Education and Engagement Specialist

Type: Full-Time

Reports to: Engagement Manager

Office Location: 224 West Hill Street Suite 410 Chicago IL; required in-office minimum of 3 days per week (hybrid work policy subject to change)

Background:

The mission of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago is to provide hope and improve the quality of life for those whose lives are affected by mental illness. NAMI Chicago seeks to fill gaps in Chicagos mental health system with an intentional emphasis on serving underrepresented populations and breaking down barriers to care.

Who We Are Looking For:

We are currently looking for individuals who embody our core values of compassion integrity and connection to join our team as an Education & Engagement Specialist. This community-facing role involves coordinating and developing relationships in the southwest side of Chicago . We are seeking self-starters who enjoy working collaboratively. The Education & Engagement Specialist will be responsible for the following duties:

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

Community Engagement Training:

Represents the agency at coalition committees and/or community gatherings trainings and/or workshops to further spread the mission of NAMI Chicago as well as awareness of our goal to help support individuals and families in the city impacted by mental health conditions.

Provides educational workshops to community members.

Responsible for managing programs that address the mental health needs of young people including mental health skills building youth-based support groups and care coordination for youth with serious mental illness.

Trains FQHC staff and other provider partners on mental health awareness concepts linkage and connection to the collaborative and self-care.

Trains community members as a preventive approach focusing on mental health awareness concepts and linkage and connection to mental health care.

Coordinates and builds relationships in Chicagos mental health crisis system focused on helping people avoid repeated need for crisis and emergency response.

Maintains intake notes agency resource records and documentation using NAMI Chicagos database system and provides monthly reports on resource updates and new partnerships or programs.

Manages communication with agency representatives internal staff and ambassadors for training coordination.

Other Responsibilities

Collaborate with other departments within the organization to integrate youth programs with other services and initiatives.

Collaborate with other departments on considerations when working with youth in distress or crisis.

Provide input on youth perspectives through NAMI Chicago.

Provide content guidance to other departments in youth-focused training materials and methods of communication.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

Demonstrates ability to well serve underrepresented and vulnerable populations including social and racial/ethnic minorities as well as those living with mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders.

Proven record of success working in a diverse environment that includes people of different identities including but not limited to race ethnicity religion sexual orientation gender and physical/mental ability.

Exhibits sensitivity empathy towards human service issues and a non-judgmental attitude towards individuals requiring assistance.

Ability to speak in large groups.

Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate complex analyses to multiple audiences understanding the needs of individuals.

Strong classroom management skills.

Demonstrate a strong record of successful collaborative work with excellent interpersonal and team-building skills and the ability to participate in a multi-disciplinary team as a team member.

Highly organized with the ability to manage and effectively prioritize competing deadlines.

Ability to travel throughout the Chicagoland area.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education: Bachelors degree in Social Work Psychology Counseling Community Health or other related fields required.

3 or more years of experience working with diverse people living with mental illness in a community mental health agency hospital or other setting or working on database management or network development in the healthcare sector.

One year experience working in community organizing or coalition-based work or other relevant work experience such as health promotion.

Proficiency in Windows Microsoft Office and database management.

Computer Skills: Proficiency Microsoft Access Excel and Word. Proficiency in Internet Explorer Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by NAMI Chicago.

Welcomed Qualifications:

Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred.

Experience with working with populations experiencing homelessness individuals living with serious mental illness or judicial system involvement strongly preferred.

One year experience of conducting trainings and speaking in front of crowds preferred.

Available Benefits:

• Company sponsored wellness activities.
• Medical Dental and Vision benefits.
• Company sponsored Life and AD&D Insurance and Long-Term Disability.
• 401k Retirement plan.
• Critical Illness Insurance Hospital Indemnity Accident Insurance Short Term Disability Coverage.
• Generous PTO.

Base Rate: $25 - $26/hour