Behavioral Health Advocate

The City of Champaign Equity and Engagement Department is seeking 4 service- and community-focused Behavioral Health Advocates to work in the newly created Mental Health Emergency Response Division. The Mental Health Emergency Response Model is a co-responder model in which first responders and trained social services professionals provide a combined and coordinated response for behavioral health, mental health, and social crisis calls for service.

Behavioral Health Advocate is a new position in the Equity and Engagement Department, and a great career opportunity for a person eager to support the overall health and well-being of community members through crisis support and advocacy. The positions will be supervised by the Clinical Manager.

Responsibilities of Position

The Behavioral Health Advocate is responsible for responding to mental and /or behavioral health emergency calls for service with first responder personnel through a co response model. They utilize knowledge, skills, and training on scene to de-escalate, assess, and intervene in the moment of crisis and coordinate follow-up with local community resources and behavioral health treatment after the crisis has concluded. The Behavioral Health Advocate performs case management to include treatment plan development, resource referrals and navigation, and community outreach. The Behavioral Health Advocate responds to calls for service on a 24-hour rotational basis including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

The City’s mission is to provide responsive, caring, cost-effective service in partnership with our community. The following values guide our work: Personal Integrity, Responsibility, Respect, Teamwork, Results. The City of Champaign is committed to promoting a work environment and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion.

Application Deadline: Apply at ChampaignIL.gov/jobs by Sunday, September 21, 2025.

Salary and Benefits:

•                    Starting annual salary: $76,312 - $86,874, DOQ.

•                    Full-time, on-site, FLSA non-exempt, non-bargaining unit (NBU) position.

•                    The City of Champaign offers excellent fringe benefits including:

·                     Paid vacation, sick, and personal leave and 11 paid City holidays each year

·                     Health, life, dental, and vision insurance

·                     Retirement health savings and flexible spending plans

·                     Retirement benefits through the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF)

View the Salary Schedule and Non-Bargaining Unit Non-Exempt Full-Time Fringe Benefit Summary at: ChampaignIL.gov/Salaries. View the full Non-Bargaining Unit Employee handbook at ChampaignIL.gov/hr/jobs/bargaining-units/.

Required Qualifications

•                    Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in social work, human services, psychology, public health, or a related field.

•                    Experience in crisis intervention, case management, advocacy, addictions counseling, services to unhoused populations, mental health, or other related employment.

•                    An equivalent combination of work experience and training that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.

•                    Current valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

•                    Experience in crisis intervention, de-escalation or culturally responsive trauma informed care.

•                    Experience with co responder models, non-traditional work hours, on-call responsibilities, or hotlines. 

•                    Knowledge of or experience with grassroots organizations.

•                    De-escalation, crisis intervention, psychological first aid, or other relevant certifications.

•                    Speaking and listening proficiency in languages identified by the Equity and Engagement Department.

Drug screening, driving abstract, and criminal background check will be required.