Community Outreach Specialist/Drug Checker - Chicago - South Loop

Family Guidance Centers, Inc. (FGC), a not-for-profit behavioral healthcare organization, treats and prevents substance use disorder, as well as an array of other related problems. Since 1969, FGC’s comprehensive programming has educated and guided individuals toward their full potential as productive members within their own families and our society. Family Guidance Centers, Inc seeks to support the behavioral health of individuals, families, and communities through our commitment to innovation, accountability, and compassionate care to facilitate positive, lasting change.

Candidates with personal lived experiences regarding substance use disorder and recovery preferred.

Essential Duties:

• Conduct outreach to people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness, and communities. Also, educate on overdose prevention and distribute overdose prevention supplies.
• Describe FGC programs, services, and eligibility requirements in layman’s terms to people struggling with opioid and alcohol addiction and those at risk of overdosing, as well as family members or friends of people struggling with addiction, informing and assisting them to gain immediate access to treatment.
• Develop and direct prospective referrals to FGC and other treatment providers, as appropriate and following patients’ needs and wishes.
• Conduct field-based spectrometer testing, including running samples on the FTIR, interpreting results in consultation with the manager and external experts, explaining results to the sample provider, and logging all data.
• Update the FGC Master Drug Checking data sheet at the end of each day.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (7:00a - 3:30p)

Start Date: ASAP

Work Location: 2630 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL

Starting Pay Rate: $20.00

Family Guidance Centers, Inc. is a Drug Free Environment (including THC and/or CBD).

DCFS clearance required.

Family Guidance Centers, Inc. is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity without regard for race, ethnicity , pregnancy, gender, protected veterans status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.

Education and/or Experience: High School Diploma or equivalent. Associate's degree preferred. Experience in behavioral health, community health outreach, substance use harm reduction, withdrawal management programs, medication-assisted treatment, and/or community relations required. Certification as a Recovery Support Specialist or education as a Community Health Worker preferred. Bilingual in Spanish and English preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Current driver’s license and vehicle insurance.

Benefits:

Family Guidance Centers Inc. offers opportunities for individuals with an interest in behavioral health. Our organization provides a comprehensive benefit package for full time employment that includes:

• Health Insurance
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance,
• EAP
• 401k pension plan
• Vacation, sick and personal days with paid holidays off are included in our paid time off compensation package