988 Text/Chat Contact Specialist

Contra Costa Crisis Center is seeking to fill full and part-time positions for 988 Text/Chat Contact Specialists. The 988 Text/Chat Contact Specialist primary responsibility is to respond to text/chat as assigned by the Shift Supervisor and/or Center Manager.

Responsibilities include:

• • Respond to 988 texts/chats as assigned on the 24/7 Crisis Lines and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline & 988 Text Line Platform.

• • Maintain accurate text/chat recordkeeping.

• • Provide clinically based, culturally relevant crisis counseling to minimize traumatic experiences and increase successful text/chat connection with community resources.

• • Establish rapport, build connections with text/chat contacts, and take responsibility for text/chat contact feedback.

• • Communicate effectively and compassionately with text/chat contacts, staff and volunteers.

• • Work collaboratively with teammates, including sharing feedback and support in the spirit of community building.

• • Willingness to continuously improve skills and individual development through continued education, training and certification (e.g., American Association of Suicidology certification).

• • Coach and support crisis line peers and volunteers to ensure effective services from a multicultural perspective (recognizing, understanding, and appreciating differences).

Required Qualifications:

• • Commitment to working within Contra Costa Crisis Center’s Code of Ethics and Policies and Procedures

• • Experience and demonstrated ability to work with racially, culturally, and economically diverse populations

• • Commitment to personal accountability, active participation in team building and maintenance of a healthy work community

• • Computer/software/database literacy

• • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• • Ability to apply the structure of a call/text/chat including transitional phrases

• • Ability to direct callers to available non-law enforcement referrals

• • Continued growth in knowledge on relevant subjects including grief and loss, Isolation and loneliness, mental health conditions - including symptoms, coping skills and treatment, trauma informed care, boundary setting and providing support to regular callers.

Strongly Preferred:

• • BA/BS in psychology, social welfare, or related field

• • Spanish language skills – written and spoken

• • Flexible schedule to allow for evening and weekend availability

Salary & Benefits:

The Contra Costa Crisis Center is an equal opportunity employer. We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, LTD, paid vacation, holidays and sick time, and 403B Retirement Savings Plan.

Commitment to Diversity and Anti-Racism
Contra Costa Crisis Center is deeply committed to principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, creed, color, nationality, gender, gender identity, genetic information, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, and marital status. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment in any form.

We strive to ensure that our staff and our volunteers – including volunteer leadership on our Board of Directors and its committees – reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

Our policy is to treat all with dignity and respect. This includes (but not limited to) staff, volunteers, clients and prospective clients, colleagues at other non-profits, donors, employees of government agencies and businesses, people attending our events, and members of the public in general.