About the role
Description
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
Requirements
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.