CIT Specialist - Workplace Wellness Cadre

Type: Independent Contractor

Reports to: CIT Project Manager

Office Location:  Office Location:  224 W Hill St Suite 410, Chicago, IL  ; required in-office minimum of 3 days per week (hybrid work policy subject to change)   

Background:

 Guided by the experiences of those living with mental health conditions and rooted in equity, NAMI Chicago educates to fight stigma and discrimination, fiercely advocates for our community, and shares hope, connection and expertise with people on their mental health journey. NAMI Chicago seeks to fill gaps in Chicago's mental health system, with an intentional emphasis on serving underrepresented populations and breaking down barriers to care.  

About the Workplace Wellness Cadre

NAMI Chicago is a leader in Chicago’s mental health space, providing training and consulting services on organizational wellness and mental health skills across government, nonprofit, and the private sector. To enable this work, we hire remarkable individuals passionate about improving organizational culture, increasing mental health literacy, and teaching self-care skills to professionals across Chicagoland. Our Workplace Wellness Cadre are independent contractors who support our full-time staff on projects based on their specific expertise.

NAMI Chicago is actively engaged with the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program in Chicago, a relationship that began in 2004. CIT-trained officers are members of the Police Department with specialized training in de-escalating mental health crises and connecting people to mental health care. In Chicago, all CIT-trained officers have attended and successfully completed a 40-hour Basic CIT Training and certification. NAMI Chicago provides officers with education about mental health symptoms and conditions, and brings in individuals with lived mental health experience to reduce stigma and give feedback through personal stories and role-play training.

We are committed to finding talented individuals to join our Workplace Wellness Cadre. Our registration process begins with an online application, followed by an interview with staff and verification of qualifications, if required. Once registered, we require all staff to complete orientation that includes an overview of NAMI Chicago’s strategy and programs; an overview of the applicable processes to manage project work and submit invoices; and a train-the-trainer session on all NAMI workplace wellness trainings for Specialists.

Who We Are Looking For:

We are seeking talented and motivated Workplace Wellness Specialists to join our Workplace Wellness Cadre. The Specialist plays a key role in supporting client engagements, conducting analyses of organizational culture, and developing reports with identified strengths, areas for improvement, and recommendations. The Specialists provide leadership and management training on creating well cultures, talking to employees about their mental health, and developing self-care skills. We seek excellent communicators, both verbally and in writing; are solutions-focused; are exceptional facilitators; and have a passion for driving positive change.

Specialists will also engage in training Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) and the Chicago Police Department, focusing on de-escalation techniques, mental health crisis management, and role-playing scenarios to enhance practical skills.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Support client engagements by conducting focus groups, gathering data, and analyzing information and documentation to identify trends in organizational culture and mental health in the workplace.
• Develop written reports and presentations on the findings of a workplace wellness assessment, and communicate those findings to the client.
• Engage in training Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) and the Chicago Police Department, focusing on de-escalation techniques, mental health crisis management, and role-playing scenarios to enhance practical skill.
• Assist in developing and implementing innovative strategies to address client challenges.
• Provide NAMI Chicago training to clients on topics including inspirational leadership, mental health awareness, how to talk to employees about suicide, building resilience, and crisis intervention techniques.
• Collaborate with the project team to ensure alignment and coordination of project activities.
• Contribute to the overall growth and success of the Workplace Wellness Cadre through thought leadership, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Education,