**Experienced Crisis Counselor – Chat & Text Support Specialist**

**Join arenaflex, a national leader in whole-person mental health, crisis care, and substance use services, as we strive to create a future where everyone has equitable access to care and is empowered to achieve optimal mental health and well-being.** **About arenaflex** arenaflex has been a national leader in whole-person mental health, crisis care, and substance use services since 1942 and is home to the nation's first Suicide Prevention Center. We are a nonprofit organization providing care to about 270,000 people annually across our programs. arenaflex has deep roots in community-based mental health and a commitment to providing culturally responsive services that are just and equitable. More than 1,000 dedicated employees and volunteers make arenaflex's work possible. **Job Summary** As a Chat & Text Counselor, you will play a critical role in delivering compassionate and effective support during moments of crisis. This position emphasizes maintaining high-quality standards in all interactions to ensure help-seekers receive the best possible care and guidance. By actively listening, assessing needs, and providing appropriate resources, you will make a meaningful impact on individuals seeking assistance. **Primary Duties** • Offers crisis-counseling services via chat and text, providing a safe and supportive environment for help-seekers to express their concerns and emotions. • Completes risk assessment, safety planning, de-escalation, and follow-up with Chat/Text visitors, ensuring that individuals receive the necessary support and resources to manage their crisis. • Serves as a mandated reporter in cases of suspected abuse or neglect, upholding the highest ethical standards to ensure the well-being and safety of help-seekers. • Is familiar with resources and providing information and referrals to visitors as appropriate, empowering them to take control of their lives and make informed decisions. • Maintains accurate and detailed chat/text reports, documenting all interactions in real-time to ensure continuity of care and support. • Completes 1.5 chats/texts per hour (on average), meeting the program's productivity standards while maintaining the highest level of quality and compassion. • Fulfills continuing education requirements as requested or required for the agency and the Suicide Prevention Center program, staying up-to-date with the latest research and best practices in crisis counseling and mental health. • Assists in the training process of new counselors, sharing knowledge and expertise to ensure that all team members are equipped to provide exceptional support and care. • Participates in community outreach events such as resources tables and presentations about suicide prevention as needed, raising awareness and promoting education about mental health and crisis care. • Attends routinely scheduled meetings for the Suicide Prevention Center, collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders to advance the program's mission and goals. **Position Requirements** • Possess a high school Diploma or equivalent, demonstrating a strong foundation in education and a commitment to lifelong learning. • Be 18 years of age or older, meeting the program's age requirement and ensuring that you are eligible to work in this role. • Have high-speed internet with an active Ethernet connection, and a quiet/confidential workspace, ensuring that you can maintain confidentiality and provide a safe and supportive environment for help-seekers. • Be empathetic, flexible, and adaptable to varying situations, demonstrating a high level of emotional intelligence and a commitment to providing compassionate care. • Have open availability and flexibility to work within the Chat/Text program's operating hours, including weekends and holidays, ensuring that you can meet the program's needs and provide support to help-seekers at all times. • Be reliable and able to adhere to schedules based upon Chat/Text program needs, demonstrating a strong sense of responsibility and a commitment to teamwork. • Complete yearly trainings as required by arenaflex, staying up-to-date with the latest research and best practices in crisis counseling and mental health. • Have knowledge of all job-specific skills, including risk assessment, data collection, and chat/text triage, ensuring that you can provide high-quality support and care to help-seekers. • Possess strong interpersonal skills and can positively interact with others, demonstrating a high level of emotional intelligence and a commitment to teamwork. • Have outstanding communication skills with the ability to engage any individual regardless of background, ensuring that you can provide support and care to help-seekers from diverse backgrounds and experiences. • Exceptional at multi-tasking and time management, able to drive multiple pieces of work forward simultaneously while meeting all deadlines, demonstrating a high level of productivity and a commitment to excellence. • Goal-oriented team player with strong experience working in large and complex systems, ensuring that you can navigate the program's systems and processes with ease and provide high-quality support and care to help-seekers. • A commitment to team objectives and arenaflex philosophies, demonstrating a high level of alignment with the program's mission and values. • Successfully pass our pre-employment screening, including a background check and live scan fingerprinting, ensuring that you meet the program's requirements and can provide a safe and supportive environment for help-seekers. **Our Vision** A future where everyone has equitable access to care and is empowered to achieve optimal mental health and well-being. **Our Mission** arenaflex provides compassionate mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention services to individuals and families, especially in communities where discrimination and injustice limit access. **Core Values** • **Excellence**: We are constantly innovating, learning from the communities we serve, and applying the latest research to advance best practices. We uphold the highest ethical standards to ensure we are providing compassionate and excellent care. • **Diversity & Inclusion**: We value diversity of background, experience, and ideas. We celebrate differences and prioritize creating a sense of belonging. • **Equity**: We are dedicated to promoting health equity in our communities, and we work to dismantle disparities and discrimination within both systems of care and society. • **Well Being**: We are devoted to the well-being of our staff, volunteers, and communities, and believe healthy teams lead to healthy clients. • **Advocacy**: We advocate across all levels of government and use our voice to reduce barriers to care with the goal of access to high-quality, integrated healthcare for all. • **Community Engagement**: We build partnerships in the community and across sectors to create a more inclusive and responsive mental health ecosystem and enhance greater accessibility to care and support. **Compensation and Benefits** • $24.00 per hour with a $3.00 overnight differential, ensuring that you are fairly compensated for your work and can provide a safe and supportive environment for help-seekers. • A fully remote position, allowing you to work from the comfort of your own home and maintain a healthy work-life balance. • A three-week 40-hour per week training at the start of employment, ensuring that you are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide high-quality support and care to help-seekers. • Opportunities for career growth and professional development, ensuring that you can advance your career and provide the best possible care and support to help-seekers. **How to Apply** If you are passionate about providing compassionate and effective support during moments of crisis, and are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in crisis counseling and mental health, we encourage you to apply for this role. Please submit your application, including your resume and a cover letter, to [insert contact information]. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to create a future where everyone has equitable access to care and is empowered to achieve optimal mental health and well-being. Apply for this job