Job Description

$22.89 - 26.32 /Hr.
Location: Rogers Park, Chicago IL 60626
Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

The Front Door Diversion is an Illinois State grant funded program designed to ‘divert’ individuals back to the community from an inpatient psychiatric or other institutional setting in lieu of a nursing home placement. The program offers an array of services with the diverting agency such as community mental health supports through an integrated healthcare model and long-term housing supports through transitional programs or subsidy services.

The Diversion Specialist is responsible for providing case management supports and linkage to long-term services and housing to clients eligible for the Front Door Diversion program. They will determine eligibility for programming through completion of intakes and assessments, provide treatment planning, and short-term, solution-focused case management and linkage to long-term housing to adults with mental illness. The Diversion Specialist will provide client-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed services to clients with severe mental illnesses and co-occurring substance abuse/addiction disorders utilizing a harm reduction approach.

Responsibilities

• Assess client’s personal, medical, emotional, social, and environmental situation through home, community, and office visits.
• Screen Front Door referrals and determine eligibility for services and participation in the program
• Provide intake, assessments, and treatment planning services.
• Recognize and act on opportunities to move clients to appropriate levels of care.
• Provide care coordination that supports an integrated health model and make referrals to additional services as needed.
• Assist clients in identifying signs and symptoms of de-compensation. Work collaboratively with clients to identify coping skills to assist in managing symptoms and stressors experienced.
• Provide medication monitoring services and education around the use and care of medications.
• Assist clients in learning and improving independent living skills; i.e. personal hygiene, housekeeping skills, nutrition, and shopping for food and personal items
• Educate and assist clients with applying for entitlements; i.e. Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and LINK
• Accompany clients to important appointments in the community and provide support with issues related to housing, substance use, budgeting, social support, and medication.
• Advocate on client’s behalf and empower clients to advocate on behalf of themselves when appropriate
• Provide on-call coverage and immediate crisis intervention as needed
• Communicate effectively with the team for purposes of consultation and information sharing
• Complete all documentation in a timely and thorough manner
• Perform other related duties and/or projects as assigned
  
  

Qualifications

• Must have one of the following requirements:  
  • Bachelor's degree in counseling and guidance, rehabilitation counseling, social work, education, vocational counseling, psychology, pastoral counseling, family therapy, or related human service field 
  • Bachelor's degree in any other field with two years of supervised clinical experience in a mental health setting 
  • Licensed Practical Nurse under the Nurse Practice Act [225 ILCS 65] 
  • Certificate of Psychiatric Rehabilitation from a DHS-approved program, a high school diploma/GED, and two years’ experience of experience in a mental health setting 
  • CRSS certification through IAODAPCA 
  • Family Partnership Professional certificate from and in good standing with IAODAPCA 
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant licensed under the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act [225 ILCS 75] with one-year experience in a mental health setting; 
  • High school diploma or GED and five years of supervised clinical experience in a mental health setting 
• Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, or Counseling highly preferred
• Minimum one year of experience working with people with mental health and/or substance abuse diagnoses
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) preferred
• IM+CANS certification preferred
• Valid Illinois driver’s license with daily access to a well-maintained vehicle with $100,000/$300,000 liability insurance

BENEFITS

• FREE Virtual Primary Care, Urgent Care, and Mental Health Counseling for ALL Employees
• PAID Maternity/Paternity leave
• Medical Insurance (BCBS of IL)
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term & Short-Term Disability
• Pet Insurance
• FSA (Health, Dependent Care, Transit)
• Telemedicine
• EAP
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with Employer Match