Community Support Specialist; Adult

Job Description

A Community Support Specialist helps individuals adapt to living in their communities by creating personalized plans that address their specific needs. They use evidence with other professionals to provide comprehensive mental health services. Their goal is to empower clients and their families to build strong foundations for long‑term wellbeing and independence. By connecting them with local resources and fostering a robust support network, they promote growth, stability, and resilience.

• Provide community‑based mental health services to children, adolescents, and/or adults including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and intervention implementation.
• Collaborate with clients, families, and other stakeholders to develop and implement individualized treatment plans that address the client's specific needs and goals.
• Utilize a strengths‑based approach that emphasizes empowerment, skill‑building, and resilience, incorporating evidence‑based practices such as Motivational Interviewing, Positive Reinforcement Techniques, Trauma‑Informed Strategies, and skills based in CBT and DBT approaches.
• Provide behavioral interventions, including motivational interviewing, operant conditioning, interpersonal and group dynamics, cognitive processing, and other evidence‑based interventions.
• Coordinate care with other service providers, including primary care physicians, psychiatrists, schools, and community organizations.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of client interactions, treatments, and progress, in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
• Participate in staff development activities, including training and education programs, to enhance knowledge and skills related to youth mental health services.
• Contribute to the organization's quality improvement initiatives, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Work collaboratively with other members of the team, including case managers, therapists, and support staff, to ensure effective coordination of care and support for clients.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including parents, teachers, counselors, and other professionals involved in the client's care.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor or as deemed necessary by the department.
• Preparing for and facilitating PSR group sessions as pertinent to client treatment plan goals.
• ACT/ACT TAY/IMPART Only:
  Knowledge of the basic elements of ACT, the theory behind the ACT model, the core processes that ACT teams follow, and the types of services that ACT team members provide.

• Knowledge of case management and rehabilitation methods, principles and techniques as they relate to mental health and/or substance use disorders.
• Knowledge of the problems encountered by persons with mental health and/or substance use disorders and how to access the various community resources available.
• Knowledge of the methods and modalities as well as the legal requirements and court procedures related to treating mental health and substance use disorders.
• Ability to problem solve and communicate ideas clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing to produce clear and concise reports.
• Ability to be self‑motivated to provide high‑level performance while meeting the complex needs of the clients and their families.
• Ability to multi‑task and coordinate services from a variety of community resources, while maintaining proper communications with all staff (e.g. admissions, process, and discharge plans).
• Ability to establish effective relationships with youth and their families via telephone and personal contacts.
• Ability to follow direction and accept supervision.

• An individual with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or other human services specialized field of study; or
• An individual with a Bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field and two years of related work experience; or
• Any four‑year combination of higher education and two years of related work experience, or
• An Associate’s of Applied Science in Behavioral Health Support will also fulfill educational requirements; or
• An…