Crisis Support Specialist, Living Room

Thresholds; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Generous PTO

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan with employer 3

EAP

Public service loan forgiveness

Clinical licensure supervision

Job summary

Thresholds is seeking a Crisis Support Specialist for a community crisis center on the South Side of Chicago. You will use your lived experience to support guests, engage in compassionate conversations, and guide recovery planning in a calm, welcoming environment.

You will learn and apply evidence-based practices, participate in training, and may pursue CRSS certification with supervision and fee support. The role includes preparing materials and maintaining the space.

Qualifications

• Lived experience of mental health recovery preferred but not required.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong time management and organizational abilities.

Responsibilities

• Greet guests and learn their names to invite them to participate in shaping their recovery path.
• Engage guests in conversation, listen to their stories, and encourage steps in recovery.
• Model coping strategies and help guests develop crisis recovery plans.
• Link guests with supportive services for aftercare and follow-up.
• Prepare food for guests and maintain a clean, welcoming space.
• Participate in ongoing training and supervision to support CRSS certification.

Skills

Lived experience

Effective communication

Relationship-building

Time management

Crisis de-escalation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Higher education in Psychology/Social Work/Counseling

CRSS certification preferred

Job description

Bridge South
734 W 47th St
Chicago, IL 60609, USA

• Staff
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: CRISI008526

Description

When people experience a mental health crisis on the South Side of Chicago, they are faced with the decision to go to the emergency department or to try to manage the crisis themselves. The Living Room offers an alternative: a community crisis center—a welcoming, accepting, and calm environment where Crisis Support Specialists provide advocacy, information, and peer support.

As a Crisis Support Specialist, you will use your personal experience with mental health recovery to support and educate Living Room guests on managing crisis. You will engage guests in conversation to hear their stories, learn about their interests and strengths, and respectfully encourage them to take steps in their recovery process. Over the course of the day, you may model coping strategies, help guests develop their own crisis recovery plans, and/or link guests with supportive services for after their crisis.

A welcoming environment is key to the success of the Living Room, so you will greet guests and learn their names as part of inviting them to take the lead in determining their recovery path. Crisis Support Specialists will also prepare food for guests and ensure that the space is neat and tidy.

Keep up to date on current trends in the mental health field and deepen your knowledge of evidence-based practices through ample training opportunities to enhance Living Room services. You can also gain supervision for CRSS certification and reimbursement for testing and application fees.

To succeed in this role, you need:

• Lived experience of mental health recovery preferred but not required
• Effective communication and relationship-building
• Strong time management and organization
• To be at least 21 years old

Many education and experience paths are eligible for this role:

• High school diploma or GED certificate required
• Higher education in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or related field preferred
• Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) preferred

Full time Shifts Available:

• Tuesday thru Saturday, 11:00pm - 7:30am
• Thursday, Friday, Saturday 3pm - 11:30pm & Sunday and Monday 7:00am - 3:30pm

What sets Thresholds apart:

• Competitive pay - Base Rate: $25.50- $29.13 per hour
  • Based on education, experience, and licensure
• Generous PTO
• Dental insurance, vision insurance,3 medical insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP)
• Public service loan forgiveness
• Supervision for clinical licensure at no cost (LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC)

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.

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.