Familiar Neighbors Crisis Clinician

Work. Serve. Thrive. With the City of Durham

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Hiring Range: $30.54-$36.06 hr.

Hours:

Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. Full-time with benefits, 40 hours per week.

In 2022, the Durham Community Safety Department (DCSD) launched four 911 crisis response programs—collectively known as HEART (Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams). Please visit our website and dashboard, watch this CNN clip, listen to this NPR segment, or read this piece from The Assembly. In 2025, DCSD has added a new division focused on Stabilization Services. This expansion represents an exciting new phase in DCSD’s development—and a thrilling opportunity to pair alternative response programs with stabilization services that can better support Neighbors.

The Durham Community Safety Department (DCSD) exists to reduce harm, extend care, and increase stability for our neighbors facing crises. Established in 2021, DCSD advances community-centered approaches to public safety that offer alternatives to policing and the criminal legal system. As of July 2025, our department is organized into two direct service divisions: 911 Crisis Response and Stabilization.

Familiar Neighbors is a part of our Stabilization Services support for neighbors navigating housing insecurity, reentry after incarceration, behavioral health needs, and other complex life challenges—connecting them to resources and longer-term support. DCSD also leads Durham’s Continuum of Care (CoC) and coordinates local homeless services to prevent and end homelessness through collaboration, service alignment, and strategic investment.

Familiar Neighbors aims to connect to resources and build relationships with neighbors experiencing frequent emergency service, justice involvement, and/or serious mental illness.

• Complex Case Management:
  Proactively develop and implement care plans to address needs of individuals with high barrier needs (including working with those with Severe and Persistent Mental Illnesses and substance use); advocate for appropriate resources
• Community
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Work closely with HEART crisis response, PD, Justice Services, and Health Systems to creatively collaborate on behalf of neighbors who frequently utilize emergency services/are justice involved
• Partnership Meetings:
  Represent Durham Community Safety Department by actively participating in housing, medical, and emergency response case conferencing
• Documentation:
  Reviews and maintains accurate documentation in accordance with local, state and federal regulations and policy
• Collaborate closely with crisis response team members to assess needs, de-escalate situations, and provide therapeutic interventions
• Screen and evaluate individuals in crisis, develop care plans, and identify barriers to treatment
• Provide follow-up support to individuals and others affected, ensuring connection to appropriate services through warm handoffs or direct transport when necessary
• Maintain strong knowledge of DSM-5 criteria, particularly for substance use, severe mental illness (SMI/SPMI), and intellectual/developmental disabilities
• Build and maintain positive, cooperative relationships with clients, staff, community partners, and agencies
• Participate in supervision, case conferences, trainings, and professional development activities
• Contribute to departmental planning and culture, with a focus on effective crisis response
• Demonstrate resilience, self-care, and wellness practices essential to first responder roles
• Performs other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or related human services field
• Provisionally licensed or fully licensed professional within any of the following areas:
  • Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS)
  • Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)
  • Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Two years of experience related to assignment. PhD or PsyD will also be considered.
• A valid…