Full-time A.M. P.M.
Cook County
Sheriff
Job Code: 0823
Job Title: Behavioral Health Specialist (Grant Funded)
Salary Grade: 16
Department: Department of Corrections
Bargaining Unit: SEIU Local 73
Position Details: Civilian (non-sworn) / non-merit ranked / internal & external candidates
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Probation Period: 180 days
Designation – SEAM EE: Not Applicable
Characteristics of the Position
General Overview
The Behavioral Health Specialist, under the direction of the Senior Program Manager, will serve as a clinician for Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), Cook County Department of Corrections (CCDOC). The Behavioral Health Specialist will work with a multidisciplinary team of professionals to engage participants in services and assist them with care coordination. They will provide individual and group interventions, case management, and supportive services to clients of the CCDOC. They will complete assessments, develop and review treatment and care plans, and coordinate community linkages for participants. They will coordinate efforts between criminal-legal system stakeholders, Cook County Health, community agencies, managed-care programs, benefit and entitlement organizations, and across the CCSO to deliver clinical reentry services. They will provide services to individuals preparing to be released from CCDOC custody and individuals recently released from custody. They will monitor, track, analyze, and manage grant related documentation, data, and outcomes as determined by grantor.
Key Responsibilities and Duties
Assess participants for determination of clinical, socio-emotional, and reentry service needs; make recommendations on service care goals and plans; collect information through collateral sources, interviews, and observations.
Operate from a trauma-informed approach during clinical and professional engagement.
Conduct crisis needs assessments, crisis intervention, and crisis safety plans.
Provide focused intervention to participants in consultation with CCSO staff and agency partners.
Develop service care plans and help participants maintain stability.
Actively participate in implementation of new programming opportunities for participants, and in collaboration with supervisors to play a key role in building and maintaining relationships with community partners related to programming.
Communicate regularly with Sheriff’s Office leadership, civilian, and sworn staff, particularly in the CCDOC Records Department and Classification, the CCDOC Discharge Unit, and Cermak Health Services to make sure that discharging individuals coordinated releases or discharge plans are appropriately executed.
Collaborate with relevant external partners with regard to returning citizens referrals for the purpose of setting and executing coordinated releases.
Coordinate pre-release planning, treatment recommendations, social service referrals, and all other needs with internal and external organizations to ensure continuity of care.
Establish a supportive, motivational, therapeutic relationship with participants; plan, organize and lead structured interventions; work to effect behavioral changes and help individuals make healthier life choices.
Guide participants in the development of skills to assist in dealing with specific problems; assist with the understanding and management of mental health and chemical dependency issues; serve as a role model and coach regarding development of problem solving, decision-making and conflict resolution.
Act as an advocate for the participant and CCSO in coordinating services with all treatment partners and criminal-legal system stakeholders.
Track day-to-day operations in the Discharge Unit, to maintain or improve service quality while ensuring program sustainability and grant compliance.
Maintain records and data that track cases to generate monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for internal purposes and grant reporting.
Complete and maintain service-related paperwork, in accordance with state and federal requirements; write reports, treatment plans and recommendations, progress reports and other reports, as required.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment/care plan in correlation to the participant’s progress in resolving identified problems and meeting identified goals.
Establish and maintain productive, professional relationships with a variety of community organizations.
Provide consistent feedback to supervisor on ways of continually improving and streamlining program processes, operations, and outcomes.
Complete all other duties as required by program leadership and the grantor.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Proficiency in evidence-based practices, assessment, treatment, and care planning. Able to incorporate these practices in service delivery to diverse populations including but not limited to: people experiencing mental health concerns, substance abuse, homelessness, incarceration, or co-occurring disorders.
Possess a strong understanding of substance use, mental health, and forensic behavioral health issues and an expansive knowledge of County community resources and networks available to the justice-involved population.
Ability to initiate, build, and maintain partnerships with community organizations and service providers.
Possess a nonjudgmental approach to working with justice-involved individuals and their loved ones.
Working knowledge of the justice system, the justice-involved population.
Ability to establish and maintain appropriate rapport and boundaries with participants, while maintaining integrity and treating others with respect.
Possess a thorough working knowledge of or the ability to grasp and utilize the policies, protocols, systems, procedures and technical vernaculars of the department, agency, County, and grantors as applicable to duties and responsibilities quickly and effectively.
Ability to meet prescribed deadlines.
Ability to manage high-risk, high-needs cases.
Attention to detail and diligent maintenance of documentation and record keeping.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to prioritize tasks, multi-task and remain organized.
Ability to communicate effectively (orally and written) with participants, families, partner agencies, and CCSO staff in a professional and compassionate manner.
Ability to work effectively on a multidisciplinary team and individually.
Ability to work cooperatively and professionally on a treatment team.
Possess a strong sense of compassion and patience and an interest in being of service to an underserved population.
Maintain competencies related to the forensic population, cultural diversity, clinical practices, communication skills, personal development, and ethics by reading professional literature and attending workshops or seminars.
Respect for cultural diversity; and the ability to work respectfully with individuals of different genders, ages, races/ethnicities, sexual orientations, sexual identities, disabilities, and SES.
Respect for specific workplace cultural diversity concerns and appropriate conduct.
Ability to walk long distances or stand for extended periods of time throughout the course of the assigned shift.
Ability to work remotely, if needed, in a quiet and private space to protect participant confidentiality and sensitive information acquired related to job responsibilities.
Ability to be flexible in work location(s), which may be subject to change.
Minimum Qualifications
Possession of a bachelor’s or higher degree, from an accredited college or university, in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, Social Sciences or a closely related field.
Two (2) or more years of full time, professional work experience in the mental health field.
One (1) or more years of full time, professional work experience in conducting mental health assessments.
One (1) or more years of full time, professional work experience providing case management in a racially and ethnically diverse environment.
Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Ability to work within the Cook County Department of Corrections, including the ability to work directly with the individuals in custody population.
Ability to walk long distances or stand for extended periods of time throughout the course of the assigned shift.
Ability to work any shift assigned, including days, afternoons, or midnights; must be capable of working holidays and weekends; must be capable of working mandatory overtime, as required.
Preferred Qualifications
Possession of a master’s or higher degree, from an accredited college or university, in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, Social Sciences or a closely related field.
Possession of an active state licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and/or a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC).
Possession of certification as a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC).
Three (3) or more years of full time, professional work experience in a community mental health and/or hospital setting, performing mental health counseling and assessments.
One (1) or more years of full time, professional work experience in a correctional facility.
Possession of bilingual language skills.
Acquaintance with the laws governing the establishment and operation of the Cook County Department of Corrections, familiarity with municipal and state criminal codes and procedures and knowledge of basic penal management security.
The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee’s normal line of work.
**Article EE, Civilian Selection Process, of the Sheriff’s Employment Action Manual (SEAM), applies to this employment process and can be found at the following link:
https://cookcountysheriffil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/SEAM-Article-EE-Civilian-Selection-Process-updated-11-15-25.pdf
Please note that there are no remote job opportunities, all positions are located onsite.
All Cook County Sheriff’s Office employees must apply on the internal employment page to be considered; the application may be accessed via the SheriffNet site on the Human Resource page.
Note: All Internal Applicants are subject to Cook County Promotional salary rules if selected.
I Certify that no Political Reasons or Factors were considered in any decision I made or action I took related to this Employment Action. Further, I do not know of or have any reason to believe that anyone else considered or took action based on Political Reasons or Factors with respect to this Employment Action.
EEO Statement
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits all unlawful discrimination in its hiring and promotional process. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office employment decisions will not be based on race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, family or parental status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Benefits
Health Insurance Program – Health insurance coverage includes medical, dental and vision care and is available for an employee and his/her eligible dependents.
Holidays – Thirteen (13) Holidays are granted in each Fiscal Year. Employees who are active at the beginning of the fiscal year (December 1st) also qualify for a floating holiday.
Sick Leave – Granted sick leave is earned and accrued at the rate of one (1) day for each month of service and may be accumulated up to one hundred and seventy-five (175) working days.
Vacation Leave – Granted Vacation leave is earned and accrued, with employees having the opportunity to accrue fifteen (15) days within the Fiscal Year; Vacation leave accruals increase based on an employee’s anniversary date of employment.
Life Insurance – Basic term life insurance, equal to one (1) time the employee’s annual salary, is offered to every employee at no cost and the employee may elect to purchase supplemental coverage.
Pension Plan – Employees contribute into the Cook County Pension Fund and earn a prescribed percentage for each year of service; employees may be eligible for an annual annuity after ten
(10) years of service and upon reaching a certain age based on when the employee started employment.
Deferred Compensation Program – Employees may elect to enroll in a deferred compensation plan, a tax deferred plan which may be used as a supplemental retirement option.
The 2025 Cook County Employee Benefits Overview can be viewed at:
https://www.cookcountyil.gov/sites/g/files/ywwepo161/files/documents/2025-09/OE26.Employee Benefits Overview (EBO)_County.pdf
Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace
It is the policy of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office to provide a drug- and alcohol-free workplace for all members.
It is imperative that all Sheriff’s Office members are capable of devoting constant and uninterrupted attention to the performance of all assigned duties without risk to safety and security for themselves, other members, or the public. To ensure the goals of this policy are met, all Sheriff’s Office members shall be subject to drug and alcohol testing, whether mandatory, random, or based on reasonable suspicion.
*Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. *
This position requires successful completion of post-offer tests, which may include a background check, drug screen and/or medical examination. Falsification of any information in the application process will result in disqualification and ineligible for appointment to, or employment in, a position in the County service for a period of five years. For current Cook County Sheriff’s employees, such falsification may result in discipline, up to and including termination, and ineligible for appointment to or employment in a position in the County service for a period of five years. See Cook County Code of Ordinances, Article II, Sections 44-54 Unlawful Practices Relating to Employees and Employment - Penalty, 44-56 Political Discrimination; Cook County Employment Plan, Section V.N. Pre-Interview License and Certification Verification; Supplemental Policy No. 2014-2.13 Ineligible for Rehire List; and Cook County Personnel Rules 3.3(b) (7) (8) (18).
Sheriff’s Employment Action Manual (SEAM)
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office hiring process is governed by the Sheriff’s Employment Action Manual (SEAM) which prohibits employment actions from being influenced by any Political Reasons or Factors for Non-Exempt Positions. Cook County Sheriff’s officials and employees who become aware of or receive a complaint that involves an allegation of Political Reasons or Factors being considered in the hiring process of Non-Exempt positions are obligated to refer the complaint to the Cook County Sheriff’s Director of Compliance. If the Cook County Sheriff’s Director of Compliance sustains allegations of Political Reasons or Factors being considered, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office will disqualify the Applicant or Candidate from consideration for employment and disciplinary action will be imposed on any involved Cook County employees, if applicable.”
The advertisement of this position by any individual does not constitute an offer or promise of employment, promotion, or any other employment action and shall not influence the Cook County Sheriff’s Office hiring decision.
