Certified Recovery Support Specialist (Peer Support) – CST in Chicago, Illinois at Envision Unlimited

Summary:

Certified Recovery Support Specialist (Peer Support) – CST Team Location: Chicago, IL (Ravenswood) Employment Type: Full-time Reports To: Assistant Director-CST

Make Your Lived Experience Count—Help Others Recover

Envision Unlimited is hiring a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (Peer Support) to join our Community Support Team (CST) Team. This role is ideal for someone in mental health recovery who wants to support others using their lived experience.

As a Peer Support Specialist, you will help adults with serious mental illness regain independence and stability by providing recovery-oriented support, assisting in developing individualized treatment and crisis plans, and connecting people to housing, benefits, and wellness resources.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

What You'll Do:

As a key member of our interdisciplinary CST team, you will:

• Use your own recovery experience to support, mentor, and empower adults with serious mental illness as they work toward their goals.
• Provide person-centered, strengths-based community support in real-world settings, homes, neighborhoods, and beyond.
• Support clients in building skills for independent living, accessing resources, managing symptoms, and regaining hope.
• Assist in crisis support, safety planning, and de-escalation interventions with compassion and empathy.
• Champion client choice, self-advocacy, and recovery at every step, while maintaining accurate documentation and achieving productivity goals.

Why This Role Matters:

This is not just a job, it is a calling. As a Peer Support Specialist, you will directly impact outcomes by:

• Increasing engagement and reducing hospitalizations through early intervention.
• Helping clients transition from crisis to stability with dignity.
• Building community connection and self-reliance among people who often feel isolated or overwhelmed.

Bonus if you have:

• Previous experience with CST, case management, or crisis intervention.
• Comfort navigating technology (email, Microsoft Word, electronic health records).
• Familiarity with Medicaid billing and productivity standards (we will train you!).

POSITIONS SUPERVISED:

None

EDUCATION, SKILLS, and/or EXPERIENCE

What You Bring:

• Lived experience with mental health recovery and willingness to share that experience to support others.
• High School Diploma or GED required; must have or be in the process of obtaining the CRSS (Certified Recovery Support Specialist) credential.
• At least 1 year of experience in the behavioral health or social service field.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Passion for advocacy, recovery, and peer mentorship.
• Must be able to pass a background check.

Benefits Include:

• Paid training and continuing education opportunities
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Generous PTO and paid holidays
• Mileage reimbursement
• Supportive team environment that values your lived experience

Envision Unlimited provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.