specialist - Community Mental Health - Peer Program

Thresholds; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

PTO & holidays

Medical dental vision

403(b) match

EAP

Mileage reimbursement

Cell phone allowance

Public service loan forgiveness

Licensure reimbursement

Job summary

Thresholds is seeking a Community Support Specialist in Chicago, IL, to support clients in their recovery within their community. You will use your lived experience and CRSS-ready credentials to help coordinate care, connect clients with needed resources, and remove barriers to access to mental health services.

The role involves advocacy, mentoring, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team. Ideal candidates bring personal recovery experience, strong communication, and reliable

Qualifications

• Lived experience with mental health recovery as a foundation for support.
• Good written communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage time and organize tasks effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management to connect clients with resources and help navigate systems.
• Assist clients with daily living activities and transportation to appointments and services.
• Collaborate with the team to advocate for clients and support recovery goals.

Skills

Lived experience

Communication

Writing

Time management

Driver's license

Education

High school diploma or GED + 5 years supervised clinical experience

Active CRSS credential

Bachelor's degree in Psychology/Social Work/related

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

Master's degree in Psychology/Social Work/related

Job description

Are you looking for an opportunity to use your mental health recovery experience to be a change agent in the mental health field? 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. We value personal lived experiences with mental health recovery and are seeking a peer professional, who either has the CRSS (Certified Recovery Support Specialist) credential or is able to get the CRSS within a year.

Working as a Community Support Specialist is a unique opportunity to use your lived experience to support others. 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 doctor's appointments, to benefits offices, or to the grocery store. As the identified Peer on the team, you will share your recovery story with our clients in a mutual, two-way helping process where you will learn from each other and model that recovery can happen. 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 compassionate and supportive, providing you with the tools and resources you need for the best client care. As a peer professional, you will collaborate with your team by advocating for the clients and providing insight about the lived experience of recovery. Opportunities for training and professional development will deepen your knowledge and expand your clinical skills in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and other evidence-based practices. To support the CRSS credential, we offer free clinical supervision, fee reimbursement, and scholarship opportunities. 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:

• 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
• To be at least 21 years old
• A valid driver's license, current car insurance, and daily access to a car
• Willingness to provide transportation to clients

Many education and experience paths are eligible for this role:

• High school diploma OR GED certificate and 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 and 2 years of supervised clinical experience
• Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field

What sets Thresholds apart:

• Competitive pay - Base Rate: $23.10 - $26.54 hourly / $48,048 - $55,200 annually
• Subject to increase based on education and experience
• Additional increase with current CRSS
• Generous PTO (9 federal holidays, 8 days of sick leave, 15-22 days personal and vacation)
• 4 medical insurance plans, dental insurance, & vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan 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 (CRSS, LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC)
• Reimbursement for professional licensure and license 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. Click here to learn more.

One of the oldest and largest 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.