Community Support Specialist

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* Job Description:

** A Community Support Specialist helps individuals adapt to living in their communities by creating personalized plans that address their specific needs. They use evidence-based techniques and collaborate with other professionals to provide comprehensive mental health services. Their goal is to empower clients and their families to build strong foundations for long-term wellbeing and independence. By connecting them with local resources and fostering a robust support network, they promote growth, stability, and resilience.
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* Essential Job Functions:

*** Provide community-based mental health services to children, adolescents, and/or adults including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and intervention implementation.
* Collaborate with clients, families, and other stakeholders to develop and implement individualized treatment plans that address the client's specific needs and goals.
* Utilize a strengths-based approach that emphasizes empowerment, skill-building, and resilience, incorporating evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing, Positive Reinforcement Techniques, Trauma-Informed Strategies, and skills based in CBT and DBT approaches.
* Provide behavioral interventions, including motivational interviewing, operant conditioning, interpersonal and group dynamics, cognitive processing, and other evidence-based interventions.
* Coordinate care with other service providers, including primary care physicians, psychiatrists, schools, and community organizations.
* Maintain accurate and timely records of client interactions, treatments, and progress, in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
* Participate in staff development activities, including training and education programs, to enhance knowledge and skills related to youth mental health services.
* Contribute to the organization's quality improvement initiatives, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
* Work collaboratively with other members of the team, including case managers, therapists, and support staff, to ensure effective coordination of care and support for clients.
* Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including parents, teachers, counselors, and other professionals involved in the client's care.
* Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor or as deemed necessary by the department.
* Preparing for and facilitating PSR group sessions as pertinent to client treatment plan goals.
* ACT/ACT TAY/IMPART Only:
Knowledge of the basic elements of ACT, the theory behind the ACT model, the core processes that ACT teams follow, and the types of services that ACT team members provide.
** Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
*** Knowledge of case management and rehabilitation methods, principles and techniques as they relate to mental health and/or substance use disorders.
* Knowledge of the problems encountered by persons with mental health and/or substance use disorders and how to access the various community resources available.
* Knowledge of the methods and modalities as well as the legal requirements and court procedures related to treating mental health and substance use disorders.
* Ability to problem solve and communicate ideas clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing to produce clear and concise reports.
* Ability to be self-motivated to provide high-level performance while meeting the complex needs of the clients and their families.
* Ability to multi-task and coordinate services from a variety of community resources, while maintaining proper communications with all staff (e.g. admissions, process, and discharge plans).
* Ability to establish effective relationships with youth and their families via telephone and personal contacts.
* Ability to follow direction and accept supervision.
** Experience and Education

Qualifications:

*** An individual with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or other human services specialized field of study; or
* An individual with a Bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field and two years of related work experience; or
* Any four-year combination of higher education and two years of related work experience, or
* An…