Engagement Specialist, St. Clair County Resource Center

About the Center: The Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center of St. Clair County is located in East St. Louis, IL. The Center has been in operation since 1957 serving the needs of children, adolescents, and adults.

Our mission is to provide quality individualized essential services for people in need of emotional, rehabilitative and social support. We strive to be the top-ranking Community Behavioral Health Center within its size, population and category in the State of Illinois.

This is an opportunity to work in a new program which will begin operation in December, 2025. Currently, unhoused riders of MetroLink trains and Metro Bus have no place to go when the trains stop running each night after midnight. The unhoused riders often end up involved with police, ambulance, and hospital emergency rooms and sometimes engage them to such an extent that these community resources become fully occupied and unavailable to respond to other emergencies.

The St. Clair County Resource Center will assist unhoused riders in having a place to go when the trains stop running each night and also in addressing the long-term needs of these riders in areas to include mental illness, substance use disorder, and housing. The Resource Center will be open from 12:00 AM midnight until 10:00 AM daily, 365 days per year.

Description: The Engagement Specialist (ES) plays a critical frontline role in the guest experience. Using empathy, lived experience, and trauma-informed practices, the ES helps establish a calm, recovery-oriented atmosphere. The ES builds rapport with guests, supports initial engagement efforts, and helps link individuals to services within CBHC and partner networks. The ES collaborates with Case Managers, provides emotional support, participates in screenings, and helps ensure guests’ basic and psychosocial needs are met.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles and recovery-oriented practices.
• Strong communication skills, including active listening, empathy, and clear written documentation.
• Ability to build trust and maintain professional boundaries with individuals in crisis.
• Skill in working with diverse populations in both structured and unstructured settings.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, electronic documentation, and data reporting systems.
• Capacity to work collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and respond effectively to emotional or behavioral escalation.
• Willingness to work variable hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Duties:

• Warm Welcome: Provide immediate nonjudgmental, trauma-informed reception for all guests entering the St. Clair County Resource Center.
• Emotional Support & Peer Engagement: Use lived experience to foster a sense of connection, build rapport and reduce isolation/distress.
• Crisis De-escalation: Engage in supportive dialogue and utilize de-escalation strategies during emotional or behavioral crises.
• Risk Screening Participation: Support Case Managers during suicide/homicide screenings and related safety interventions.
• Basic Needs Assistance: Offer guests access to food, hygiene, clothing, and comfort items as needed.
• Service Linkage Support: Assist in connecting guests with internal CBHC programs and community partners.
• Safe Environment Maintenance: Promote and help maintain a physically and emotionally safe space for all guests and staff.
• Documentation & Data Collection: Assist in accurately recording interactions, services provided or referred, and incident report documentation.
• Policy and Procedure: Maintain compliance with all Standard Operating Requirements and Procedures as defined in the St. Clair County Resource Center Program Handbook.
• Compliance: Maintain compliance with Joint Commission and other regulatory agency requirements.
• Team Collaboration: Proactively communicate and actively participate in team meetings, training, and continuous quality improvement efforts.

Reports to: Program Manager, St. Clair County Resource Center

Requirements:

• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED is required.
• Lived experience with recovery from mental health or substance use difficulties.
• Must achieve Certified Recovery Support Specialist Credential (CRSS) within one year of hire.
• Must maintain CPR & CPI Certifications.
• Must maintain a clean driving record and automobile insurance.

Hours: Two full-time positions are available, 40 hours per week. One part-time position is available, 20 hours per week. Hours are from 11:00 PM to 11:00 AM, 365 days per year

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $18.45 per hour

Expected hours: 20 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18