Overview

Chestnut Health Systems is seeking three part-time Behavioral Health Outreach Specialists to work with the public transit systems in the St. Louis Metro Area (Missouri and Illinois) to identify and help riders who need primary and behavioral healthcare.

Chestnut is a leading provider of behavioral and primary health care services. Over four decades, Chestnut has grown to more than 700 committed, compassionate employees providing substance use, mental health and primary care treatment to patients in Central and Southern Illinois and Missouri. We provide fully integrated care for all of our patients by combining behavioral health care services with our community-based primary care health centers. Chestnut also conducts research and training throughout the U.S.

**Please note to be considered for a position you must attach a resume, complete the application, and answer all screening questions.

Responsibilities

Work on assigned MetroLink train or location, in either IL or MO, in collaboration with Transit District Ambassadors, Bi-State Security, applicable police departments and sheriff’s deputies to identify riders in need of behavioral and physical health services.
Use Recovery and Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) philosophies to work with riders and colleagues; including hope, respect, empowerment, health/wellness and spirituality/connectedness, and harm-reduction.
Engage riders in dialogue to learn their strengths, needs, preferences, cultural context, concerns and barriers; prompt conversations consistently to develop therapeutic alliances. Utilize incentives when a need arises that can be met.
Provide crisis intervention including crisis assessments and crisis counseling, when indicated.
Provide situational problem solving and skill development using an evidenced based approach such as Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) and Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), utilizing the available vehicle for a private space, to meet with individuals.
Screen riders for needed and desired services and resources.
Transport riders to available services, coordinate openings with Chestnut’s Central Access department and/or intake departments at other agencies/businesses, including mental health, substance use, primary care and other needed services. Ensure follow up appointments are scheduled and attended, as needed.
Transport and link riders to all needed and available resources, advocating for resource when needed.
Complete required data entry and paperwork in accordance with program and agency policies and procedures, including but not limited to opening requirements, screenings, assessments, wellness plans, progress notes and any other funder requirements: 100% of screenings, assessments and wellness plans to be completed prior to due dates,
progress notes and any other required data entry or paperwork submitted within forty-eight hours of the delivery of the service,
funder data gathering to occur daily and submitted at supervisor requested intervals, and
Incentive usage and receipt tracking to occur daily.

Promote positive interactions within Chestnut and with the community, especially with MetroLink riders, ambassadors, security and officers/deputies, in order to sustain a favorable program reputation.
Attend meetings and staffings, participate in program development activities and provide support and backup to other team members as necessary, including: Attend and ensure supporting documentation of required supervision.
Attend all mandatory Chestnut trainings, utilizing Relias when available.

Promote Chestnut’s culture of customer service excellence through the adherence to Chestnut’s behavioral standards for customer service.
Maintain and protect confidentiality of all organizational information gained in the course of performing job responsibilities including, but not limited to, financial and consumer information.
Provide other duties as assigned, required or specifically negotiated with supervisor.

Qualifications

Must have a high school diploma or equivalent, and five (5) years’ peer recovery, Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) policing, mental health, substance use or other social service experience;
Or a bachelor’s degree in a social service, criminal justice or related field or a total of five (5) years’ experience plus college;
Or a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS), Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) in good standing with the applicable state.
Preference for crisis intervention training.
Must have a valid driver’s license, private automobile insurance and be insurable.
Requires basic computer skills and experience to include MS Word, MS Excel, Outlook and an electronic medical record (EMR).
Satisfactory completion of Chestnut’s background checking process.

This part-time position includes eligibility for our retirement savings plan and employee assistance program.

***For additional information and inquiries text "Chestnut" to 97211

Chestnut welcomes applications from qualified individuals with recovery experience.

EOE – Minorities/Females/Vets/Disabled