Job Description:

School Based Support Specialist

Job Title: School Based Support Specialist
Location: School Based IN
Department: School-Based Services
Employment Type: [Full-Time/Part-Time]
Shift: Primarily During School Operating Hours

Job Summary

Are you passionate about helping youth overcome challenges and reach their full potential in school, at home, and within their communities? Join our team as a School Based Support Specialist and make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and adolescents through individualized behavioral health support.

In this role, you will provide intensive outpatient case management and behavioral health interventions to youth in school-based settings. You will work closely with students, families, school personnel, and community providers to support emotional wellness, develop coping strategies, strengthen daily living skills, and promote academic and personal success.

Services are primarily delivered on school premises during school operating hours, with additional support provided through home visits and community-based services as needed. You will collaborate with treatment teams to implement individualized treatment goals, coordinate services, and promote recovery, resilience, and overall well-being.

The ideal candidate is compassionate, adaptable, and committed to working with youth and families. Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills are essential to supporting students and helping them achieve their individualized goals.

Position Perks & Benefits

• 29 Days of PTO
• Eligibility for HRSA Loan Repayment (eligibility requirements apply)
• Employee benefits package, including health, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, and more
• Competitive 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan – up to 5% match for Part-Time and Full-Time employees
• Company-paid basic life insurance
• Emergency Medical Leave Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts – healthcare and dependent child-care
• Health & Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee Discount Program
• Mileage Reimbursement

Key Responsibilities

• Provide Behavioral Health Interventions: Deliver individualized behavioral health interventions in school-based settings that align with established treatment plans and client-specific goals.
• Promote Social-Emotional Development: Help students develop coping strategies, improve social-emotional functioning, strengthen interpersonal relationships, and build essential daily living skills.
• Coordinate Care and Services: Collaborate with schools, families, community partners, internal departments, and external service providers to coordinate care and support continuity of services.
• Manage Assigned Caseload: Maintain an assigned caseload while ensuring services are timely, effective, individualized, and person-centered.
• Maintain Clinical Documentation: Complete required documentation accurately and within established time frames, ensuring services align with treatment plans, agency standards, and applicable contractual requirements.
• Provide Crisis Intervention and Follow-Up: Respond appropriately to crisis situations, provide necessary follow-up support, and conduct outreach when students miss scheduled appointments or services.
• Conduct Home Visits and Community Outreach: Engage youth and families through home visits and community-based outreach as needed to strengthen participation and support treatment goals.
• Support Quality Assurance and Compliance: Participate in quality assurance activities, data collection, and program monitoring to ensure compliance with agency protocols and contractual requirements.
• Participate in Professional Development: Actively participate in staff development opportunities, supervision, performance evaluations, and other professional growth activities.
• Adapt to Changing Client Needs: Adjust interventions and service approaches based on evolving student needs while maintaining flexibility, collaboration, and alignment with program objectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned by leadership.

Education and/or Experience Qualifications

Candidates must meet at least one (1) of the following education and experience pathways:

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Behavioral Health, or a related Human Services field.
• Bachelor's degree in an unrelated field with two (2) years of related behavioral health experience.
• Any combination of four (4) years of higher education and two (2) years of qualifying experience.
• Associate's degree in Applied Science in Behavioral Health Support.
• Four (4) years of full-time qualifying experience in the field.

Qualifying Experience Includes:

• Providing individual or group-based services focused on recovery and resilience.
• Teaching and reinforcing coping skills and other strategies that promote emotional and behavioral wellness.
• Supporting individuals in improving school, community, or employment functioning.
• Implementing individualized treatment plan objectives and supporting progress toward established goals.

Required License/Certification

• No specific professional license or certification is identified as a universal requirement in the general qualifications.
• Additional professional credentials or qualifications may be required for positions serving Illinois clients, as outlined below.

Additional Qualifications

• Knowledge of case management, rehabilitation methods, and treatment planning related to mental health and/or substance use services.
• Understanding of challenges experienced by individuals with behavioral health conditions and familiarity with available community-based resources.
• Knowledge of ethical, legal, and procedural standards applicable to behavioral health services.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with youth, families, school personnel, and community providers.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to complete accurate documentation and effectively use verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to prioritize responsibilities and coordinate services across multiple agencies.
• Proficiency with electronic health record systems and common office software.
• Demonstrated initiative and commitment to providing high-quality, person-centered care.
• Ability to respond appropriately to crisis situations while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Ability to work independently while remaining accountable to supervision, agency expectations, and established program standards.
• Flexibility and adaptability when responding to changing client needs and program priorities.

Qualifying Professional Credentials and Experience May Include:

• Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CADC).
• Mental Health Professional (MHP), meeting at least one of the following qualifications:Bachelor's degree in a qualifying human services field, such as Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or Education.Bachelor's degree in any field with two (2) years of supervised clinical experience in a mental health setting.Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) under the Illinois Nurse Practice Act.Certificate in Psychiatric Rehabilitation, two (2) years of mental health experience, and a high school diploma or GED.Certified Recovery Support Specialist or Family Partnership Professional through IAODAPCA.Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant with one (1) year of behavioral health experience.High school diploma or GED with five (5) years of supervised clinical experience in behavioral health and demonstrated relevant training.

Supervisory Requirements

• Not applicable.

Employment Requirements

• Background and Onboarding Requirements:Successful completion of required background checks, including criminal history, driving record, abuse and neglect registry, and fingerprint checks.Completion of New Hire Orientation at the beginning of employment.Completion of all required training, including Relias training, at the beginning of employment and annually thereafter.
• Transportation Requirements:Maintain a valid driver's license, acceptable driving record, and current automobile insurance.Ability and willingness to travel between school-based locations, homes, and community settings as required by program needs.
• Program and Compliance Requirements:Maintain knowledge of applicable agency policies, procedures, and program requirements.Complete all required documentation and training within established time frames.Comply with applicable state regulatory, accreditation, and contractual requirements.Illinois-based positions must meet applicable Illinois-specific professional qualifications and training requirements.

Physical Requirements

ADA Consideration – Sedentary Work:

This position primarily involves sedentary work, requiring the ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (up to one-third of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (one-third to two-thirds of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.

The role requires repetitive hand, finger, and arm movements for typing and writing throughout the workday. Employees will primarily sit but may occasionally need to stand or walk for brief periods.

Position Perks & Benefits:

Paid time off: full-time employees receive an attractive time off package to balance your work and personal life

Employee benefits package: full-time employees receive health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more

Top-notch training: initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive

Career mobility: advancement opportunities/promoting from within

Welcoming, warm, supportive: a work culture & environment that promotes your well-being, values you as human being, and encourages your health and happiness

Brightli is on a Mission:

A mission to improve client care, reduce the financial burden of community mental health centers by sharing resources, a mission to have a larger voice in advocacy to increase access to mental health and substance user care in our communities, and a mission to evolve the behavioral health industry to better meet the needs of our clients.

As a behavioral and community mental health provider, we prioritize fostering a culture of belonging and connection within our workforce. We encourage applications from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences, as we believe that a rich tapestry of perspectives strengthens our mission. If you are passionate about empowering local communities and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization dedicated to cultivating an authentic workplace.

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Adult & Child Health is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.