LYFE - Crisis Stabilizer

Wisconsin Community Services, Inc.; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Wisconsin Community Services is seeking a Crisis Stabilizer for the LYFE team in Milwaukee. The role provides crisis stabilization and individual skill development to youth and young adults facing suicidality, self-harm, and high acuity mental health needs.

You will work in the community, supporting Plan of Care development, family and school coordination, and 24/7 on-call de-escalation to ensure safety and effective recovery paths.

Qualifications

• Must have experience working with youth and young adults in recovery with mental health or substance use needs.
• Strong assessment and interviewing skills with the ability to develop rapport quickly.
• Knowledge of crisis stabilization, DBT concepts, and person-centered care approaches.

Responsibilities

• Provide crisis stabilization services and individual skill development for youth with acute mental health and co-occurring needs.
• Engage youth using strengths-based, person-centered approaches and tailor plans of care.
• Utilize DBT skills and de-escalation methods to support self-regulation and problem-solving.
• Document all contacts and maintain accurate case files per policy and regulations.

Skills

Rapport building

Assessment skills

De-escalation techniques

Crisis intervention

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

2 years experience in mental health/substance use

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Wisconsin Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/Disability/Vet).

LYFE - Crisis Stabilizer

Job Code: 2026-SPECIALI-016 Location: Milwaukee Department: Wraparound FT/PT Status: Full Time

Job Responsibilities:

The Crisis Stabilization position serves as a member of the LYFE Team providing individual skill development and enhancement services to support youth and young adults experiencing suicidality, self-harm, and/or high acuity mental health needs, resulting in potential placement disruptions, hospitalizations, and/or frequent ER visits. The Crisis Stabilizer serves youth at various stages of their recovery from mental health, substance use, and co-occurring needs by embracing the youth's strengths to meet their identified needs. The Crisis Stabilizer role varies on each team and services are provided in the community to meet the needs identified in the Plan of Care.

• Essential Functions:
• Act as a member of the LYFE Team providing services to youth and young adults with acute mental health, substance use, and co-occurring needs.
• Build off the person's strengths to meet their individualized recovery needs. All services will be person-centered and directed by the individual being served.
• Provide crisis stabilization services, including individual skill development and enhancement services related to training in communication, interpersonal skills, problem solving, decision making, self-regulation, conflict resolution, and other specific needs identified in the Plan of Care.
• Embrace Dialectical Behavioral Therapy(DBT) model by reinforcing DBT skills with assigned youth and young adults.
• Services also include training in daily living skills related to personal care, daily tasks, transportation, school, and accessing and connecting to community resources and services (including healthcare services) and other specific daily living skills identified in the Plan of Care.
• Utilize various methods to serve people including but not limited to: on-call de-escalation, role modeling, monitoring, mentoring, supervision, assistance, and cuing.
• Provide services in the community including homes and other community locations.
• On-call 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, to provide de-escalation to youth and young adults in crisis to assist with self-regulation and problem-solving through challenging situations.
• Participate as a team member in team meetings with the individual to create a Plan of Care, identify and prioritize goals, and monitor progress toward meeting identified needs.
• Appropriately document all contact with the people being served and team members to adhere to program requirements.
• Responsible for accurate documentation and maintaining a case file as required by agency policy, government regulations, and applicable local, state, and federal codes.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings, in-service training, seminars, and conferences as required.
• Responsible for maintaining flexibility in daily work schedule to adequately meet program needs.
• Responsible for adhering to agency policies and procedures while carrying out daily responsibilities.

Other Duties And Responsibilities

• Ensure people are able to get transportation to all LYFE related appointments.
• Other job-related duties as may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the position.

Job Qualifications

Knowledge and skills to work with a mental health and substance use recovery population; organization skills; experience in working with youth and young adults in recovery who have mental health and/or substance use needs; ability to quickly develop rapport with people, excellent assessment and interviewing skills; good understanding of mental health needs; strong understanding of the substance use population; ability to work through difficult situations; flexible and able to multitask throughout the work day; effective use of time and resources to help maintain quality LYFE services.

Minimal Qualifications And Salary Schedule

High School Diploma or equivalent required and 2 years of experience serving people with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring needs preferred; bachelor's degree preferred. Meet all WCS and contractor requirements for criminal and caregiver background checks, driver's record, and drug screen. Valid driver's license, automobile, and sufficient insurance to meet agency requirements are required.

Other Job Information (if Applicable)

Reports directly to the LYFE Supervisor/Clinician. Acts as a liaison with LYFE Team members, schools, community medical staff, family members, etc. as needed.

Personal Attributes

Follow agency Code of Conduct and Leadership Code of Conduct; adhere to established policies and procedures of the agency and of all funding sources; conduct self in an ethical manner; maintain professional and positive relationships with program staff, other WCS staff, people being served, and all external persons and agencies involved with service provision; sensitivity toward cultural, ethnic and disability issues; demonstrate commitment to agency values and mission.

Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily in the community, including people's homes and various community-based locations. Ability to work in an office setting. Hours average 40 hours per week.

Physical Demands

Position is mobile with significant time spent in the community, including transporting youth and young adults, home visits and attending meetings; driving throughout Milwaukee County; must be able to go up and down stairs.

Wisconsin Community Services 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, veteran, disability status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.