MPI Community Behavioral Health Specialist

Metropolitan Family Services; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance options

Paid holidays

Paid Time Off (PTO)

401K Plan

Training & Development

Job summary

Metropolitan Family Services is seeking an overnight Community Behavioral Health Specialist to support the Metropolitan Peace Initiative Team in Chicago. The role requires a Master’s in Social Work and an LCSW or related license, with two years of post-Master’s experience.

You will work on trains and CTA platforms, providing trauma-informed behavioral health services to high‑risk individuals. The position includes two overnight shifts (12:00 PM–7:30 AM and 7:00 PM–2:30 AM), travel across city

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work is required.
• Two years post-Master’s experience is required.
• Must be a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or related license.

Responsibilities

• Identify, deescalate, and mediate tense mental health situations; build trust; provide follow-up after crises.
• Coordinate behavioral health services within community and transit systems.
• Lead crisis response coordination and ensure adherence to clinical and organizational standards.
• Maintain timely documentation of incidents, interventions, and referrals.

Skills

Overnight work

Trauma-informed care

Interpersonal skills

Education

Master’s Degree in Social Work

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Job description

MPI Community Behavioral Health Specialist

Job Category : Counselors/Social Workers

Requisition Number : MPICO005471

• Posted : September 17, 2026
• Full-Time

Locations

Showing 1 location

Metropolitan Peace Academy
Chicago, IL 60608, USA

If asked to describe the culture at Metropolitan Family Services, we could do that in one word. COMMUNITY! Reflected in both our internal culture as well as through the services we provide, community is at the heart of all we do.

Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 136,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness and empowerment.

We are currently searching for a full-time Community Behavioral Health Specialist to join our Metropolitan Peace InitiativeTeam!

Schedule & Role Requirements : This is an overnight position; there are 2 shifts: 12pm-7:30am and 7:00 PM–2:30 AM. This role requires riding trains and providing services on train platforms and at CTA stations. No alternative shifts are available. You must have open availability for both shifts.

MFS is spear-heading theCommunities Partnering 4 Peace, a framework designed to provide comprehensive, long-term approach to reduce violence and gang activity. This framework will bring together community-driven strategies that will empower community-based organizations to intervene with those individuals at the highest risk of driving the violence while working with the overall resident population to transform perceptions and realities of their community.

SALARY:

• The average starting salary for this position will fall in the range of $75,000- and $85,000 annually. Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Identify, deescalate, and mediate tense situations related to mental health concerns; build trust with diverse individuals and groups; and provide follow up support after a crisis to promote stabilization and healing.
• This is an overnight position; there are 2 shifts: 12pm-7:30am and 7:00 PM–2:30 AM. This role requires riding trains and providing services on train platforms and at CTA stations. No alternative shifts are available. You must have open availability for both shifts.
• Engage effectively with community members, local businesses, and high-risk individuals while maintaining professionalism and utilizing trauma informed approaches.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of incidents, interventions, and referrals while respecting confidentiality and ensuring adherence to professional standards.

Performs comprehensive, in-depth assessments for a variety of clinical services. Performs psycho-social assessments and intake as assigned.

Provides a full range of case management, counseling, advocacy, educational, and related services to Community Safety and Transit Operations.

Lead the coordination of behavioral health services within the community and transit systems by reviewing complex cases, supporting high-risk crisis responses, ensuring compliance with clinical, ethical, and organizational standards, and implementing strategies to enhance service effectiveness and team performance.'

Develop and strengthen partnerships with community stakeholders, behavioral health systems, hospitals, public safety agencies, and leadership to support program expansion, improve continuity of care, and advance collaborative crisis response initiatives across diverse communities.

Collaborate with CPRU team members to identify, de-escalate, and mediate high-tension situations related to mental health concerns; build trust with diverse individuals and groups; and provide post-crisis follow-up support to promote stabilization and healing.

• Provide support for MPA
• Provide trainings and facilitation

Identifies and utilizes agency and community resources.

Assesses community conditions affecting clients to identify resource gaps and problems.

Joins or develops groups and coalitions to address community needs.

Recommends financial assistance for clients.

Provides group services as indicated by program need.

Responsible for meeting contractual requirements such as 24-hour crisis coverage.

Represents and interprets programs of agency in community.

• Support and attend "Light in the Night" events

May serve on regional or agency-wide committees.

May provide clinical guidance and shadowing opportunities for students

• Attend regular meetings: e.g. team, case consultations, individual supervision
• Provide ongoing support, trainings, facilitation and curriculum development
• Establishes referral network/linkages with outside agencies for participants and their families.
• Takes a proactive role in the development of social work services and programming that supports trauma informed care.

Meets agency expectation for quantity of direct service.

Complies with agency record-keeping expectations.

Works effectively with diverse staff and service population.

• Flexible to travel to different neighborhoods of the city

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university, required.
• Must be available to work the fixed overnight schedule of 7:00 PM–2:30 AM and be comfortable riding trains and working on train platforms and at CTA stations as required by the position.
• Two years related post-Masters experience at an intermediate skill level, required.
• Must be a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or related license, required.
• Requires mobility to work with a community-based caseload.
• Ability to maintain assigned community and home-based services.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch.
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and viewing a computer terminal.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Metropolitan Family Services offers a very generous benefits packet to our professionals:

• HMO, Traditional PPO, or PPO w/ health savings contributions.
• Dental and Vision Insurance Options
• 12 paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Flexible Spending
• Opportunities for Student Loan Forgiveness
• 401K Plan
• Training and Professional Development Plan
• Wellness Initiative Program
• Employee Assistance Network

Qualifications

Skills

Preferred

Verbal and Written Communication

Advanced

Organizational Skills

Advanced

Interpersonal Skills

Advanced

Analytical Skills

Advanced

Education

Required

Masters or better in Social Work.

Experience

Required

2 years:

2 years:Related post-Master's experience at an intermediate skill level.

Licenses & Certifications

Required

Lic Clinical Social Work

Equal Opportunity Employer
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.