Community Support Specialist, Justice Involve

Community Support Specialist - Justice-Impacted

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 to join our Justice-Impacted services team!

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 neighboring communities. We provide high-quality, community-based mental health and substance use services through a person-centered, recovery-oriented approach.

Every staff member contributes to improving lives-and we support our team so they can support our community.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Collaborative, mission-driven work culture
• Every other Friday off - paid wellness days
• Competitive salaries aligned with state and national benchmarks
• Loan forgiveness eligibility through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
• Strong emphasis on staff well-being and professional development

Overview: Community Support Specialist - Justice-Involved

This position provides intensive, recovery-oriented, community-based outreach and rehabilitation services for adults with mental health and/or co-occurring disorders who have recurring involvement with the criminal justice system.

The primary goals are to:

• Engage individuals in treatment
• Reduce avoidable law enforcement and emergency contacts
• Support stability and reintegration into the community
• Prevent repeated arrest, detention, or crisis service use

The Community Support Specialist works closely with the Decatur Police Department and other justice system partners to identify individuals at risk of recurring justice involvement due to unmet behavioral health needs. Services are delivered in community settings-homes, shelters, encampments, hospitals, and police-involved contacts-with a focus on proactive outreach, early intervention, and relationship-based engagement.

This role also incorporates Contingency Management, using structured positive reinforcement to enhance motivation and support treatment engagement and recovery milestones.

Your Role: Community Support Specialist - Justice-Impacted

As a Community Support Specialist, you will provide community-based case management, skill-building, and recovery support to adults impacted by the justice system. You will engage individuals who may have low motivation for treatment, inconsistent service utilization, or complex behavioral health needs, and support them in stabilizing and remaining safely in the community.

Core Responsibilities Include

Justice-Focused Engagement & Outreach

• Provide community-based case management and outreach to individuals with recurring justice involvement.
• Collaborate daily with the Decatur Police Department and other justice partners to co-respond, conduct follow-ups, and engage individuals referred for behavioral health concerns.
• Support reintegration efforts for individuals returning to the community after arrest, detention, or hospitalization.
• Promote alternatives to incarceration and advocate for diversion opportunities where appropriate.

Contingency Management

• Implement structured Contingency Management strategies to reinforce treatment adherence, attendance, sobriety milestones, and other recovery-focused behaviors.
• Support individuals in sustaining progress through consistent positive reinforcement.

Client Support & Case Management

• Conduct comprehensive needs assessments and develop individualized recovery plans.
• Assist with symptom management, treatment engagement, and development of coping strategies.
• Help clients access and maintain public benefits (Medicaid, SNAP, SSI/SSDI).
• Support ongoing engagement post-crisis or post-police contact to reduce recidivism.

Skill Building & Recovery Support

• Provide coaching in daily living skills (housing retention, routines, budgeting, wellness practices).
• Teach and reinforce coping skills to manage mental health, substance use, and stressors.
• Support development of positive social supports and natural community connections.

Linkage & Coordination of Services

• Provide medication monitoring and education.
• Link individuals to behavioral health services, primary and specialty medical care, housing supports, and community resources.
• Participate in collaborative case staffing with justice partners, healthcare providers, and Heritage teams.
• Assist individuals with transportation coordination and improving transportation independence.

Documentation & Collaboration

• Maintain accurate, timely documentation in the electronic health record.
• Collaborate with police, probation, courts, crisis teams, shelters, and hospital staff to ensure coordinated care.
• Uphold trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and person-centered practices at all times.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

• Understanding of mental health and substance use disorders
• Knowledge of community resources and service systems
• Case management principles and recovery-oriented care
• Awareness of healthcare, psychiatric, substance use, and social service systems
• Familiarity with DSM-5 and behavioral health terminology

Skills

• Ability to build rapport quickly-especially with individuals in crisis or distrustful of systems
• Strong communication, engagement, and motivational skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Competency with electronic health records and documentation
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and crisis navigation skills

Abilities

• Adapt to ambiguity, crisis situations, and rapidly changing community needs
• Collaborate effectively with justice partners and clinical supervisors
• Respond professionally and promptly to client and team needs
• Engage clients using a non-judgmental, trauma-informed, person-centered approach

Qualifications

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

Heritage Also Offers

• Generous vacation, sick, personal leave, and paid holidays
• Every other Friday off (paid wellness day)
• Fitness reimbursement & Employee Assistance Program
• Optional health, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, and supplemental life insurance
• Agency-provided life insurance and short-term disability
• Retirement options: 401(k) and Roth
• Tuition assistance & continuing education opportunities
• Loan forgiveness eligibility through NHSC

Ready to make a difference?

Join a team that believes in second chances, community healing, and your professional growth.

Apply today!