Community Support Specialist - Residential Mental Health

Thresholds-Inc; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 47,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

403(b) with 3% match

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Cell phone reimbursement

Public service loan forgiveness

Clinical licensure supervision

Licensure reimbursement

Job summary

Thresholds Inc. in Chicago seeks a Community Support Specialist to deliver mental health and substance use support in clients’ communities, aligning with care plans and harm reduction principles.

The role involves coordinating transportation to appointments, accessing resources, and helping clients build daily living skills, with training and supervision offered to advance licensure and career growth.

Qualifications

• Passion for mental health advocacy.
• Effective communication and relationship-building 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.

Responsibilities

• Provide mental health and substance use treatment support in clients’ communities.
• Contribute to care planning and connect clients with community resources.
• Help clients with transportation to appointments, benefits offices, or the grocery store.
• Assist clients in strengthening daily living skills and navigating complex systems.
• Adapt to each client’s schedule and treatment plan daily.

Skills

Passion for mental health advocacy

Communication skills

Relationship-building

Time management

Driver's license

Education

High school diploma or GED + 5 years supervised clinical experience

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field

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

Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field

Job description

Community Support Specialist - Residential Mental Health

Job Category: Staff

Requisition Number: COMMU008561

• Posted : September 22, 2026
• Full-Time
• On-site

Locations

Showing 1 location

Steven Carroll Residence
1819 N Humboldt Blvd
Chicago, IL 606475029, USA

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
• 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

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 - Base Rate: $22.50 - $25.87 hourly / $46,800 - $53,800 annually
  • Based on education and experience
• Generous PTO4 medical insurance plans, dental insurance, & vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP)
• 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.

As a leader in mental health and substance use services, we pride ourselves in being recognized as a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and one of Chicago’s 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For, in the category of companies with more than 1,000 employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.