Knowledge of: the nature of serious mental illness in adults and mental illness with substance use; treatment modalities and intervention techniques, such as behavior management, independent living skills training, supportive counseling, family education, crisis intervention, discharge planning and services coordination; medical issues related to mental illness; substance abuse symptomatology; medications - side effects; different types of assessments, planning; consumers' rights; local community resources and service delivery systems, including support services (e.g., housing, financial, social welfare, dental, transportation, communication, recreation, legal/advocacy), eligibility criteria and intake processes, termination criteria and intake processes, and general community resources (e.g., churches, clubs, self-help groups); types of mental health programs, services; effective oral, written and interpersonal communication principles and techniques; general principles of record documentation; the service planning process and major components of a service plan. Skills in: interviewing; observing, recording and reporting on an individual's functioning (observation of medication effects, i.e., alcohol and abuse); identifying and documenting a consumer's needs for resources, services and other support; using information from assessments, evaluations, observations and interviews to develop service plans; identifying services within the community and established service system to meet the individual's needs; formulating, writing and implementing individualized service plans to promote goal attainment for seriously mentally ill and emotionally disturbed persons; negotiating with consumers and service providers; coordinating the provision of services by diverse public and private providers; identifying community resources and organizations; coordinating resources and activities; using assessment tools (e.g., level of functional scale, life profile scale); non-punitive behavior; providing consultation.