Part-Time Chat Crisis Counselor (All shifts)

Reports to: Counseling Supervisor

Location: Hybrid, must reside in Iowa

Hours: Part time

About Foundation 2 Crisis Services

Foundation 2 Crisis Services is a mission-driven, non-profit organization that provides critical crisis intervention and prevention services across Iowa. We operate a 24/7 crisis center, including phone, text, and chat services. We also operate an emergency youth shelter, mental health support groups, community-based crisis programs, training, and more. We have been saving lives for over 50 years. Join our team today!

Overview of the role

Crisis Chat Counselors connect with people of all ages experiencing emotional distress and mental health crises via our chat and text platform. Counselors can expect to be contacted by people in high-risk situations who may be actively suicidal. Counselors will assess for immediate client risk while building rapport and client engagement and work collaboratively to identify safe, positive ways of coping and/or develop a safety plan. Emergency intervention may be needed at times. Counselors will assess for immediate client risk while building rapport and client engagement and work collaboratively to identify safe, positive ways of coping and/or develop a safety plan. Emergency intervention may be needed at times. Counselors will assess for immediate client risk while building rapport and client engagement and work collaboratively to identify safe, positive ways of coping and/or develop a safety plan. Emergency intervention may be needed at times.

Our crisis center counselors answer more than 65,500 phone, chat, and text contacts per year. You can learn more about the Foundation 2 Crisis Services’ crisis centerand see what clients can expectwhen they reach out to Foundation 2 Crisis Services on our YouTube channel.

This position has the flexibility to be on-site at the Crisis Center in Cedar Rapids or remote within the state of Iowa; candidates must live in Iowa and be available for one (1) full day of training in our Cedar Rapids office.

Saturday and Sunday 3pm-11pm

Training will be during weekday daytime hours.

Benefits

This position starts at $18 per hour. Part-time employees working a regular schedule of 20-28 hours per week are eligible to accrue PTO, holiday pay, and short-term leave.

• $500 sign-on bonus.
• Quarterly wellness benefit reimbursements to support a sense of wellbeing.
• Go to sleep at night knowing that the work you did matters. Foundation 2 Crisis Services staff save lives every day.

Who you are

• Client-centered. You are dedicated and passionate about working with individuals in crisis. You know it is an honor to be trusted to support people at their most vulnerable.
• Compassionate. You have compassion for clients and a willingness to understand and exercise trauma-informed care practices.
• Organized. You possess strong organizational skills and can oversee daily responsibilities.
• Positive. You recognize the power of a positive attitude and have the desire to build positive relationships with coworkers and clients.
• Quick Thinking. You recognize that you will often have multiple irons in the fire at once and will be challenged to manage competing priorities.

What you’ll do

• Provide real-time, compassionate, non-judgmental crisis support to clients through our online chat service.
• Attend initial trainings (some will be during daytime hours) and all-staff meetings during daytime hours 1-2 times per month.
• Dispatch additional client services, such as Foundation 2 Crisis Services’ Mobile Crisis Outreach, when necessary.
• Document each chat contact to ensure quality record keeping.

What you need

• Bachelor’s degree in human service or bachelor’s degree in any field plus one year of relevant experience. OR master’s degree in human service-related field.
• Comfort using basic computer software.
• Basic typing and data entry skills.
• High comfort with computers with ability to type quickly and multi-task.
• Excellent writing and grammar skills.
• Private home office to ensure confidentiality.
• Reliable, high-speed internet at home (Minimum 50 Mbps download speed / 15 Mbps upload speed; wired internet connection required) OR the ability to work all shifts from the Cedar Rapids office.
• Pass all background checks completed by Foundation 2 Crisis Services.
• Live in Iowa.
• Successfully complete required trainings within required time periods.
• Submit copy of college degree or transcript as required by licensure for personnel file.
• Experience in crisis services is preferred.
• Education or training in trauma-informed care preferred.
• Experience in strengths-based practices preferred.
• Experience in conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques preferred. Background in motivational interviewing referred.
• Ability to clearly communicate emotional support to people in crisis preferred.
• Background in motivational interviewing preferred.
• Knowledge/experience working in the mental health, substance use, and/or problem gambling field preferred.

Your Application

We’re excited to hear from you! To join the Foundation 2 Crisis Services team, please email your resume and cover letter to jobs@foundation2.org. No inquiries by phone. All questions will be answered during a pre-screening phone call. Resumes, applications, and cover letter accepted until position filled.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Foundation 2 Crisis Services, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Foundation 2 Crisis Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, political affiliation, veteran, or disability status.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: From $18.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Night shift
• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• Must reside in IA or IL.

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• relevant: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: In person