SUD COUNSELOR (CERTIFIED) - PIR/PIRM

Career Opportunities with Neighborhood House Association

About NHA

The Neighborhood House Association is a non-profit organization. Head Start positions are funded in whole or in part by money provided through the State and Federal Government. Additionally, some Social Service Program positions may be funded in whole or in part through grant funds. Because positions and salaries may be funded through grants, and State and Federal funds ongoing employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these funds.

Our EEO Policy

Neighborhood House Association is an equal opportunity employer (Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans). We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law. To read more about this, view the EEO is the Law poster and this EEO is the Law Poster Supplement.

Eligible Employees Receive the Following Benefits

• 15 Holidays Days
• 401(K) Retirement 6% Match
• Paid Vacation and Sick Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement up $2,500
• 2 Personal Days
• Group Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Agency-Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Live Well Program
• 4 Paid Days Annual Bereavement (Note Total of 5 days of bereavement leave per loss)
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
• Voluntary Benefits: Life and AD&D Accident, Short-Term Disability, and Critical Illness Insurance
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Medical and dental benefits are provided to regular employees who work a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Position Purpose

The Certified Substance Use Counselor provides services to incarcerated individuals age 18 and older with substance use, mental health challenges or co-occurring disorders as they prepare for release from detention facilities.

Services include Targeted Case Management (TCM) which include individual and group sessions and coordination of community-based resources to support successful reentry and continuity of care.

The position is responsible for providing services consistent with applicable fee-for-service requirements under the CalAIM Behavioral Health Linkage model, maintaining required productivity standards, and ensuring accurate and timely documentation of services.

The counselor applies culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented practices to serve individuals across diverse cultural, linguistic, social, and reentry backgrounds.

The position also follows through on referrals and service linkages to support client engagement and service efficacy and performs related work as required.

Examples of Essential Duties

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this position.

Provides Targeted Case Management services in accordance with applicable medical necessity, documentation, service authorization, billing, and fee-for-service requirements, as applicable to the program and service delivered.

Conducts crisis intervention, identifies client needs, and coordinates referrals and linkages to mental health treatment, substance use treatment, housing, employment, and other community-based support services.

Completes job readiness activities, including employment applications, community resource linkages, and mock interviews.

Collaborates with a multidisciplinary team and consults with management as needed to coordinate services, address barriers, and support client progress and continuity of care.

Completes treatment/service plans, progress notes, and other required documentation; maintains accurate and timely client charts, service records, logs, and related documentation in accordance with program, contractual, and regulatory requirements.

Meets established productivity expectations, including required service delivery, documentation, and reporting standards, while maintaining quality of care and compliance with applicable program requirements.

Provides direct transportation or schedules transportation with Medi-cal transportation to appointments and community service linkages and provides outreach and community engagement as needed.

Provides culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate services, when applicable, to individuals across diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, and lived-experience backgrounds. Applies multicultural best practices, cultural humility, and an understanding of the varied barriers individuals may encounter during reentry.

Ensures program safety, maintains positive working relationships with law enforcement and community partner agencies, and monitors client progress.

Demonstrates the ability and willingness to work effectively and respectfully with underserved and marginalized populations, including individuals with sex offender registration requirements, transgender and gender-diverse individuals, and individuals living with severe mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorders.

Applies cultural humility, trauma-informed practices, and person-centered approaches while recognizing the unique barriers, needs, and lived experiences that may affect access to services, treatment engagement, and successful reentry.

Performs other duties as assigned

Desired Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of case management principles, recovery-oriented care, and trauma-informed engagement strategies.

Experience conducting substance use and mental health assessments, intakes, service plans, and progress reviews.

Ability to facilitate individual and group counseling, psycho-educational and reentry-focused groups, and provide crisis intervention.

Skill in identifying client needs and securing appropriate linkages to housing, employment, vocational training, behavioral health, and community-based supports.

• Experience assisting clients with job readiness, applications, and mock interviews.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team and maintain strong partnerships with law enforcement, community agencies, and reentry stakeholders.
• Skilled in client advocacy and follow-through to ensure continuity of care.
• Knowledge of documentation standards, chart maintenance, data tracking, and accurate record keeping for accountability logs, client progress, and service delivery.
• Experience providing outreach, presentations, and community engagement;

Ability to maintain program safety standards and support a culturally responsive service environment for diverse populations, including homelessness, co-occurring disorders, SMI, and justice-involved adults.

Capable of exercising sound judgment within program policy guidelines; Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to operate computer software for documentation, spreadsheets, and database reporting; maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries; bilingual communication in English/Spanish is highly valued.

Knowledge Of

Assessment and treatment of clients with substance use and co-occurring disorders, including ASAM criteria, DSM-V diagnostic categories, motivational interviewing, CBT, and recovery-based care coordination best practices.

Cultural and socio-economic factors impacting LatinX, African American, and Transition Age Youth populations, as well as justice-involved adults.

• County’s System of Care, legal/ethical issues, criminogenic risks and needs, and human behavior theory.
• Local community, reentry, and mental health resources supporting incarcerated or recently released individuals.
• Group dynamics and facilitation strategies.

Ability To

Conduct clinical assessments and develop appropriate case management and treatment plans.

Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary partners, including corrections, probation/parole, courts, and community agencies.

Maintain accurate documentation, communicate effectively, and apply professional judgment with tact and cultural sensitivity.

Prioritize tasks, organize workload, interpret regulations, and operate standard office and database software.

Analyze complex service needs, identify solutions, and implement action plans in both office and field-based settings.

Experience and Training

High school diploma or GED equivalent required; an associate or bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, behavioral health, human services, or a related field is preferred.

Current and active Substance Use Disorder Counselor certification through a California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)-recognized certifying organization, such as CADTP, CCAPP, or CAADE.

Completion of the education, supervised experience, and examination requirements established by the applicable certifying organization.

Knowledge of substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions, evidence-based treatment approaches, relapse prevention, motivational interviewing, and recovery-oriented services.

Experience providing substance use disorder counseling, assessments, treatment planning, case management, and referrals to appropriate levels of care.

• Ability to maintain certification and complete all required continuing education throughout employment.
• Experience providing services to individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements

• Possess and maintain a valid California driver’s license and an acceptable driving record.
• Current and valid California automobile insurance is required.
• CPR/First Aid Certified, must obtain within 6 months of hire.
• TB test required upon hire and must be maintained every four (4) years.
• Transportation of clients in personal vehicles.
• Bilingual preferred; Bilingual candidates will be required to pass a bilingual competency test prior to their hire date.
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