Peer Engagement Specialist - Mobile Crisis Response

Thresholds; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a mission-driven organization dedicated to mental health support as a Peer Engagement Specialist. In this role, you will leverage your personal recovery experience to assist individuals in crisis, providing vital support and intervention in the community. You'll be part of a collaborative team, responding to calls, performing assessments, and ensuring individuals receive the care they need. This position offers opportunities for professional development and training in trauma-informed care and harm reduction, setting you on a path for growth within the organization. If you're passionate about mental health advocacy and want to make a difference, this role is for you.

Benefits

Generous PTO

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan with employer match

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Public service loan forgiveness

Cell phone reimbursement

Supervision for clinical licensure

Reimbursement for professional licensure

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health recovery and advocacy is essential.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills are necessary.

Responsibilities

• Respond to mental health crises and conduct safety assessments.
• Provide follow-up support and document services provided.

Skills

Lived experience with mental health recovery

Mental health advocacy

Effective communication

Relationship-building

Problem-solving

Time management

Organization

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or Social Work

Master’s degree in Psychology or Social Work

Active CRSS credential

Job description

Peer Engagement Specialist - Mobile Crisis Response

Job Category: Staff

Requisition Number: PEERE007602

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• Posted: February 5, 2025
• Full-Time
• On-site

Locations

Showing 1 location

Use your lived experience with mental health recovery to connect with and support people in crisis! Like a physical health crisis, a mental health crisis can be devastating for individuals, families, and communities. Thresholds’ Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) is committed to providing services and supports to best meet the needs of individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. As a Peer Engagement Specialist, you will respond to mental health crises in the Uptown, Lakeview, and North Center communities, acting as an alternative to or in conjunction with hospitalization or police response.

Each shift, you will answer calls to our crisis hotline and conduct a quick yet robust safety assessment to determine what response is needed. You may connect the caller to an appropriate service or provider, or if a face-to-face intervention is necessary, you and a Crisis Worker will meet the caller at home, their workplace, or another location in the community. As a pair, you will assist the person in crisis with the least restrictive intervention possible. This can look like anything from walking someone through a panic attack to assisting them with hospitalization. Your role as the peer professional includes building rapport with the person in crisis, specifically by sharing your personal recovery experiences.

Community interventions occur year-round, in all weather conditions. The team may also distribute basic necessities to individuals in crisis, such as first aid items, water, or warm clothes. After responding to the crisis, you will offer a follow-up to the client based on their needs as well as document the services provided. During downtime between calls, you will have the opportunity to focus on professional development through self-directed projects and community outreach efforts.

The culture at Thresholds is collaborative and supportive, providing you with the tools and resources you need for the best client care. Opportunities for training and professional development, including clinical supervision, will deepen your knowledge and expand your clinical skills in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and other evidence-based practices. This invaluable experience will set you up for a variety of career paths and growth opportunities within our organization.

Qualifications

To succeed in this role, you need:

• Lived and living experience with personal mental health recovery
• Passion for mental health advocacy
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to problem-solve
• Strong time management and organization
• To be at least 23 years old
• A valid driver’s license (having daily access to a vehicle preferred)
• Willingness to obtain the CRSS (Certified Recovery Support Specialist) certification within 1 year of hire
• Availability to work Monday-Friday 10:45pm-7:15am

Many education and experience paths are eligible for this role:

• High school diploma or GED certificate and willingness to obtain CRSS
• High school diploma or GED certificate and 5 years of supervised clinical experience
• Active CRSS (Certified Recovery Support Specialist) credential
• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field
• Bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field and 2 years of supervised clinical experience
• Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field

What sets Thresholds apart:

Competitive pay - $24.75 - $29.52 per hour commensurate with education, licensure, and experience.

• Generous PTO (9 federal holidays, 8 days of sick leave, 15-22 days personal and vacation)
• Dental insurance, vision insurance, 4 medical insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP)
• Public service loan forgiveness
• Cell phone reimbursement (up to $50/month)
• Supervision for clinical licensure at no cost (LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC)
• Reimbursement for professional licensure and license renewal

Thresholds is a mission-driven agency with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We foster 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.