Community Support Specialist - Housing First

Community Support Specialist - Mental Health Services - Macon County, Illinois

Salary:

• High School or GED + 5 years' experience: $23.00/hour + every other Friday paid off
• Bachelor's Degree: $25.00/hour + every other Friday paid off
• Salary is based on education, experience, and licensure or certification

Schedule: Full-Time | Every other Friday off (paid wellness day) | Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm

Looking for a career where your work truly matters? Heritage Behavioral Health Center is hiring passionate professionals!

About Heritage Behavioral Health Center

We are a mission-driven Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) located in Decatur, Illinois, serving individuals across Macon County and surrounding communities. Our staff make a real impact every day-and every role contributes to the wellness of the individuals we serve.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Collaborative, mission-driven work environment
• Every other Friday off - paid wellness days
• Competitive salaries aligned with state and national benchmarks
• Loan forgiveness eligibility through NHSC

At Heritage, we believe in taking care of our staff so they can take care of our community. Our people are our greatest asset.

Your Role: Community Support Specialist

As a Community Support Specialist in Macon County, you will provide skill-building, case management, and community-based mental health services to adults with mental health or co-occurring needs. This role is deeply relational and highly meaningful-you'll help individuals build independence, navigate systems, improve emotional wellness, and remain stable in the community.

Core Responsibilities Include:

Client Support & Case Management

• Provide case management, community support services, and manage an individual caseload.
• Engage clients via telephone and face-to-face contact, with most services delivered in community settings.
• Complete comprehensive needs assessments addressing mental health, substance use, medical, dental, vision, benefits, housing, education, employment, transportation, and other qualityoflife factors.
• Assist individuals with applying for, obtaining, and maintaining resources such as medical coverage, SNAP, and SSI/SSDI.
• Document all services and tracking in a timely and accurate manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned or negotiated with the supervisor.

Skill Building & Recovery Support

• Teach and practice coping skills to manage mental health, substance use, and health-related symptoms.
• Support skill-building for independent living including meal preparation, housekeeping, budgeting, time management, and other daily living activities.
• Provide coaching on life skills such as communication, personal care, and problemsolving.
• Develop and support engagement in positive social and wellness activities, including rebuilding natural supports and connecting with community-based resources.

Healthcare, Housing, and Benefits Coordination

• Provide a wide range of supports to assist individuals in obtaining and maintaining stable housing.
• Provide medication monitoring and training: teach clients how to self-administer medications, identify side effects, and communicate with prescribers.
• Actively coordinate referrals and linkages to healthcare including primary care, specialty care, dental, vision, mental health, and substance use services.
• Advocate for housing accommodations, benefits access, and treatment needs as appropriate.

Community-Based Engagement & Collaboration

• Assist clients with accessing transportation options and improving transportation independence.
• Participate in interdisciplinary teamwork with clinicians, nurses, healthcare providers, probation, DCFS, and other partners.
• Attend clinical staffings to collaborate on treatment planning and service coordination.
• Support crisis prevention, early intervention, and ongoing followup to maintain client stability.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

• Ability to work effectively with individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use concerns.
• Knowledge of community resources and/or the ability to locate and navigate them.
• Knowledge of case management techniques and principles.
• Awareness of healthcare systems including psychiatric, substance use, medical, and related services.

Skills

• Ability to meet people "where they are" using a non-judgmental, person-centered approach.
• Strong rapport-building, communication, and engagement skills.
• Ability to work independently while being an effective team player.
• Competency in navigating electronic health records and technology-based documentation tools.

Abilities

• Ability to adapt to ambiguity, uncertainty, and changing client needs.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with supervisors and other clinical staff.
• Ability to respond quickly and professionally to client needs, supervisors, and team members.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED + 5 years supervised mental health or social service experience
• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, education, or a human service field preferred
• Minimum 21 years of age
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and proof of auto insurance

Heritage Also Offers

• Generous Time Off: vacation, sick, personal, and holiday leave
• Wellness Benefits: every other Friday paid off, Employee Assistance Program, fitness reimbursement
• Insurance: health, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, and supplemental life insurance
• Retirement: 401(k) and Roth options
• Professional Growth: tuition assistance and continuing education opportunities
• Loan Forgiveness: eligible through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC)

Ready to make a difference?

Apply today and join a team that cares about your well-being as much as the individuals we serve!