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Community Solutions
Santa Barbara, California

Substance Abuse Counselor, DRC

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$29.97-$32.97/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 29m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Details: Job Location: CA - Santa Barbara DRC - Santa Barbara, CA, Position Type: Full Time, Education Level: Bachelors Degree, Salary Range: $29.97 - $32.97Hourly, Travel Percentage: Up to 25%, Job Shift: Various Shift Hours, Join Our Mission to Make a Lasting Impact!

Job Title: Substance Abuse Counselor Location: Santa Barbara, CA Work Hours: Mon/Tues/Fri 9:00am to 5:00pm, Wed/Thurs 12:00pm to 8:00pm Hourly Rate: $29.97 (Qualified and Certification Eligible - Must get certification within 6 months) to $32.97 (Certified) per hour Company Overview Community Solutions Inc. (CSI) is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting responsible citizenship, accountability, and the well-being of individuals and families involved, or at risk of involvement, in the child welfare, juvenile justice, or criminal justice systems.

Since 1962, CSI has pioneered community-based services that deliver supervision, treatment, and individualized support, empowering clients to reintegrate successfully into society.

From establishing the first halfway house in New England to expanding to almost 50 programs in 9 states, CSI remains at the forefront of social change, serving thousands of adults, youth, and families each year. For more information, visit csi-online.org.

About the Role We are looking for a passionate and driven Substance Abuse Counselor to join our team at the Day Reporting Center (DRC) in Santa Barbara, CA. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in helping individuals on parole successfully reenter society.

Our DRCs provide community-based alternatives to incarceration, where clients work closely with case managers and employment specialists to develop meaningful goals and make positive changes in their lives.

This position will provide assessment, individual and group counseling treatment for selected substance abusers in residential and out client settings. Act as resource to clients and their families/significant others in area of substance abuse.

If you are someone who believes in second chances and wants to help others achieve their potential, this role is for you! What You’ll Do As a Substance Abuse Counselor, you will: Assess all new intakes to determine presence and extent of Substance Abuse history.

Recommend substance abuse treatment plan goals to case managers or probation officers that realistically address the needs of the substance abuse client population including broad based community support. Provide and document weekly individual counseling for assigned caseload.

Provide educational information and referrals to outside agencies for families/significant others of substance abuse population. Conduct support group meetings for assigned population on substance abuse issues and document those sessions.

Provide individual and group counseling, and educational services to all Agency clients. Complete client related documentation and maintain client files and statistics. Maintain and disseminate listings of AA, NA, CA or ACOA area meetings to clients and significant others.

Complete monthly progress reports and closing summaries of assigned caseload. Perform urine screening duties as required and in accordance with Agency policy. Maintain a working knowledge of and abide by the Agency’s programs, policies, and procedures. Perform other tasks as assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualifications

Qualifications required: Bachelor’s degree required with at least three years of experience preferred. Substance abuse treatment experience beyond two years may be substituted for educational requirements on a two for one basis.

State license or certification required or at least two years of supervised substance abuse treatment experience with certification eligibility within one year of hire Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills desired. Experience with Microsoft Office.

Benefits Vacation

2 weeks in the first year, 3 weeks after 1 year of service. Sick Leave: 7 days per year. Floating Holidays: 4 days per year. Comprehensive Medical and Dental plans. Voluntary vision, FSA, short-term disability, accident, hospital, life insurance, and AD&D options. 401(k) plan with 100% company match up to 4% of your contribution. Tuition Reimbursement after 1 year of service. Ongoing professional development and training.

Why Join CSI? At CSI, you’ll be part of a compassionate and forward-thinking team dedicated to transforming lives and promoting long-term community safety.

As an Employment Specialist, you will have the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals as they work toward independence and stability after incarceration.

If you are passionate about social justice, believe in people’s potential for growth, and want to be part of a team creating lasting change, this is the perfect role for you. Apply Today! Join us in empowering individuals to rebuild their lives. Be part of the change—become an Employment Specialist at CSI.

CSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer – M/F/Disability/Vet. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor will conduct assessments, provide individual and group counseling, and develop treatment plans for clients in the criminal justice system. They are also responsible for maintaining client files, documenting progress, and facilitating referrals to community support services.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree is required, with at least three years of experience preferred, or equivalent substance abuse treatment experience. Candidates must hold or be eligible for state certification in substance abuse counseling.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Case managementTreatment planningCrisis interventionReferral services

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 30% have no call, 60% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$65k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $59k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

40 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution40 jobs · 32 employers

12
<$90k
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$90k-105k
5
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8
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3
$135k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks31 jobs

401k / retirement match
90% this job
CME allowance
35%
Sign-on bonus
32%
Loan repayment
16%
PSLF eligible
13%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 30% of Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,008 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Santa Barbara

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.91M
Typical market rent
$3,692/mo
Residents’ average commute
17 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.8
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

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About Community Solutions

Individual and Family Services
Windsor, Connecticut
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Vacation: 2 weeks first year, 3 weeks after 1 year
Sick Leave: 7 days per year
Floating Holidays: 4 days per year
Comprehensive Medical and Dental plans
Voluntary vision, FSA, short-term disability, accident, hospital, life insurance, and AD&D options
401(k) plan with 100% company match up to 4%
Tuition Reimbursement after 1 year of service
Ongoing professional development and training