Youth CCS - Support Specialist

Wisconsin Community Services, Inc.; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A community service provider in Milwaukee is seeking a Youth CCS – Support Specialist. This role involves providing essential support services to youth dealing with mental health and substance use challenges. The ideal candidate should have a high school diploma and relevant experience. The position requires a valid driver’s license and the ability to work in various community settings. A commitment to ethical conduct and professional relationships is essential.

Qualifications

• 2 years of experience serving people with mental health and substance use needs preferred.
• Must meet all WCS and contractor requirements for background checks.
• Valid driver’s license and automobile required.
• 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 CCS services.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual skill development and enhancement services to youth.
• Participate in team meetings to create a Plan of Care.
• Document all contact with individuals being served.
• Provide 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).
• Utilize various methods to serve people including role modeling, monitoring, mentoring, supervision, assistance, and cuing.
• Provide services in the community including homes and other community locations.
• 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.
• Maintain accurate documentation and 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.
• Maintain flexibility in daily work schedule to adequately meet program needs.
• Adhere to agency policies and procedures while carrying out daily responsibilities.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving

Decision making

Self-regulation

Conflict resolution

Organization skills

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

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

Youth CCS – Support Specialist

Job Code: 2025-SPECIALI-021 | Location: Milwaukee | Department: Wraparound | FT/PT Status: Full Time

Position Summary: The Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) Youth Support Specialist serves as a member of the Youth CCS team, providing individual skill development and enhancement services to support youth and young adults in reaching their recovery goals. The Support Specialist 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. Services are provided in the community to meet the needs identified in the Plan of Care.

Essential Functions

• Act as a member of the CCS team providing services to youth and young with mental health, substance use, and co‑occurring needs.
• Build on the person’s strengths to meet individualized recovery needs. All services will be person‑centered and directed by the individual being served.
• Provide individual skill development and enhancement services that include training in communication, interpersonal skills, problem solving, decision making, self‑regulation, conflict resolution, and other specific needs identified in the Plan of Care.
• Provide 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 role modeling, monitoring, mentoring, supervision, assistance, and cuing.
• Provide services in the community including homes and other community locations.
• 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.
• Maintain accurate documentation and 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.
• Maintain flexibility in daily work schedule to adequately meet program needs.
• Adhere to agency policies and procedures while carrying out daily responsibilities.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure people are able to get transportation to all CCS related appointments.
• Undertake other job‑related duties as may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the position.

Qualifications

Minimal Qualifications: 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)

Work Relationship and Scope: Reports directly to the Director of New and Emerging Initiatives in the Specialized Services Division. Acts as a liaison with CCS 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 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; show sensitivity toward cultural, ethnic and disability issues; demonstrate commitment to agency values and mission.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 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 CCS services.

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.