MPI Community Behavioral Health Specialist

About the role

Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. As part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, the agency has been the engine of change since 1857, helping families reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. As Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency, MFS serves over 136,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness and empowerment.

Responsibilities

• Identify, deescalate, and mediate tense situations related to mental health concerns.
• Build trust with diverse individuals and groups.
• Provide follow‑up support after a crisis to promote stabilization and healing.
• Engage effectively with community members, local businesses, and high‑risk individuals while maintaining professionalism and utilizing trauma‑informed approaches.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of incidents, interventions, and referrals while respecting confidentiality and adhering to professional standards.
• Perform comprehensive, in‑depth assessments for a variety of clinical services, including psycho‑social assessments and intake as assigned.
• Provide a full range of case management, counseling, advocacy, educational, and related services to Community Safety and Transit Operations.
• Lead the coordination of behavioral health services within the community and transit systems by reviewing complex cases, supporting high‑risk crisis responses, ensuring compliance with clinical, ethical, and organizational standards, and implementing strategies to enhance service effectiveness and team performance.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships with community stakeholders, behavioral health systems, hospitals, public safety agencies, and leadership to support program expansion, improve continuity of care, and advance collaborative crisis response initiatives.
• Collaborate with CPRU team members to identify, de‑escalate, and mediate high‑tension situations related to mental health concerns; build trust; and provide post‑crisis follow‑up support.
• Provide support for MPA, provide trainings and facilitation.
• Identify and utilize agency and community resources; assess community conditions affecting clients to identify resource gaps and problems.
• Join or develop groups and coalitions to address community needs; recommend financial assistance for clients.
• Provide group services as indicated by program need.
• Responsible for meeting contractual requirements such as 24‑hour crisis coverage.
• Represent and interpret agency programs in the community.
• Support and attend “Light in the Night” events.
• May serve on regional or agency‑wide committees; may provide clinical guidance and shadowing opportunities for students.
• Attend regular meetings (team, case consultations, individual supervision).
• Provide ongoing support, trainings, facilitation, and curriculum development.
• Establish referral network/linkages with outside agencies for participants and their families.
• Take a proactive role in the development of social work services and programming that supports trauma‑informed care.
• Meet agency expectation for quantity of direct service; comply with agency record‑keeping expectations.
• Work effectively with diverse staff and service population; be flexible to travel to different neighborhoods of the city.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university (required).
• Two years of related post‑Masters experience at an intermediate skill level (required).
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or related license (required).
• Must be available to work the fixed overnight schedule of 7:00 PM–2:30 AM and be comfortable riding trains and working on train platforms and at CTA stations.
• Ability to maintain assigned community and home‑based services.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
• Mobility to work with a community‑based caseload.

Skills

• Bilingual Spanish preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Trauma‑informed practice knowledge.
• Crisis intervention and de‑escalation techniques.
• Case management and documentation proficiency.
• Ability to collaborate with