SUD Counselor

Position Summary:

Person in this position will be responsible for providing leadership, program planning, and the delivery of face-to-face AOD counseling, assessment and treatment planning for the Fresno City College Foster Youth Educational Enhancement Program activities and services to Students participating in the program. They will also function as the campus manager and become part of the FCC Community Services Team. Essential Job Functions include those listed below.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide leadership, program planning, and implementation of SAMHSA grant, which provides services to Fresno City College Foster youth.
• Provides overall programmatic and administrative leadership on campus, including working with the staff and community partners to ensure meeting milestones and deliverables of the project.
• Responsible for developing a work plan to ensure attainment of project goals and deliverables.
• Oversite of staff including hiring, orientation, training, and evaluation.
• Ensure program complies with internal and external evaluation requirements including those outlined by the funding sources.
• Provide evidence-based CBT programs and other life skills curriculum to participants;
• Participate in screening and staffing of referrals
• Complete assessment of each client for their individual strengths, needs, abilities and preferences
• Deliver individual and group educational, prevention and counseling services.
• Utilize motivational interviewing techniques, therapeutic relationships, individual counseling, and brief interventions based on the stages of change, education and community outreach services, and referrals to appropriate services and community resources;
• Have knowledge and experience in Living in Balance, Seeking Safety and Thinking For Change
• Oversee and provide intake and program orientation for the client including, but not limited to, assessment of social functioning and the development, implementation and ongoing review of the clients Individual Plans.
• Participate in facilitating ancillary services, i.e. support groups, continuing care, networking with community agencies, developing and updating referral and resource information;
• Monitor the clients progress with their individualized service plans though all phases of the program;
• Make appropriate referrals to outside agencies, as needed;
• Provide treatment and evidence-based education groups on the basic concepts emotional incarceration, relapse prevention, motivation for treatment and the stages of change, communicable diseases, cognitive skills, conflict resolution, fundamental social skills, and personal moral development;
• Maintenance of individual client treatment files in accordance with agency policies and procedures, including documentation of vocational/educational activities as well as all other pertinent documentation and ensure files are securely stored;
• Maintain all information according to the laws of confidentiality as required by the Federal Register, General Provisions, Title 42, Chapter 1, Part 2, which prohibits making disclosures without the specific written consent of the client, or as otherwise permitted by such regulations;
• Enter all individual client data on a daily basis into the WestCare Clinical Data System (CDS)
• Prepare and submit all reports as required; evaluate progress of participants in weekly team meetings;
• Work with foster youth involved with criminal justice systems to development and implement a rehabilitative discharge plans;
• Attend all required staff development training, including WestCare in-service training such as conducting assessments, clinical skills, developing service plans, emotional incarceration, relapse prevention, motivation for treatment and stages of change, cognitive skills, conflict resolution, social skills, moral development, communicable diseases, and self-help groups;
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of WestCare Foundation; and
• Perform any other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licenses:

• Alcohol and Drug Registration and actively pursuing Certification, in good standing by an agency approved and recognized by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is required at time of hire; Preference will be given to those candidates who are currently Certified;

Education:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college with a degree in Addiction Counseling, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology or related field is preferred;
• High School Diploma or equivalent is required;

Experience and Competencies:

• Two (2) years of experience in providing direct counseling services to persons with alcohol and/or drug problems is preferred;
• Knowledge of foster youth, offender populations, criminal subcultures, and cultural differences, substance abuse assessment tools;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion;
• Ability to work well in a team environment;
• Adherence to the highest standard of ethical conduct, especially to standards governing confidentiality;

• Professional appearance and demeanor;
• Must be culturally/linguistically sensitive to populations served;
• Ability to obtain and maintain background clearance;
• Valid drivers license and ability to obtain and maintain WestCares vehicle insurance is required; and
• CPR Certification, First Aid Certification and an annual Tuberculosis test. As mandated by the State of California those employees who work at Residential, Outpatient, Sober Living, provide Mental Health Services, or Transitional Living Facilities must be fully vaccinated by September 30, 2021. Employees that have requested a Medical or Religious Exemption, which has been approved by Human Resources will be required to test for the virus weekly.
• During your tenure with WestCare there may be new requirements, including, but not limited to vaccinations that are issued by local, State, Federal, and/or Funders that WestCare may have to comply with. Should this occur Human Resources or appropriate personnel will inform you