Behavior - Associate Clinical Social Worker

We are an FQHC community health center dedicated to embodying the values central to American Indian cultures. This includes respect for our patients, acknowledgement of the whole person, and a focus on working together to ensure health for the individual, and therefore the community.

We invite persons of all tribes, ethnic backgrounds and walks of life to experience the comprehensive care we deliver and to contribute to the services we provide for children, youth, families, adults, and elders.

Under the Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Aftercare (SAPTA) grant funded by the Indian Health Service (IHS), the SAPTA Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) serves as an Integrated Behavioral Health provider within the primary care and behavioral health settings. This position operates within SDCHC’s Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) integrated care model and the organization’s HRSA-approved scope of project under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, ensuring alignment between IHS SAPTA grant deliverables and Health Center Program requirements.

The purpose of the SAPTA program is to strengthen substance use prevention, treatment, and aftercare services for American Indian/Alaska Native communities through culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, and evidence-based approaches.

The SAPTA ASW is responsible for providing Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) services for patients who screen positive on substance use and behavioral health screening tools, including AUDIT-C and other SBIRT-related screeners.

The ASW delivers brief interventions, supports warm handoffs, provides short-term therapy, and maintains current knowledge of internal and community-based cultural programs and services to support coordinated and culturally grounded patient care.

This position contributes to behavioral health integration, improved referral processes, patient engagement in cultural services, and compliance with SAPTA documentation and reporting requirements.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to perform all job-related activities as outlined below.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Integrated Behavioral Health & SBIRT Services

Provide brief interventions for patients who screen positive on AUDIT-C, SBIRT screeners, PHQ-9 with co-occurring substance use risk, or other approved screening tools.

Deliver motivational interviewing-based brief interventions within medical, dental, and behavioral health settings.

• Respond to same-day warm handoffs from primary care providers.
• Conduct biopsychosocial assessments and determine appropriate level of care.

Initiate referrals to SUD counseling, psychiatric services, intensive case management, inpatient or detox services, and culturally appropriate programs as indicated.

Document all clinical services in the electronic health record in compliance with SAPTA, GPRA, and Uniform Data System (UDS) requirements.

Provide services to all patients regardless of ability to pay, consistent with SDCHC’s Sliding Fee Discount Program and Health Center Program requirements (Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act).

Complete visit documentation that supports FQHC billing requirements, including Medi-Cal PPS-billable behavioral health visits rendered by an ASW under required supervision, in accordance with SDCHC billing and coding policies.

Short-Term Clinical Intervention

• Provide short-term, evidence-based psychotherapy for mild to moderate substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.
• Utilize trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strength-based approaches.
• Provide relapse prevention planning, harm reduction education, and safety planning when appropriate.
• Collaborate with Case Managers, SUD Counselors, LCSWs, and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners to ensure continuity of care.

Cultural & Community Resource Integration

Maintain an updated understanding of SDCHC behavioral health programs, cultural services, and community-based substance use prevention and recovery resources.

Support referrals to Wellbriety Talking Circles, Boys & Girls Wellbriety Talking Circles, Youth Center programming, spiritual and cultural services, and community partners.

• Assist in tracking referral completion and engagement in culturally appropriate services.
• Participate in internal and community meetings that strengthen referral pathways and culturally grounded service delivery.

Grant Documentation & Reporting

Accurately document SBIRT services, assessments, referrals, and patient outcomes.

Support SAPTA data collection related to screening rates, referral follow-through, and cultural service utilization.

Support Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting and related clinical quality measures, including SBIRT and depression screening and follow-up, in accordance with HRSA Health Center Program requirements.

Maintain organized and audit-ready records in accordance with IHS SAPTA guidelines and the HRSA Health Center Program Compliance Manual.

• Participate in quality improvement and program evaluation activities.
• Compliance, Confidentiality & Professional Standards

Maintain strict confidentiality of participant information in compliance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2 (Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records), SDCHC policies, and grant requirements

Ensure all activities comply with HRSA Health Center Program requirements, IHS SAPTA guidelines, SDCHC policies, and applicable regulations.

• Maintain accurate, organized, and audit-ready records at all times.
• Complete all required trainings and certifications as required by SDCHC and the SAPTA program.
• Maintain active ASW registration and participate in required clinical supervision.
• Function within SDCHC’s HRSA-approved scope of project and conduct all clinical activities within the scope of employment to maintain Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) coverage.

Other Duties

Perform other related duties as assigned to support SAPTA program objectives and organizational needs

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited institution.
• Current registration as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
• Eligible to work under clinical supervision toward LCSW licensure.

At least one (1) year of experience or clinical training in behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, or integrated care settings

Preferred

• Experience serving a multicultural population, American Indian/Alaska Natives in particular.
• Experience in Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and/or public health settings.
• Experience implementing Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT).
• Experience providing brief interventions, motivational interviewing, or trauma-informed care.
• Familiarity with grant-funded program documentation and reporting requirements, including UDS, GPRA, and HRSA/IHS grant reporting.
• Knowledge of culturally grounded behavioral health practices and community-based recovery resources

Special Conditions of Employment

• Maintain active ASW registration in good standing with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
• Participate in required clinical supervision in accordance with state licensure requirements.

Successful completion of SDCHC credentialing and privileging requirements prior to providing clinical services, including obtaining a National Provider Identifier (NPI) and completing payer enrollment as required for FQHC billing.

CPR/BLS certification: Maintain a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Red Cross, or an equivalent organization. Certification must include an in-person, hands-on skills assessment. Online-only certifications are not accepted.

Annual background checks: Consent to annual background checks as a condition of continuous employment, to ensure compliance with organizational standards and eligibility requirements.

For-Cause Drug Screening: Comply with drug screening requirements when initiated by the organization for cause, to support a safe, compliant, and drug-free workplace.

Ongoing Compliance Requirements: Maintain up-to-date compliance with all required annual renewals including professional licenses, certifications, physical examinations. TB testing, and mandatory regulatory trainings as assigned by the San Diego American Indian Health Center (SDAIHC).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of SBIRT and integrated behavioral health models within primary care settings and the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) model of care.

Knowledge of substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions, and trauma-informed care principles.

• Strong clinical assessment, brief intervention, and crisis intervention skills.
• Ability to develop appropriate treatment plans and determine level of care.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent documentation skills and ability to maintain accurate electronic health records.
• Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and meticulous clinical records.
• Knowledge of federal confidentiality requirements applicable to substance use disorder records (42 CFR Part 2) and FQHC compliance and reporting requirements (HRSA Section 330, UDS, GPRA).
• Effective interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport with diverse populations.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with physicians and interdisciplinary healthcare professionals.
• Ability to work collaboratively within an integrated healthcare team.
• Must be reliable, professional, and ethically grounded.
• Proficiency in MS Office and electronic health record systems; eClinicalWorks (eCW) experience preferred.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions