Sign Language Interpreter - Deaf Mental Health Forensic

Recruitment began on April 28, 2026

and the job listing Expires on May 29, 2026

Opening Date: 04/23/2026
Closing Date: 05/06/2026
Agency: Department of Human Services
Class Title: HUMAN SERV SIGN LANG INTERPRETER (19810)
Skill Option: None
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: Anticipated Salary: $5,384 – $7,631 per month ($64,608 – $91,572 per year)
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: Cook
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code: RC062 Technical Employees, AFSCME
Merit Comp Code:

Position Overview

The Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery is seeking to hire a Human Services Sign Language Interpreter for the Chicago-Read Mental Health Center located in Chicago, Illinois to serve as an interpreter for civil and forensic psychiatric inpatient consumers who are Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and/or Deaf-Blind in a variety of situations such as admission/discharges, individual patient and group counseling sessions, fitness restoration, treatment/discharge planning, medical appointments, phone calls and family visits.

Also provides interpreting services for Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing state employees. Coordinates interpreter services for in-house and agency interpreters. Provides staff instruction in sign language, deafness, Deaf Culture and working with an interpreter.

Essential Functions

• Serves as an interpreter for civil and forensic psychiatric inpatient consumers who are Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and/or Deaf-Blind in a variety of situations such as admission/discharges, individual patient and group counseling sessions, fitness restoration, treatment/discharge planning, phone calls and family visits.
• Interprets admission and discharge procedures, and phone calls and visits with collaterals.
• Coordinates in-house and agency interpreter services for staff and/or consumers.
• Interprets for Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing staff during orientation, trainings, special seminars, facility/ unit/department meetings, etc. as related to Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery/Department of Human Services (DHS) job duties. Travels in the performance of job duties.
• Provides staff instruction in sign language, deafness, Deaf Culture and how to work with an interpreter.
• Participates in DHS and Chicago-Read Mental Health Center mandatory training.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to the completion of four (4) years of high school, plus a valid interpreter license in accordance with the interpreter for the Deaf Licensure Act of 2007 at the Advanced Proficiency License level as mandated by 68 Illinois Administrative Code Part 1515.
• Additionally requires one year of experience in the fields of disabilities or behavioral health.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to travel in the performance of job duties.
• Requires the ability to utilize office equipment, including personal computers.
• Requires ability to pass the IDHS background check.
• Requires ability to pass a drug screen for drugs prohibited from recreational use under Illinois Law.

Work Hours: Various shifts, see below.

Monday – Friday with the choice of 7:00am – 3:00pm or 7:30am – 3:30pm or 8:00am – 4:00pm or 8:30 – 4:30pm or 9:00am – 5:00pm. Each shift requires 1 late day a week of 11:00am – 7:00pm or 12:00pm – 8:00pm or 1:00pm – 9:00pm;
Every weekend off with the exception of working one weekend day every six weeks with the corresponding Tuesday off; 30-minute unpaid lunch;
Unit A South

Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery