Crisis Responders (IDHS)

Job Description

Job Description

If asked to describe the culture at Metropolitan Family Services, we could do that in one word. COMMUNITY ! Both our internal culture as well as through the services we provide, community is at the heart of all we do.

Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities.

MFS is currently looking to fill a new full-time role, Crisis Responder! Within our Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA) team!

SALARY: The average starting salary for this position will fall in the range of $52,000 and $55,000 annually. Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Respond rapidly to crisis situations to de-escalate.
• Mediate disputes to prevent escalation into violence during large gatherings, civil unrest, and mass shootings.
• Mediate conflicts, de-escalate tense situations, and build trust with diverse individuals and groups including at-risk youth and gang members.
• Work collaboratively with local businesses, residents, and organizations to promote safety.
• Identify and monitor potential conflicts and individuals/groups at elevated risk of violence.
• Connect community members to supportive services such as mental health care, housing, employment, or social services.
• Provide follow-up after crises to support healing and reduce the likelihood of retaliation or recurrence.
• Participate in team meetings, case reviews, and debriefings to share insights and improve practice.
• Maintain accurate documentation of incidents, interventions, and referrals while respecting confidentiality.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent education, required.
• 1+ years of relative experience including (but not limited to): crisis intervention, verbal de-escalation, clinical work in a mental health setting, required.
• Experience in community outreach, violence prevention, youth development, social services, crisis intervention, or restorative justice programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Training or certification in mediation, de-escalation, or crisis response, preferred.
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities, particularly in Spanish or other languages common in the community, preferred.
• Lived experience with challenges related to violence, justice system involvement, or trauma, with the ability to serve as a positive role model.
• Knowledge of local resources such as housing, employment, mental health, and social services.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Satisfactorily pass all screenings and criminal background checks.
• No pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse or domestic violence.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Strong conflict mediation and negotiation skills.
• Basic data entry and documentation skills.
• Understanding of community violence dynamics and factors contributing to conflict in urban environments.
• Awareness of local community resources, social services, and support networks.
• Familiarity with public safety systems, restorative justice approaches, and community engagement best practices.
• Effective verbal and nonverbal communication, including active listening and empathy.
• Ability to respond calmly and strategically in high-stress or crisis situations.
• Relationship-building and trust development with diverse populations.
• Documentation and basic reporting skills to accurately record incidents and interventions.
• Problem-solving, situational assessment, and decision-making in dynamic environments.
• Remain composed and professional in volatile or high-pressure situations.
• Work independently and as part of a team while coordinating with multiple stakeholders.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive information.
• Willingness to work flexible on-call schedules, including evenings, overnight and weekends.
• Adapt to variable workloads and field-based mobility requirements.
• Availability to respond and deploy to an event within a 60-minute notice period.

TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Driving for work required with a personally owned vehicle.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch. The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal.

Metropolitan Family Services puts our people first with a top-of-the-line benefits package. Find out more by clicking here !

Some highlights include:

• Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, and Vision Coverage.
• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 to individual, and $4,000 to family, HSA accounts, pro-rated to your benefits start date.
• FREE General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services provided to all team members.
• Ascensus 401K plan services with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.

And so much more! Make sure you click here to see the full suite of benefits offered!

MORE ABOUT US:

Metropolitan is Illinois' first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 122,970 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment.