Behavioral Health Advocate
Salary
$76,312.54 - $97,436.94 Annually
Location
Champaign, IL
Job Type
Full Time
Department
Equity and Engagement
Opening Date
05/15/2026
Closing Date
5/31/2026 11:59 PM Central
FLSA
Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit
NBU
Position Overview
The City of Champaign Equity and Engagement Department is seeking a service- and community-focused Behavioral Health Advocate to work in the Mental Health Emergency Response Division. The Mental Health Emergency Response Model is a co-responder model in which first responders and trained social services professionals provide a combined and coordinated response for behavioral health, mental health, and social crisis calls for service.
Job Responsibilities
The Behavioral Health Advocate is responsible for responding to mental and /or behavioral health emergency calls for service with first responder personnel through a co response model. They utilize knowledge, skills, and training on scene to de-escalate, assess, and intervene in the moment of crisis and coordinate follow-up with local community resources and behavioral health treatment after the crisis has concluded. The Behavioral Health Advocate performs case management to include treatment plan development, resource referrals and navigation, and community outreach. The Behavioral Health Advocate responds to calls for service on a 24-hour rotational basis including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
Required Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Drug screening, driving abstract, and criminal background check will be required. The annual starting salary range is $76,312 - $86,874, DOQ, plus an excellent fringe benefits package. Applications must be submitted online no later than Sunday, May 31, 2026
Other Information
Contact the Human Resources Department at (217) 403-8770 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. if you require an accommodation to complete this application or during any phase of the application, interview, or employment process. The following locations offer free Internet access and assistance: Champaign Public Library, Champaign Public Library Douglass Branch, and the Illinois WorkNet Center.
The City of Champaign is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to promoting a work environme nt and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion. Women, minorities and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The City of Champaigns mission is to provide responsive, caring, cost-effective service in partnership with our community. The following values guide our work: Personal Integrity, Responsibility, Respect, Teamwork, Results. The City of Champaign is committed to promoting a work environme nt and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion. Learn more about the citys mission and values at https://champaignil.gov/city-managers-office
This position is classified as Non-Bargaining Unit Non-Exempt. This information is current as of February 12, 2026.
HEALTH INSURANCE
The City of Champaign offers a robust PPO Select Network plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois with a $500 individual and $1,000 family deductible. The plan covers nearly 98% of providers and facilities across the State of Illinois and grants access to providers nation-wide through Blue Cross Blue Shield. The City of Champaign pays up to $580 of the employee (single) health insurance premium and 50 percent of the dependent premium for continuous full-time employees. Premiums for single employee coverage above $580 per month are shared by the employee and the City. For the 2026/2027 plan year, NBU-NE Full-Time Employees contribute 1.5203% of salary towards employee only health care. Premiums may be made on a pre-tax basis, through the City's Section 125 plan. Health insurance coverage begins on the date of hire and ends on the employee's last day of work at the City.
Health Insurance Premiums PPO (2026-27 Plan Year)
Type of Coverage
City Pays (per month)
Employee Pays (per month)
Employee Only
$580 + City share of premium above $580
1.5203% of salary
Spouse
$644.00
644.00
Children (one or more)
$399.50
$399.50
Family (spouse and children)
$690.50
$690.50
DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE
Employees may purchase dental and/or vision insurance through payroll deduction. Employees pay 100 percent of the monthly premium for this coverage. Premiums for dental and vision insurance may be made on a pre-tax basis, through the City's Section 125 plan. Dental and vision insurance begins after waiting for one complete calendar month (e.g., if hire date is in the month of January, coverage begins on March 1st).
The dental plan has two options: Delta Dental Network Low Plan and Delta Dental High Plan.
Dental Premiums
Type of Coverage
Low Monthly Premium
High Monthly Premium
Employee Only
$25.54
$ 44.50
Employee/Spouse
$52.57
$ 91.60
Employee/Children
$60.01
$102.82
Family
$95.76
$163.08
Vision insurance is provided by EyeMed.
Vision Premiums
Type of Coverage
Monthly Premium
Employee Only
$ 7.34
Employee/One Dependent
$13.94
Family
$20.48
LIFE INSURANCE
The City provides a $25,000 term life insurance policy through The Hartford. Premiums are paid by the City. Employees may elect to purchase voluntary supplemental life insurance for themselves up to 5x their annual salary or $500,000 (whichever is lower), through payroll deduction. Employees may also purchase term life for their spouses/dependents.
PENSION
Illinois state law requires that eligible municipal employees be covered by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). Employee contributions to IMRF are 4.5 percent of salary and are tax-deferred. For 2026,
the City contributes 7.97 percent of eligible employee's salaries to IMRF. In addition, IMRF members are covered by Social Security (FICA). Obtain additional information by contacting IMRF at 1-800-ASK-IMRF. Employees are eligible to contribute additional funds to IMRF through Voluntary Additional Contributions.
Per IMRF Guidelines, all "unused, unpaid sick leave" goes towards IMRF service credit for employees who retire from the City and whose effective date of their pension is within 60 days of their retirement. You will earn one month of service credit for every 20 days of unused, unpaid sick leave at the time of retirement. Employees with 1-20 days of unused, unpaid sick leave receive one (1) month of additional service credit, employees with 21-40 days of unused, unpaid sick leave will receive two (2) months, etc. If you have any questions regarding this, you can reach out to the Human Resources Department or IMRF directly.
RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS (RHS)
A retirement health savings plan administered by the Mission Square Retirement Corporation has been established for NBU employees. NBU employees participate in a mandatory contribution of 1 percent of pre-tax salary into an RHS investment account. This account is available for use by the employee at retirement or separation of service. Eligible uses of the funds include medical expenses such as health insurance premiums, dental/vision expenses, coinsurance, and co-pays for employees, spouse, and/or dependents.
Note: Upon separation, a mandatory 50 percent of accrued vacation, compensatory and payout-eligible sick leave will be contributed to your RHS balance.
HOLIDAYS
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Friday after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
PERSONAL LEAVE
At the beginning of each fiscal year, employees are credited with three personal days (24 hours). Personal leave may not be accumulated and carried over into the next fiscal year (July 1st). Personal leave is prorated based on the number of hours of regularly scheduled work.
Date Of Hire
Personal Leave Credits
7/1 - 10/31
24 hours
11/1 - 2/29
16 hours
3/1 - 6/30
8 hours
VACATION
Vacation accrual rates are based on years of service. Vacation leave is prorated based on the number of hours of regularly scheduled work. Vacation accrual rates and maximum accumulations are:
Years of Service
Biweekly Accrual/Year
Max Accumulation
Beginning with Year 1 through 4
3.69 hours/12 days
192 hours/24 days
Beginning with Year 5
4.31 hours/14 days
224 hours/28 days
Beginning with Year 6 through 7
5.08 hours/16.5 days
264 hours/33 days
Beginning with Year 8 through 9
5.54 hours/18 days
288 hours/36 days
Beginning with Year 10 through11
5.85 hours/19 days
304 hours/38 days
Beginning with Year 12 through 14
6.00 hours/19.5 days
312 hours/39 days
Beginning with Year 15 through 19
6.15 hours/20 days
320 hours/40 days
Beginning with Year 20 through 24
6.77 hours/22 days
352 hours/44 days
Beginning with Year 25 through Separation
7.69 hours/25 days
400 hours/50 days
SICK LEAVE
Employees accrue sick leave at the rate of 3.69 hours per pay period (approximately 1 day per month). The maximum accumulation of sick leave is 1,200 hours. Employees begin with a "bank" of 48 hours and start accruing sick leave after six (6) months. The maximum accumulation of sick leave is 1,200 hours. Sick leave is prorated based on the number of hours of regularly scheduled work.
LONGEVITY PAY
Employees receive longevity pay based upon their years of continuous employment with the City. Longevity pay is an addition to the employees' base wage rate, as follows:
Years of Service
Longevity Rate
10 years
5.0 percent
20 years
10.0 percent
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
The City of Champaign offers employees the opportunity to participate in a tax-deferred annuity plan and/or Roth plan of the Mission Square Retirement Corporation through payroll deduction. This is an optional plan with no City contributions. More information may be obtained by contacting Client Services (1-800-669-7400) or Human Resources at 217-403-8770.
HANDBOOK
View the current Non-Bargaining Unit (NBU) Handbook at champaignil.gov/hr/jobs/bargaining-units.
01
Select the option that best describes your highest level of educational attainment:
02
If you selected "high school diploma or equivalent" or "Associate degree" in question #1 above, please describe your work experience and training that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position.
03
If you selected "Bachelor's degree or higher" to question #1 above, please list degree type and major.
04
Select from the list below the areas in which you have professional work experience. Select all that apply.
05
Please describe in detail your professional work experience in each of the following selected in question #4 above. List and describe each area separately. Enter N/A if you selected "None of the above."
06
Do you possess a current, valid driver's license?
07
Are you available to occasionally work outside of regular hours including evenings and weekends and available on-call on a rotational basis, as needed, to provide 24/7 crisis response to crime scenes and other locations that may include hostile or unknown circumstances?
08
Are you proficient in any language other than English? If so, please list the language (s).
09
Please describe your experience in crisis intervention, de-escalation, psychological first aid, and/or culturally responsive trauma informed care. Enter N/A if no experience.
10
Describe your experience with co-responder models, non-traditional work hours, on-call responsibilities, or hotlines. Enter N/A if no experience.
11
Describe your knowledge of or experience with grassroots organizations. Enter N/A if no knowledge or experience.
12
Do you possess certification in de-escalation, crisis intervention, psychological first aid, or other relevant areas? If so, please provide the name of the certification and issuing agency. Enter N/A if no certifications.
Required Question
Employer City of Champaign
Address 102 North Neil St.
Floor 1
Champaign, Illinois, 61820
Phone (217) 403-8770
Website http://www.champaignil.gov