Community Support Specialist - Emerging Adults

At Thresholds, we believe in meeting people where they’re at – in their environment and on their journey to recovery. Community Support Specialists (CSS) with our Emerging Adults Program provide mental health and substance use treatment support where it makes the most impact – in a young person’s community.

Working as a Community Support Specialist is a unique learning opportunity. Through care planning, you will be an integral part of a client’s growth and recovery. You will remove barriers to mental healthcare through case management: connecting our clients with resources and helping them navigate complex systems. You will help young adults strengthen daily living skills as you drive them to doctors’ appointments, to benefits offices, or to the grocery store. You will also assist with facilitating activities and programs that will contribute to young adults’ overall development. Each day will be a little bit different, requiring you to adapt to your client’s schedule, needs, and treatment plan.

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, such as the Transition to Independence (TIP) Model. This invaluable experience will set you up for a variety of career paths and growth opportunities within our organization.

To succeed in this role, you need:

• Passion for mental health advocacy
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills
• Take on-call after hours crisis calls for one week every 2.5-3 months
• Strong time management, writing, and organization skills
• To be at least 21 years old
• A valid driver’s license, current car insurance, and daily access to your own car
• Willingness to provide transportation to clients

Many education and experience paths are eligible for this role:

• 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 (PREFFERED)

What sets Thresholds apart:

• Competitive pay - Base Rate: $24.25 – 27.60 per hour / $50,440 – 57,400 annually
  
• Subject to increase based on education and experience
• Generous PTO (9 federal holidays, 8 days of sick leave, 15-22 days personal and vacation)
• Dental insurance, vision insurance, choice of 4 medical insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match 
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP)
• Mileage reimbursement 
• Cell phone reimbursement (up to $50/month)
• Public service loan forgiveness 
• 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 fostering an environment where all feel valued and respected, a place where every employee can be themselves, thrive, and support the agency’s mission. Click here to learn more.

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.

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