Crisis Counselor (Limited) Day Shift

Foundation 2; Waterloo (IA); Hybrid; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Quarterly wellness reimbursements

Shift differentials

Job summary

Foundation 2 Crisis Services is a non-profit Iowa organization offering 24/7 crisis intervention across phone, text, and chat. The role supports clients in crisis, with robust training and ongoing supervision to handle high-risk situations.

The position allows hybrid work from the Cedar Rapids Crisis Center or remote work within Iowa, Wisconsin, or Illinois, with two full training days in Cedar Rapids. Sign-on bonuses are offered for weekend shifts.

Qualifications

• Live in Iowa, Illinois, or Wisconsin.
• Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field or a bachelor’s degree in any field plus 1 year relevant experience.
• Peer support specialist or family peer with minimum 1 year in behavioral/mental health services.

Responsibilities

• Provide real-time crisis support via phone, text, and chat.
• Screen for suicide risk and safety concerns per protocols.
• Attend daytime trainings and regular all-staff meetings.
• Dispatch additional client services when necessary.
• Document interactions for quality records.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Active listening

Empathy

Trauma-informed care

Written communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field

Bachelor’s degree + 1 year of relevant experience

Peer support specialist certification

Tools

Microsoft 365

Google Chrome

Electronic Health Records

Job description

About Foundation 2 Crisis Services

Foundation 2 Crisis Services is a mission-driven, non-profit organization that provides critical crisis intervention and prevention services across Iowa. We operate a 24/7 crisis center, including phone, text, and chat services. We also operate an emergency youth shelter, mental health support groups, community-based crisis programs, training, and more. We have been saving lives for over 50 years. Join our team today!

Our crisis center counselors answer more than 90,000 phone, chat, and text contacts per year. You can learn more about the Foundation 2 Crisis Services’ crisis center and see what clients can expect when they reach out to Foundation 2 Crisis Services on our YouTube channel.

Overview of the role

Provide real-time, compassionate, non-judgmental crisis support to clients over the phone, text, and chat lines. Attend initial trainings (some will be during daytime hours) and all-staff meetings during daytime hours 1-2 times per month. Dispatch additional client services, such as Foundation 2 Crisis Services’ Mobile Crisis Outreach, when necessary. Document each phone, text, and chat contact to ensure quality record keeping.

Many of the contacts you'll answer involve individuals experiencing suicidal ideation, self-harm, or the aftermath of trauma, violence, or abuse. You won’t take these alone; a Supervisor is available for in-the-moment consultation and support, especially during high-risk calls.

The position has the flexibility to be hybrid at the Crisis Center in Cedar Rapids or remote within the state of Iowa, Wisconsin, or Illinois; candidates must be available for two (2) full days of training in our Cedar Rapids office.

Shifts Available

• Saturday & Sunday 8 am- 4 pm – Sign-on Bonus $500
• Friday & Saturday 8 am- 4 pm- $500 Sign-on Bonus
• Sunday & Monday 8 am- 4 pm- $500 Sign-on Bonus

Benefits

• This position starts at $18/hour

• The Crisis Center offers shift differentials on top of your hourly wage:
• 1st/Day Shift (8am – 3pm)
• Saturday & Sunday: $0.75/hour
• 2nd/Evening Shift (3pm – 10pm)
• Mon-Thurs: $0.50/hour
• Friday & Saturday: $5.00/hour
• Sunday: $0.75/hour
• 3rd/Overnight Shift (10pm – 8am)
• Sun-Thurs: $1.00/hour
• Friday & Saturday: $5.00/hour
• Quarterly wellness benefit reimbursements to support a sense of wellbeing.
• Go to sleep at night knowing that work you did matters. Foundation 2 Crisis Services staff save lives every day.

Who you are

• Client-centered. You are dedicated and passionate about working with individuals in crisis. You know it is an honor to be trusted to support people at their most vulnerable.
• Compassionate. You have compassion for clients and a willingness to understand and exercise trauma-informed care practices.
• Quick Thinking. You recognize that you will often have multiple irons in the fire at once and will be challenged to manage competing priorities.
• Skilled Communicator. Your words matter to individuals in crisis. You are a strong communicator and can convey important information clearly and compassionately.
• Resilient. You can stay grounded and present through difficult or high-stakes moments, and you know how to draw on your team and your own coping tools to sustain the work over time.

What you’ll do

• Provide real-time, compassionate, non-judgmental crisis support to clients through our cloud-based phone system.
• Screen every contact for suicide risk and other safety concerns, and respond calmly to crisis situations that may include suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or disclosures of abuse, violence, or trauma, following Foundation 2’s crisis intervention protocols.
• Attending initial trainings (some will be during daytime hours) and all-staff meetings during daytime hours 1-2 times per month.
• Dispatch additional client services, such as Foundation 2 Crisis Services’ Mobile Crisis Outreach, when necessary.
• Document each chat contact to ensure quality record keeping.

What you need

• Live in Iowa, Illinois, or Wisconsin
• Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field with 30 hours of human service coursework OR bachelor’s degree in any field plus one (1) year of relevant experience OR A peer support specialist or family support peer specialist with a minimum of one year experience in behavioral health or mental health services.
• Proficient with computers and software including Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Excel, Word, etc.), Google Chrome, and Electronic Health Records.
• Able to type quickly, multi-task, and perform accurate data entry.
• Strong written communication skills with excellent grammar and attention to detail.
• Private home office to ensure confidentiality.
• Reliable, high-speed internet at home (Minimum 50 Mbps download speed / 15 Mbps upload speed; wired internet connection required) OR the ability to work all shifts from the Cedar Rapids office.
• Pass all background checks completed by Foundation 2 Crisis Services.
• Live in Iowa.
• Successfully complete required trainings within required time periods.
• Submit copy of college degree or transcript as required by licensure for personnel file.
• Experience in crisis services is preferred.
• Experience in conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques preferred.
• Background in motivational interviewing referred.
• Ability to clearly communicate emotional support to people in crisis preferred.
• Knowledge/experience working in the mental health, substance use, and/or problem gambling field preferred.

Foundation 2 Crisis Services is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.