Thresholds·Blue Island, Illinois
Foster connection and mutual support for clients at New Freedom Centers through daily activities and recovery storytelling. Teach basic living skills and connect visitors to community resources to aid their transition from group care to community life.
Are you looking for an opportunity to use your mental health recovery experience to build community and empower others experiencing mental illness? At Thresholds, we believe in meeting people where they’re at – in their environment and on their journey to recovery. As a Peer Support Specialist, you will foster connection and mutual support in one of Thresholds’ New Freedom Centers. We value personal lived experiences with mental health recovery and are seeking a peer professional, who either has the CRSS (Certified Recovery Support Specialist) credential or is able to get the CRSS within a year.
Thresholds’ New Freedom Centers are operated by peer professionals 7 days a week and create community to aid Thresholds’ clients in their transition to community life after an experience with a group care setting. We offer a range of daily, drop-in activities and programming that include art groups, basic living skills, volunteer opportunities, and holiday parties.
As a Peer Support Specialist, you will welcome clients to the drop-in center and build community through a variety of activities to combat loneliness. You may make and eat lunch together, chat one-on-one, play games, or organize activities. You will teach basic living skills, practice using coping skills, connect visitors to community resources, and develop client empowerment skills through self-advocacy and stigma-busting. You will share your recovery story with our clients in a mutual, two-way helping process where you will learn from each other and model that recovery can happen.
The culture at Thresholds is compassionate and supportive, providing you with the tools and resources you need for the best client care. Opportunities for training and professional development will deepen your knowledge and expand your clinical skills in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and other evidence-based practices. To support the CRSS credential, we offer free clinical supervision, fee reimbursement, and scholarship opportunities. This invaluable experience will set you up for a variety of career paths and growth opportunities within our organization.
Thresholds is a mission-driven agency with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We foster an environment where all feel valued and respected, a place where every employee can be themselves, thrive, and support the agency’s mission. Click here to learn more.
One of the oldest and largest community mental health organizations in Illinois, we pride ourselves in being a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and one of Chicago’s 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For, several years in a row.
Requires lived experience with mental health recovery, a high school diploma or GED, and a valid driver's license with a car. Candidates must be at least 21 years old and hold or be able to obtain a CRSS credential within one year.
Market context
Behavioral health positions in Illinois often draw steady interest because employers look for licensed or graduate-prepared candidates who can work in clinical, community, or care-coordination settings. This role is competitive because the required background is specific—either a master’s degree in a human services field or an active Illinois RN license, with behavioral health experience preferred. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save research time, then confirm your licensure, degree, and setting experience before applying.
