Youth Community Support Specialist
Brightli · Kirksville
Job Description:
Youth Community Support Specialist
Location: Kirksville, MO
Employment Type: Full-time
Shift: Monday - Friday
A Community Support Specialist plays a vital role in helping individuals successfully adapt to life in their communities. This position focuses on creating individualized, person-centered plans that address each client’s unique needs while promoting independence, stability, and long-term wellbeing.
Using evidence-based practices and a strengths-based approach, the Community Support Specialist collaborates closely with clients, families, and interdisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive mental health services. By connecting individuals with community resources and fostering supportive relationships, this role empowers clients to build resilience and achieve meaningful personal goals.
Position Perks & Benefits:
- Employee benefits package - health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more**
- Competitive 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan – up to 5% match for Part-Time and Full-Time employees
- Company-paid basic life insurance
- 29 Days of PTO for Full-Time employees
- Emergency Medical Leave Program
- Flexible Spending Accounts – healthcare and dependent child-care
- Health & Wellness Program
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Employee Discount Program
- Mileage Reimbursement (When applicable)
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide community-based mental health services to children, adolescents, and/or adults, including assessment, treatment planning, and intervention implementation.
- Collaborate with clients, families, and interdisciplinary partners to develop and implement individualized treatment plans aligned with client goals.
- Utilize a strengths-based, person-centered approach that emphasizes empowerment, skill-building, and resilience.
- Apply evidence-based practices such as:
- Motivational Interviewing
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Positive Reinforcement Techniques
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)–informed skills
- Deliver behavioral and psychosocial interventions, including cognitive processing, interpersonal skill development, group dynamics, and operant conditioning strategies.
- Coordinate care with external providers such as primary care physicians, psychiatrists, schools, and community organizations.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant documentation of client services and progress.
- Participate in staff development, training, and ongoing education related to mental health services.
- Support organizational quality improvement efforts through data collection, reporting, and collaboration.
- Work collaboratively with case managers, therapists, and support staff to ensure coordinated and effective client care.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including parents, teachers, counselors, and other professionals.
- Prepare for and facilitate Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) group sessions as aligned with client treatment plans.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Working knowledge of case management and rehabilitation principles related to mental health and/or substance use disorders.
- Understanding of challenges faced by individuals with mental health and substance use disorders and familiarity with community-based resources.
- Knowledge of treatment modalities, legal requirements, and court-related procedures applicable to behavioral health services.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and documentation skills.
- Ability to work independently while managing complex client needs.
- Effective multitasking and coordination of services across multiple community partners.
- Ability to build rapport and maintain effective relationships with youth, adults, and families through in-person and phone interactions.
Experience and Education Qualifications:
- An individual with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or other human services specialized field of study; or
- An individual with a Bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field and two years of related work experience; or
- Any four-year combination of higher education and two years of related work experience, or
- An Associate’s of Applied Science in Behavioral Health Support will also fulfill educational requirements; or
- An individual with four years of qualifying experience*.
*Qualifying experience must include delivery of services to individuals with mental health disorders, substance use disorders or developmental disabilities. Experience must include some combination of the following:
- Providing one-on-one or group services with a rehabilitation/habilitation and recovery/resiliency focus;
- Teaching and modeling for individuals how to cope and manage psychiatric, developmental, or substance use disorder issues while encouraging the use of natural resources;
- Supporting individuals in their efforts to find and maintain employment and/or to function appropriately in family, school, and community settings;
- Assisting individuals to achieve the goals and objectives in their individual treatment plan.
Position Perks & Benefits:
Paid time off: full-time employees receive an attractive time off package to balance your work and personal life
Employee benefits package: full-time employees receive health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more
Top-notch training: initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive
Career mobility: advancement opportunities/promoting from within
Welcoming, warm, supportive: a work culture & environment that promotes your well-being, values you as human being, and encourages your health and happiness.


Brightli is on a Mission:
A mission to improve client care, reduce the financial burden of community mental health centers by sharing resources, a mission to have a larger voice in advocacy to increase access to mental health and substance user care in our communities, and a mission to evolve the behavioral health industry to better meet the needs of our clients.
As a behavioral and community mental health provider, we prioritize fostering a culture of belonging and connection within our workforce. We encourage applications from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences, as we believe that a rich tapestry of perspectives strengthens our mission. If you are passionate about empowering local communities and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization dedicated to cultivating an authentic workplace.
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Burrell Behavioral Health is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.