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Veteran Care Navigator - SSG Fox Suicide Prevention

Centerstone · Marion, IL · Full time

Posted Aug 12, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you talked with a Veteran or service member who was in a dark place. What did you say, and what did you do next?

What they are checking: Whether they stay calm, ask directly about suicide, and move the person toward help instead of freezing or lecturing.

Grant programs live and die on documentation. Walk me through how you keep notes timely and accurate when you spend most of your day out in the community.

What they are checking: Whether they treat documentation as part of the job, since grant compliance and funding depend on accurate, on-time records.

This work can be heavy, especially if you have your own service history. How do you take care of yourself so you can keep showing up for others?

What they are checking: Whether they have real self-care habits and know when to seek support, which protects both them and the Veterans they serve.

Tell me about a time you helped someone get through a complicated system, like benefits, housing or healthcare, from start to finish.

What they are checking: Whether they can do practical care coordination and stick with a case until the person is actually connected.

What would you do

A Veteran you are working with mentions in passing that he has been giving away his guns and some favorite things. How do you handle that conversation?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize warning signs, ask plainly about suicide intent, and know to bring in clinical help right away.

How would you explain lethal means safety to a Veteran who is proud of his firearms and does not want anyone telling him what to do with them?

What they are checking: Whether they can talk about safe storage with respect and partnership, which keeps the Veteran engaged instead of defensive.

A lot of Veterans in the Marion area do not trust the VA or behavioral health in general. How would you earn enough trust to get someone connected to care?

What they are checking: Whether they can lower barriers by meeting people where they are, following through, and not pushing services too fast.

A Veteran's spouse calls you worried, but the Veteran has not given consent to share anything with family. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they protect confidentiality while still offering the family support and resources, which keeps trust on both sides.

About the work

This role provides peer support under the SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant. What does peer support mean to you, and how is it different from what a clinician does?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that peer support runs on shared experience and trust, not on diagnosis or treatment.

Which community partners would you reach out to first to find Veterans who need help but are not showing up anywhere for services?

What they are checking: Whether they think about outreach through places Veterans already go, like VFWs, churches, courthouses and employers.

What does trauma-informed and person-centered care look like in a real conversation with a Veteran, not just on paper?

What they are checking: Whether they can turn the posting's care principles into concrete habits like giving choices and avoiding retraumatizing questions.

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The full job description

As published by Centerstone.

Centerstone is among the nation’s leading nonprofit behavioral health systems with thousands of employees dedicated to delivering care that changes people’s lives. A dynamic, well-established organization, we offer rewarding opportunities to serve all ages in a variety of settings. Come talk to us about joining the Centerstone team! JOB DESCRIPTION: SUMMARY OF POSITION The Veteran Care Navigator (VCN) provides in-person veteran peer support services to Veterans and members of the Armed Services under the SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant. This position focuses on suicide prevention, care coordination, and facilitation of access to behavioral healthcare and supportive services. The VCN engages Veterans, families, and community partners to promote connection to services and reduce barriers to care. The Veteran Care Navigator ensures services are delivered in compliance with applicable grant requirements, organizational policies, and state and federal regulations, including timely and accurate documentation. The VCN works collaboratively with internal teams, leadership, and community-based partners to support Veteran engagement, continuity of care, and positive service outcomes. Services are provided using trauma-informed, person-centered, recovery-oriented, and shared decision-making approaches. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES • Provides Veteran peer support and suicide prevention–focused services in accordance with established standards, program expectations, and SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant requirements. • Conducts outreach, engagement, and follow-up with Veterans and eligible family members to promote access to behavioral health and suicide prevention services. • Represents Centerstone to internal and external stakeholders, including grant funders, Veteran-serving organizations, and community partners, and supports relationship-building efforts to meet grant objectives. • Provides community education and consultation related to suicide prevention, Veteran mental health, and available grant-funded services. • Supports program operations to ensure all grant deliverables and performance measures are completed accurately and within required timeframes. • Participates in program development activities, process improvement efforts, and implementation of grant-related workflows to ensure compliance and service quality. • Maintains accurate, timely, and complete documentation in accordance with organizational policy and grant and regulatory requirements. • Contributes to the management and maintenance of resource and provider network information, including Veteran-specific and suicide prevention resources. • Provides targeted case management and referral services using a shared decision-making approach to support individualized care planning. • Identifies barriers to engagement and utilizes brief, solution-focused emotional support techniques to encourage ongoing participation in services. • Assesses suicide risk and safety concerns and implements appropriate safety management interventions; initiates referrals and linkages as clinically indicated and remains engaged until safety and stabilization are achieved. • Performs other duties as assigned in support of program goals and organizational mission. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES • Effectively communicate via written, verbal, in person and virtual methods. • Knowledge of military culture and the unique needs of Veterans and their families. • Working knowledge of Veteran-serving organizations, suicide prevention resources, and community-based supports. • Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective working relationships with individuals, families, and community partners. • Strong customer service skills and professional communication practices. • Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team. • Demonstrated organizational skills, including time management, prioritization, and attention to detail. • Ability to problem-solve, exercise sound judgment, and respond effectively in high-risk or crisis situations. • Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. • Ability to work in community-based settings and attend in-person meetings as required. QUALIFICATIONS Education Level High school diploma or GED required. Bachelor's degree is preferred. Years of Experience Military veteran status required. Must have one year experience in behavioral health field. Certification/Licensure N/A PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Standing – 20% Sitting – 80% Squatting – Occasional Kneeling – Occasional Bending – Occasional Driving – Occasional Lifting – Occasional DISCLAIMER The duties and responsibilities described in this document are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time, or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands. Time Type: Full time Pay Range: $17.35--$24.30 Delivering care that changes people's lives starts with our employees. Below are just some of the great benefits Centerstone employees enjoy: • Medical, dental, and vision health coverage • Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts • 403b retirement plan with company match • Paid time off and ten paid holidays • AD&D Insurance, Life Insurance, and Long Term Disability (company paid) • Employee Resource Groups • Continuing education opportunities • Employee Assistance Program Centerstone is an equal opportunity employer. Employment at Centerstone is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. We treat all clients and colleagues with dignity and respect. At Centerstone, we use our values as a guide for what we do. Respect, Expertise, Integrity and Empowerment are at the heart of every interaction at Centerstone, and particularly rooted in our Culture. Our approach to culture is to create an environment that encourages, supports and celebrates the voices and experiences of our employees. We are committed to a culture of empowerment, respect, integrity and expertise that powers our innovation and connects us to each other, our clients and the communities we serve. Centerstone is also committed to a strong culture of quality and safety, celebrating role-models who champion best practices for quality, clinical risk, and patient safety.

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