Brightpoint (formerly known as Children’s Home & Aid) invites you to join our team of mission-driven staff who share a common vision: an equitable world where all children and families thrive in strong communities. As a leader in the human services sector for 140 years, we aim to advance the well-being of children by investing in families and strengthening communities through data-informed, collaborative, and preventative solutions.

The Youth Crisis Worker is a critical member of the Youth Services team, providing after-hours crisis intervention services to runaway and homeless youth and their families on an on-call basis. As a Youth Crisis Worker, you will rely on your ability to quickly build rapport, listen nonjudgmentally, facilitate effective communication through conflict, and partner with youth and families to help them negotiate solutions that work for their individual circumstances. Youth Crisis Workers sign up for at least eight flexible shifts per month based on their personal availability; shifts may include weekends, evening/overnight, or holidays. During on-call shifts, Youth Crisis Workers respond in-person to police departments to provide after-hours crisis intervention services to youth who have run away, been locked out, or are without a safe place to stay. During crisis intervention, Youth Crisis Workers meet with youth and parents to understand both perspectives, facilitate effective communication, and help the family negotiate a safe and appropriate solution, complete initial assessments of safety and protective factors to help inform the crisis intervention process, and may transport youth to temporary placements, using a personal vehicle (mileage expenses reimbursed by agency).

Candidate qualifications:

At least two years of college coursework in Social Work or a related field, OR two years of experience working with youth and families, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. (All candidates must have at least high school diploma/GED.) Availablility to respond in-person to after-hours crisis calls (within 60-90 minutes depending on location). Valid driver's license, insurance, and a reliable vehicle required. Excellent skills at communicating effectively and empathically, even in a high-conflict situation.

Job details:

Compensation: $20-22/hr Location: crisis intervention is provided in-person in police departments in Madison, St. Clair, Bond, Clinton, Washington, Jersey, Greene, Calhoune, Montgomery, and Macoupin Counties (Southern Illinois); documentation and some meetings may occur remotely. Schedule: Part-time, after-hours, on-call; weeknight shifts are 5pm-9am, weekend and holidays shifts are 24 hours 9am-9am. Student Loan Forgiveness: Brightpoint is an approved agency for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

Where you work matters.

We believe that by building diverse and inclusive teams of passionate advocates for youth and families, we can continue to show up for Illinois families, putting those families at the center of every decision, and strengthening the communities where we all work, play, and live together. (More about who we are here.)

We invite you to become an active member of a team that supports, inspires, and challenges each other, and grow your career in an organization that celebrates emerging leaders and provides development and learning opportunities aligned with your individual goals and aspirations. If you are looking for an opportunity to do meaningful work, including raising your unique and authentic voice to disrupt the systemic inequality impacting children and families, we encourage you to apply today.  

Click here to review our agency’s Blueprint for Impact.

Brightpoint is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action. All employment activities are conducted in an equal and equitable fashion. The Agency prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, parental status, veteran status, source of income, and any other legally protected category in the recruitment, selection, hiring, determination of salary level and benefits, promotion, demotion, layoff, termination, and other terms and conditions of employment.