Family Engagement Specialist

Heritage Behavioral Health Center; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off and wellness days

Health insurance

401(k) and Roth options

Tuition assistance

Loan forgiveness eligibility NHSC

Supervision toward licensure

Competitive salary

Job summary

Heritage Behavioral Health Center in Decatur, IL is hiring a Family Engagement Specialist to support families through recovery and community resources. This full-time, in-person role leverages lived experience to empower youth and families.

You will partner with caregivers to identify needs, navigate systems, and connect to services in homes, schools, and community settings. Travel within Macon and surrounding counties is required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 21 years of age.
• Personal lived experience with mental health or caregiver of a child with needs.
• Willingness to obtain CRSS credential within 18 months.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Responsibilities

• Identify family needs and connect to resources (healthcare, housing, education, finances).
• Provide resource navigation in homes, schools, and community settings.
• Strengthen family relationships and natural supports.
• Guide families through behavioral health, education, health care, and systems.
• Offer coaching, advocacy, and ongoing support aligned with family goals.
• Coordinate with Heritage and partners for consistent care.
• Document services accurately in the electronic health record.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Team collaboration

Organization

Trauma-informed approach

Confidentiality

Education

Current CRSS credential

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Electronic Health Records

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Family Engagement Specialist

Program Allocation Full Time MHP - High School 2965 N. Main St., Decatur, Decatur, IL, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1615

Salary Range: $18.00 To $23.00 Hourly

Now Hiring

Family Engagement Specialist

Youth and Family Support Services, Full-Time, Non-Exempt, In-Person, Community-Based

Location

Decatur, IL, with regular travel throughout Macon, Piatt, DeWitt, Moultrie, and Shelby Counties

Position Type

Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Work Setting

In-person; community-based

Schedule

Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Every other Friday off (paid wellness day)

Pay

$18.00/hour – High school diploma or GED, increasing to $23.00/hour upon earning the Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) credential

$23.00/hour – Candidates who already hold the CRSS credential

About the Role

Has your own journey - through recovery, or as a caregiver of a child with behavioral health needs - given you a passion for supporting other families? Heritage is looking for a Family Engagement Specialist to join our Youth and Family Support Services team. In this role, your lived experience becomes a strength that helps families feel understood, supported, and empowered.

You'll partner with caregivers and youth to identify needs, strengthen family relationships, build natural supports, navigate complex systems, and connect to community resources. Services are provided in homes, schools, community agencies, and Heritage locations.

What You'll Do

• Help families identify needs - such as health care access, safety, housing, transportation, education, and financial stability - and connect them to the right resources
• Provide resource navigation and community support in homes, schools, agencies, and community settings
• Strengthen supportive family relationships and help youth and caregivers build lasting natural supports
• Guide families through behavioral health, juvenile justice, education, health care, and other systems
• Offer practical strategies, coaching, advocacy, and ongoing support based on each family's goals and strengths
• Coordinate with Heritage team members and community partners for consistent, family-centered care
• Document services accurately and on time in the electronic health record

What You Bring

Required

• High school diploma or GED
• Minimum 21 years of age
• Personal lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery, or experience as a caregiver of a child with significant support needs (behavioral health needs preferred)
• Willingness to obtain the Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) credential within 18 months of hire (if not already certified)
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and proof of current auto insurance

Preferred

• Current CRSS credential
• Experience supporting youth and families in behavioral health, juvenile justice, education, child welfare, or community-based settings
• Knowledge of local resources in Macon, Piatt, DeWitt, Moultrie, and Shelby Counties

Skills That Will Help You Succeed

• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• A family-driven, strengths-based, trauma-informed approach
• Ability to build trust while maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong organization, problem-solving, and attention to detail
• Comfort with electronic health records, Microsoft Word, Excel, and email
• Ability to stay calm and follow safety procedures in urgent situations

What Success Looks Like

• Families feel engaged and make meaningful progress toward their goals
• Families are connected to resources and grow more confident navigating the systems in their lives
• Family strengths and natural supports are built into service planning
• Team members and partners see you as reliable, collaborative, and responsive
• Documentation is accurate, complete, and on time

Working Conditions

• Regular travel to homes, schools, community agencies, and Heritage locations
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, drive, and use a computer for extended periods, with or without reasonable accommodation
• Some schedule flexibility to meet family availability

Why You'll Love Working Here

At Heritage, we believe lived experience is expertise. Our work is guided by System of Care principles - youth-guided, family-driven, community-based, culturally responsive, and strengths-based. You'll join a supportive team with a clear path to certification and higher pay.

• Every other Friday off as a paid wellness day:that's 26 three-day weekends a year
• Paid clinical supervision,including supervision toward your LCSW or LCPC
• Loan forgiveness eligibilitythrough the National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
• Competitive salaryaligned with state and national benchmarks
• Generous time off:vacation, sick, personal, and holiday leave
• Health, dental, and vision insurancewith substantial agency contributions
• 401(k) and Rothretirement options
• Tuition assistanceand continuing education support
• Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), fitness reimbursement, and additional life insurance
• A collaborative, mission-driven team where every role impacts client care

Heritage is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.