CRSS - Intern in Chicago, Illinois at RINCON FAMILY SERVICES

Job Title: Intern – Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS)

Job Type: Internship

Job Location: Chicagoland Area

Salary Range: $17.05/hour (Stipend)

Rincon - Building Spaces, Restoring Communities- Who we are:

What began as a small clinic established by young community leaders on the West Side of Chicago in 1972 has grown into one of the largest providers of high-quality and culturally competent services focusing on counseling and crisis intervention services, substance use prevention and treatment, violence prevention, education, case management, community and family services. We are dedicated to rendering compassionate and effective programs to promote the quality of life by catalyzing to advocate, educate and empower individuals and their families.

Position Description – What the Role Entails:

• The CRSS Intern will gain supervised, hands-on experience providing recovery-oriented, person-centered peer support to individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges.
• Drawing appropriately on lived experience of recovery, the intern will promote hope, self-determination, wellness, and community connection while learning the role, ethics, and boundaries of a peer recovery support professional.
• Assignments will be matched to the internship site, individual learning goals, supervisor guidance, and permitted scope of practice. Interns do not provide independent clinical assessment, diagnosis, psychotherapy, or treatment decisions.
• This role will report to the Internship Coordinator.

Company Culture - Do Our Values Speak to You?

At Rincon, our commitment to mutual respect, inclusivity, and diversity is woven into the structure of all that we do. We value:

• Dedication- Embodying effective and transparent leadership and quality client care.
• Education – Preventative programming and clinical services based on industry standards, competence and outreach.
• Accountability – Consistent service delivery, measurable success, and sensible financial management.
• Advocacy – Empowerment, reduction of treatment stigma, and relationship building with partners.
• Compassion – Embracing culturally diverse communities and equality through sensitivity to individual needs.

With these values in mind, we promote a culture that fosters professional development and agency success. Many of our employees span an extended tenure, and we pride ourselves on developing dedicated and supported team members.

Areas of Accountability - What you will be doing:

• Peer Support & Recovery Engagement
• Build supportive, respectful relationships with participants through active listening, empathy, and mutuality.
• Share personal recovery experience purposefully and appropriately to encourage hope, choice, and self-advocacy.
• Assist participants in identifying strengths, recovery goals, wellness strategies, and natural supports under supervision.
• Resource Navigation & Community Connection
• Help participants explore community resources, recovery support, educational and employment opportunities, and other services relevant to their goals.
• Support participants with planning and practicing self-advocacy, appointments, and connections to services as appropriate.
• Assist with peer-led groups, wellness activities, outreach, or recovery education when assigned and supervised.
• Collaboration, Documentation & Professional Conduct
• Collaborate with peer specialists, counselors, case managers, and other team members while respecting the distinct peer support role.
• Complete required service documentation, internship records, and other records accurately and on time, consistent with site procedures.
• Protect confidentiality, obtain guidance when safety concerns arise, and follow agency policies, professional boundaries, and mandated reporting requirements as applicable.
• Professional Development & Supervision
• Participate in orientation, weekly supervision provided by Rincon Family Services, team meetings, reflective practice, and feedback.
• Develop competencies in recovery-oriented language, cultural humility, trauma-informed support, ethical decision-making, and person-centered engagement.
• Complete assigned learning activities and demonstrate progress toward CRSS internship competencies.
• All other duties as assigned within the supervised peer support internship role.

Rincon Rewards & Benefits- How we value you:

• Weekly supervision and mentorship in a community-based behavioral health setting.
• Opportunities to apply peer support skills through meaningful, supervised practice.
• Exposure to multidisciplinary services, community resources, and professional development.
• Opportunities to strengthen skills relevant to future CRSS employment.

Rincon’s Work Environment – What to expect:

• CRSS Interns may be placed in behavioral health, substance use, recovery support, or community-based settings, depending on program needs and approved placement opportunities. Work may include direct participant interaction, group activities, outreach, documentation, and meetings. All duties are performed with appropriate oversight and within the intern’s training and authorized scope.

Schedule:

• Multiple shifts are available. This is an in-person internship; schedules are coordinated with the placement site and may vary based on program needs and intern availability.

RINCON FAMILY SERVICES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Knowledge and Expertise that Matters Most - What you bring to the Role:

• Enrollment in a CRSS preparation program and readiness to begin the supervised internship component.
• Lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery and willingness to use that experience appropriately in a peer support role.
• Commitment to recovery principles, self-determination, cultural responsiveness, and nonjudgmental support.
• Strong interpersonal communication, reliability, and ability to work collaboratively with diverse individuals and teams.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, professional boundaries, and accurate records.

Position Qualifications – What is required to Perform the Role:

• Completion of the required CRSS classroom training prior to internship placement, as verified by the training program.
• Ability to meet the supervised internship, documentation, and competency requirements of the intern’s CRSS training program.
• Ability to follow site-specific onboarding, screening, training, and safety requirements.
• Basic ability to use electronic documentation systems and communicate professionally; training will be provided as applicable.