Chemical Dependency Counselor

Position Summary

The Chemical Dependency Counselor provides substance use disorder counseling and clinical support at the Sister Rosalie Center for Recovery, CSS’s voluntary ASAM Level 3.1 clinically managed, low-intensity residential treatment program.

This position supports adults in a structured, recovery-oriented residential setting by facilitating individual and group services, supporting relapse prevention and recovery skill development, coordinating care with internal and external providers, and completing timely, accurate documentation.

The counselor helps residents build stability, strengthen coping and independent living skills, and prepare for successful transition to lower levels of care and community-based recovery supports.

About Us

CSS is a Catholic human and social services agency and behavioral health care provider that welcomes people of all faiths through its programs and employment.

We provide help for our Alaskan neighbors through a variety of supportive service programs, including emergency shelter, food stability, housing, case management, and refugee assistance. CSS empowers individuals and families on their path to permanent stability, creating thriving communities for all.

Located in Anchorage, Alaska, CSS is a nationally accredited organization through the Council on Accreditation (COA), which recognizes that CSS provides high quality services that meet best practice standards in the social service field.

Mission: To promote the physical, spiritual and mental welfare of persons in need in the community. This mission is achieved by:

• Offering charitable assistance to those in need, especially persons who are poor
• Developing and conducting programs to strengthen and support families and the dignity of the human spirit
• Administering the Corporal Works of Mercy and Gospel of Jesus Christ as defined by the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church and envisioned by the traditional concepts of Catholic Social Teaching and Action through the laity
• And advocating for social justice for the common good of all

About Our Program/Department

Catholic Social Services is launching the Sister Rosalie Center for Recovery, a new 10-bed ASAM Level 3.1 low-intensity residential substance use disorder treatment program located on the Brother Francis Shelter campus in Anchorage, Alaska. This voluntary program will serve adults experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness who are seeking support for substance use disorders, co-occurring behavioral health needs, and long-term recovery.

The program is designed to reduce barriers to treatment by bringing residential recovery services directly into a trusted shelter-based setting.

Participants will have access to a coordinated team providing substance use treatment, behavioral health support, peer support, case management, recovery planning, and housing-focused services.

By integrating treatment with shelter, medical, behavioral health, and housing supports, the program creates a practical and compassionate pathway from crisis and homelessness toward recovery, stability, and long-term wellness.

Required Competencies

Substance Use Disorder Counseling: Demonstrates knowledge of substance use disorders, recovery principles, relapse prevention, and evidence-based counseling approaches appropriate for adults in residential treatment.

Group and Individual Facilitation: Provides structured individual and group services that support recovery skill development, coping strategies, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and independent living skills.

Trauma-Informed and Culturally Responsive Care: Provides services in a manner that is respectful, strengths-based, nonjudgmental, and responsive to each participant’s culture, values, lived experience, and recovery goals.

Motivational Interviewing and Engagement: Builds therapeutic rapport, uses motivational interviewing strategies, and supports participant readiness for change while honoring voluntary participation and self-determination.

Co-Occurring Needs: Recognizes signs and symptoms of co-occurring mental health needs and collaborates with behavioral health, medical, peer support, and community providers to support integrated care.

Documentation and Compliance: Completes timely, accurate, and clinically appropriate documentation in accordance with agency policy, Medicaid requirements, confidentiality standards, and applicable state and federal regulations.

Care Coordination and Referral: Coordinates with internal programs and external partners to support access to medical care, behavioral health services, recovery supports, housing resources, benefits, and lower levels of care.

Ethics and Professional Boundaries: Maintains appropriate professional boundaries, protects participant confidentiality, follows mandated reporting and safety protocols, and practices within the scope of training, credentials, and supervision.

Crisis Response and De-escalation: Responds calmly and professionally to participant distress, conflict, relapse risk, or behavioral health concerns, using de-escalation, safety planning, consultation, and appropriate referral when needed.

Teamwork and Communication: Communicates clearly and respectfully with participants, coworkers, supervisors, and community partners; participates in team meetings, case consultation, and coordinated service planning.

Mission Alignment: Demonstrates commitment to CSS’s mission by providing compassionate, dignified, and person-centered care to individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, and related barriers to stability.

Responsibilities

Provide individual substance use counseling sessions that support participants in identifying recovery goals, building motivation for change, strengthening coping skills, and addressing barriers to stability.

Facilitate structured group sessions focused on recovery education, relapse prevention, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, life skills, wellness, and transition planning.

Complete initial and ongoing assessments, contribute to individualized treatment plans, monitor participant progress, and update goals and interventions based on participant needs and stage of recovery.

Provide relapse prevention support, including helping participants identify triggers, develop coping strategies, create recovery plans, and connect with ongoing recovery supports.

Provide case management and service coordination to help participants access medical care, behavioral health services, benefits, identification documents, employment or education supports, transportation, and other resources that support recovery and housing stability.

Connect participants to community-based resources, including peer support, recovery meetings, housing programs, primary care, mental health providers, medication-assisted treatment resources, and other appropriate services.

Lead discharge and transition planning in coordination with the participant, treatment team, and community providers to support successful movement to a lower level of care, outpatient services, recovery housing, permanent housing, or other appropriate supports.

Coordinate with internal CSS programs, shelter services, housing staff, peer support specialists, medical providers, behavioral health providers, and external partners to support integrated, participant-centered care.

Complete timely, accurate, and clinically appropriate documentation, including assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, group notes, service coordination activities, discharge plans, and other required records.

Participate in team meetings, case consultation, supervision, and care coordination activities to support participant safety, quality of care, and program effectiveness.

Respond appropriately to participant distress, conflict, relapse risk, or behavioral health concerns by using de-escalation, safety planning, consultation, and referral to higher levels of care when clinically indicated.

Maintain professional boundaries, protect participant confidentiality, follow agency policies and procedures, and comply with applicable Medicaid, licensing, accreditation, and confidentiality requirements.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Education Requirement: Certification as a Chemical Dependency Counselor (CDC) 1 or higher by the Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health Certification (ACBHC) or certification by another certifying body, such as a state certifying affiliate of the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)

Minimum Experience Requirement: One (1) year of experience in direct services role.

A valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and reliable personal vehicle are required. Employees must use their personal vehicle for work-related travel, including meeting with clients and partners. Employees may begin employment with a valid out-of-state driver’s license but must obtain a valid Alaska driver’s license within 90 days of their date of hire..

Obtain Qualified Addiction Professional (QAP) approval within (3) years of the Provisional Provider Application approval date with the State of Alaska.

Work Environment

Work Environment

Work is performed primarily in a residential treatment environment serving adults with substance use disorders and co-occurring behavioral health needs. The position may involve responding to behavioral health crises, participant conflict, or other situations requiring sound judgment, de-escalation, and professional boundaries.

Travel out of Alaska is rare. Occasional travel within Anchorage is required.

Location: Sister Rosalie Center for Recovery located at 1021 E 3rd Ave, Anchorage AK 99501

This position starts 1/04/2027