The Engagement Specialist, Stroger Linkage is a member of the Assertive Community Linkage Team under the Cook County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) project aimed at reducing Emergency Department (ED) use. The Engagement Specialist reports to the Team Leader, Stroger Linkage.

The Assertive Community Linkage Team works with high utilizers of the Stroger Hospital ED, who have multiple presentations due to unmanaged mental health and/or substance use conditions. This team will work closely with the staff of CCHHS, Stroger Hospital, and the Thresholds Crisis Team at Stroger Hospital to locate and assertively pursue engagement with assigned individuals. The team will provide mental health and care coordination services in the community and will assist people with applying for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Income (SSI/SSDI) and other public benefits. The team will help people access resources, including short‐term or emergency housing. The team will also work to link people with community‐based primary healthcare and psychiatry, will assist people with getting prescriptions filled, and will coordinate transportation to follow‐up medical appointments. The Assertive Community Linkage team will also work closely with Thresholds Evaluations Department to monitor member engagement and outcomes and report to CCHHS.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinates with Stroger Hospital and Thresholds Crisis Team to identify members to target for engagement.
• Provides initial outreach to member at Stroger, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, or in the community.
• Develops relationships with inpatient psychiatric hospitals to facilitate discharge planning for assigned members.
• Assesses member’s personal, medical, social, emotional, and environmental situation to plan for transition from the hospital, linkage and treatment course.
• Provides community support, engagement activities, transition linkage, case management and other services as need to support members in addressing needs aimed at achieving stability.
• Provides brief interventions using evidence based psychosocial treatments, (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) as clinically indicated.
• Advocates and assists members with securing short‐term or emergency housing, which includes, but is not limited to obtaining identity documents, obtaining proof of benefits or income, searching for housing, completing housing application and paperwork.
• Transports members to appointments as needed to support recovery.
• Collaborates with the entire Assertive Community Linkage Team on engagement strategies, safety planning, clinical consultation, and problem solving to support member’s needs and linkage to necessary supports.
• Intervenes with collateral sources, agencies, bureaucracies, facilities, and families on the members’ behalf. Advocates and assists with problem solving/resolution that will help the member access and utilize support from the community.
• Identifies and investigates available resources in the community.
• Assists in the application process for public benefits and entitlements such as Medicaid and Social Security.
• Maintains the quality, validity and confidentiality of personal health information and individual case records according to HIPAA, privacy practices and Thresholds standards.
• Completes Medicaid compliant service notes in a timely manner.
• Provides accurate and timely information to their supervisor(s) on all member related topics.
• Completes all assigned paperwork in a timely fashion.
• Perform other related duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm 

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology or closely related field. required.

EXPERIENCE

• Experience at working both independently and in a team‐oriented, collaborative environment.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of e‐mail, data reporting, record keeping and MS Office applications.

SKILLS/CERTIFICATIONS

• Current and valid Driver’s License required.
• Daily access to a personal car and willingness to provide transportation to members required.
• Must obtain and maintain $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 liability insurance coverage. Subject to validation every 6 months. Must be 23 years of age and must meet all insurance carrier’s requirements. Subject to annual Department of Motor Vehicles license verification.

WHAT SETS THRESHOLDS APART

• Competitive pay – Pay range: $23.25 – $26.35/hour / $48,360 – $54,800 annually
  • Commensurate with education, licensure, and experience.
• Generous PTO (9 federal holidays, 8 days of sick leave, 15-22 days personal and vacation)
• Dental insurance, vision insurance, choice of 4 medical insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP)
• Public service loan forgiveness
• Supervision for clinical licensure at no cost (LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC)

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