Crisis Support Specialist, Living Room - Part Time

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Generous PTO

403(b) match

EAP

Public service loan forgiveness

Job summary

Thresholds is a mission-driven agency delivering community mental health services in Illinois. The Living Room program offers a calm crisis space where Crisis Support Specialists provide advocacy, information, and peer support.

As a Crisis Support Specialist, you will use personal recovery experience to support guests, hear their stories, and encourage steps in recovery while modeling coping strategies and linking to services. You may also help with reception duties and program upkeep.

Qualifications

• Candidates may have lived experience with mental health recovery; preferred but not required.
• Effective communication and ability to build relationships with guests.
• Good writing skills and strong time management are important.
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Paths from high school through higher education are eligible for this role.

Responsibilities

• Assist guests using advocacy, information, and peer support to manage crisis.
• Engage guests in conversations, listen to stories, and explore recovery steps.
• Model coping strategies and help develop personal crisis recovery plans.
• Link guests with supportive services for aftercare.
• Greet guests, learn names, and invite them to lead their recovery path.
• Prepare food for guests and keep the space neat and tidy.
• Stay current on mental health trends and participate in training; CRSS supervision and fee reimbursement available.

Skills

Lived experience

Effective communication

Relationship-building

Good writing skills

Time management

Organizational skills

Age 21+

Education

High school diploma/GED

Higher education in Psychology/Social Work/Counseling

CRSS certification preferred

Job description

When people experience on the South Side of Chicago a mental health crisis, they are faced with the decision to go to the emergency department or to try to manage the crisis themselves. The Living Room McHenry 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
• Good writing skills
• 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

Part Time Shifts Available:

• Saturday: 7:00am - 3:30pm
• Saturday: 11:00pm - 7:30am
• Sunday: 7:00am - 3:30pm
• Sunday: 3:30pm - 11:30pm
• Sunday: 11:00pm - 7:30am
• Monday: 3:00pm - 11:30pm
• Monday: 11:00pm - 7:30am

What sets Thresholds apart:

• Competitive pay - Base Rate: $25.50- $29.13 per hour
  • Based on education, experience, and licensure
• Generous PTO
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP)
• Public service loan forgiveness

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 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.