What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Crisis, Access and Care Coordination position at FRIEND HEALTH?
Job Summary
The Director of Crisis, Access and Care Coordination provides strategic and operational leadership for HRDI’s crisis response and behavioral health access programs, including Mobile Crisis Response services (Programs 590–591) and the behavioral health team supporting the Jackson Park Hospital–based Mental Health Clinic (MHC).
This role is responsible for strengthening systems that ensure timely crisis response, coordinated access to care, and integration of behavioral health services across community and healthcare partners. The Director oversees crisis services operations, hospital-based mental health support teams, and care coordination initiatives that improve service delivery, client engagement, and continuity of care.
The Director works closely with clinical leadership, program managers, hospital partners, and community organizations to ensure behavioral health services are delivered effectively, compassionately, and in compliance with regulatory standards.
Job Duties
Program Leadership & Operations
Salary: $100,000
There is an occupational risk for exposure to TB, as this position involves extensive community and patient contact. Employees in this role are required to comply with annual TB testing as part of workplace health and safety protocols. The only acceptable exceptions to this requirement are documented medical contraindications or religious objections. Employees who decline TB testing will be required to wear a mask when deemed necessary.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement
Friend Health – HRDI is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, marital or parental status, sexual orientation including gender identity, gender expression, military discharge status, physical or mental disability, or any other status or characteristic protected by law. In addition, Friend Health – HRDI provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws (including during the application or hiring process). Friend Health - HRDI supports the Pay Transparency Law as an equal opportunity employer.
Join Our Team!
At HRDI, we are committed to strengthening communities and improving access to behavioral health care. As the Behavioral Health Director of Access, Care Coordination, and Community Integration, you will play a key role in shaping crisis response services, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring individuals experiencing behavioral health crises receive timely, coordinated, and compassionate care.
If you are a mission-driven leader passionate about improving behavioral health systems and community impact, we invite you to join our team.
The Director of Crisis, Access and Care Coordination provides strategic and operational leadership for HRDI’s crisis response and behavioral health access programs, including Mobile Crisis Response services (Programs 590–591) and the behavioral health team supporting the Jackson Park Hospital–based Mental Health Clinic (MHC).
This role is responsible for strengthening systems that ensure timely crisis response, coordinated access to care, and integration of behavioral health services across community and healthcare partners. The Director oversees crisis services operations, hospital-based mental health support teams, and care coordination initiatives that improve service delivery, client engagement, and continuity of care.
The Director works closely with clinical leadership, program managers, hospital partners, and community organizations to ensure behavioral health services are delivered effectively, compassionately, and in compliance with regulatory standards.
Job Duties
Program Leadership & Operations
- Provide strategic oversight of HRDI’s Mobile Crisis Response Programs (590–591) to ensure effective crisis intervention and service coordination.
- Provide operational oversight for the behavioral health team supporting the Jackson Park Hospital–based Mental Health Clinic (MHC).
- Supervise and support key staff including the Crisis Clinical Supervisor, Psychiatric Assessment Specialists (PAS), and administrative support staff.
- Ensure programs operate efficiently while meeting service, regulatory, and quality standards.
- Strengthen systems that ensure rapid behavioral health crisis response and access to services.
- Develop operational processes that support timely assessments, referrals, and coordination of care.
- Support crisis intervention services that connect individuals in crisis to appropriate levels of care and ongoing services.
- Lead initiatives that improve care coordination across HRDI behavioral health programs, hospital partners, and community providers.
- Develop processes that ensure individuals receiving crisis intervention services are successfully connected to follow-up behavioral health care.
- Promote integrated service delivery between crisis response teams, hospital-based programs, and community mental health services.
- Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with hospitals, community-based organizations, law enforcement, and social service agencies.
- Represent HRDI in community partnerships and system-level initiatives focused on behavioral health crisis response and access to care.
- Identify opportunities to expand partnerships that improve community-based behavioral health services and crisis intervention resources.
- Provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to crisis and behavioral health program staff.
- Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Support staff development, coaching, and performance management.
- Monitor program performance indicators including crisis response times, service utilization, and care coordination outcomes.
- Lead quality improvement initiatives that strengthen program effectiveness and client outcomes.
- Ensure accurate reporting and documentation in accordance with regulatory and organizational requirements.
- Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Public Health, or a related behavioral health field.
- Active Illinois clinical licensure preferred (LCSW, LCPC, LMFT, or Licensed Psychologist).
- Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in behavioral health, crisis services, community mental health, or related programs.
- Experience overseeing crisis response services, care coordination, or hospital-based behavioral health services preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to develop partnerships across healthcare systems and community organizations.
- Strong leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills.
- Improve Mobile Crisis Response performance by reducing average response times by 15% within 12 months through operational improvements and staffing coordination.
- Develop and implement standardized care coordination protocols across crisis and hospital-based behavioral health services within 6 months to improve continuity of care.
- Establish at least five new strategic community partnerships within the first year to expand referral networks and access to behavioral health services.
- Implement a quarterly program performance review process to evaluate crisis response outcomes, client follow-up rates, and service utilization trends.
- Increase successful linkage of crisis clients to ongoing behavioral health treatment by 20% within the first year through improved referral and follow-up practices.
- Primarily administrative leadership role with operational oversight of crisis response and hospital-based behavioral health services.
- Occasional travel between program sites and community partner locations may be required.
- Participation in meetings with hospital partners, community stakeholders, and internal leadership teams.
Salary: $100,000
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- 403(b) Retirement Plan with Employer Contributions
- Paid Time Off (PTO) & Paid Holidays
- Life Insurance & Disability Coverage
- Tuition Reimbursement & Professional Development Opportunities
- Wellness Programs & Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
There is an occupational risk for exposure to TB, as this position involves extensive community and patient contact. Employees in this role are required to comply with annual TB testing as part of workplace health and safety protocols. The only acceptable exceptions to this requirement are documented medical contraindications or religious objections. Employees who decline TB testing will be required to wear a mask when deemed necessary.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement
Friend Health – HRDI is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, marital or parental status, sexual orientation including gender identity, gender expression, military discharge status, physical or mental disability, or any other status or characteristic protected by law. In addition, Friend Health – HRDI provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws (including during the application or hiring process). Friend Health - HRDI supports the Pay Transparency Law as an equal opportunity employer.
Join Our Team!
At HRDI, we are committed to strengthening communities and improving access to behavioral health care. As the Behavioral Health Director of Access, Care Coordination, and Community Integration, you will play a key role in shaping crisis response services, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring individuals experiencing behavioral health crises receive timely, coordinated, and compassionate care.
If you are a mission-driven leader passionate about improving behavioral health systems and community impact, we invite you to join our team.
Salary : $100,000