Community Engagement Specialist

Pillars Community Health is expanding our Mobile Crisis Response team and hiring several new Community Engagement Specialists as our program continues to grow.

Works with the Mobile Crisis Response team to respond to individuals in the community who are experiencing a mental health crisis. This position works as a mental health peer specialist and supports the crisis response by utilizing de‑escalation techniques, supporting the development of crisis safety plans, and coordinating immediate and post‑crisis follow‑up care as necessary. Assists individuals living with mental illness to identify and achieve specific life goals by utilizing unique insights gained through personal recovery experience.

Utilizes experience to facilitate and support the recoveries of others and to help shape systems of care.

• Works with the Mobile Crisis Response team to support the team’s response either in person or virtually (if appropriate), to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Provide on‑site assessment within 60 minutes.
• Triages and dispatches telephone calls that come through the crisis line to the appropriate staff or department as needed. This is done on a rotating schedule.
• Assists in utilizing de‑escalation techniques, in coordination with the MCR Clinician, with clients experiencing a mental health crisis.
• Utilizes own lived experience as a consumer of behavioral health services to establish rapport, share experiences, and strengthen engagement with individuals that have experienced a mental health crisis.
• Supports positive recovery behaviors with clients in Behavioral Health Crisis programs with a focus on identifying client strengths and needs, and linking individuals to additional resources and support systems to mitigate future crisis episodes.
• May carry a small caseload for post‑crisis follow‑up activities that include skill building and case management to clients with high need.
• Completes required crisis, de‑escalation, and position trainings and certifications.
• Maintains confidentiality of privileged information and adheres to client privacy laws.
• Demonstrates sensitivity and understanding of all communities and cultures.
• Completes required documentation within established time frames, through use of an Electronic Client Record.
• Participates in specific program meetings, including required staff, line of service, and organizational meetings, and required trainings, and consultations.
• Other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

High School Diploma or equivalent (GED). Position requires one to be a current or former consumer of mental health or combined mental illness and substance use disorder services. At least one (1) year of experience working in behavioral health, social services, human services or another related field. Crisis intervention experience preferred.

Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills required for at least 2 positions.

This position encourages one to work towards earning the CRSS credential. The Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) professional is trained to share and incorporate their own unique personal life experiences as a current or former consumer of mental health or combined mental illness and substance use disorder services, in providing peer‑to‑peer mental health, rehabilitation, and substance abuse services.

• Develop hope for recovery
• Increase problem‑solving skills
• Develop natural support networks
• Participate fully in life in the community

The CRSS requirements are outlined in “Illinois Model for Mental Health Certified Recovery Support Specialist”. To obtain the CRSS, the following is required:

• High school diploma or GED
• 2,000 hours supervised work experience, which can include any combination of paid or volunteer work
• 100 hours supervision in the CRSS…