VP-CST Community Behavioral Health Specialist — Apply Here

About the role

Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) is seeking a Community Behavioral Health Specialist to join our team at Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA) office. MFS empowers families to learn, earn, heal, and thrive through a variety of services.

Responsibilities

• Performs comprehensive, in-depth psycho-social assessments and intakes to determine client needs.
• Provides a full range of case management, counseling, advocacy, and educational services to VP-CST participants.
• Identifies and utilizes internal agency and external community resources to meet client needs.
• Affirms broader community conditions impacting clients to identify systemic issues and resource gaps.
• Provides group-based services as indicated by program needs.
• May be responsible for meeting contractual obligations such as 24-hour crisis coverage.
• Represents and interprets agency programs to the community, fostering collaboration and partnership.
• Serves and attends community events, including initiatives to increase safety and community cohesion.
• Serves on regional or agency-wide committees to advance program or agency goals.
• Establishes and maintains a strong referral network with outside agencies to ensure continuity of care for participants and their families.
• Takes a proactive role in the development and enhancement of services and programming that integrate trauma-informed care principles.
• Maintains agency expectations for quantity and quality of direct service delivery.
• Completes all required agency documentation and record-keeping in a timely and accurate manner.
• Works effectively and respectfully with a diverse staff and participant population.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related field from an accredited college or university required.
• 2 + years of related post-Master’s experience at an intermediate skill level, required.
• Current Illinois LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) or LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) required.
• Must become IM+CANS certified within 3 months of hire and maintain re-certification annually required.
• Ability to maintain mobility and manage a community-based caseload, including school visits required.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual in English/Spanish or another language prevalent in the service community preferred.
• Prior experience working within a community violence prevention, trauma recovery, or outreach model preferred.
• Familiarity with Medicaid documentation and performance-based contracting requirements preferred.
• Additional certification or training in trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, or harm reduction approaches preferred.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care principles, behavioral interventions, and violence dynamics in urban communities preferred.
• Experience providing drug and alcohol screening, assessment, linkage, and integrating substance use interventions for dually diagnosed clients, or willingness to be trained in these areas preferred.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to engage individuals and families who may initially be reluctant to participate preferred.
• Knowledge of, commitment to, and passion for serving adults and families living in Chicago communities experiencing concentrated socioeconomic disadvantage and high rates of community violence preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with outreach teams, hospitals, justice system partners, and community stakeholders to support participants preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of clinical assessment, case management, and evidence-informed behavioral health interventions.
• Strong understanding of trauma and its impact on individuals and communities.
• Skill in developing trusting, respectful relationships with participants and collaborating professionals.
• Ability to maintain consistent community- and school-based services, often in partnership with outreach staff and other community providers.
• Effective problem-solving, advocacy, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines, manage time effectively, and maintain accurate records.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Comfort with diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and lifestyle backgrounds.

Additional Requirements

• Satisfactorily pass all relevant screenings and criminal background checks.
• Driving for work required with a personally owned vehicle. Travel between sites required.
• Physical demands include sitting and standing for sustained periods of time, frequent talking, hearing, using hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally standing, bending, stretching, stooping, kneeling, and crouching.
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and viewing a computer terminal.

Benefits

Metropolitan Family Services offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, HSA accounts, free General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services, and a 401K plan with a 4% employer match.