POSITION OVERVIEW:
We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counselor to join our Youth for Change Program in Oakland. The Youth for Change program aims to reduce the risk of substance use and dependence among young people through direct services and by raising awareness of available support among key community members and organizations. This position requires authenticity, motivation, and enthusiasm for working effectively with the youth population.
The SUD Counselor is responsible for conducting screening and outreach, intakes/assessments and providing individual, group, and family counseling, psychoeducation, case management, and other support services to youth between the ages of 12 and 21 years of age in our Youth for Change Program. The ideal candidate will provide SUD treatment to youth in various schools across Alameda County, at the Juvenile Justice Center, in community and at the clinic. This position will report to the Assistant Director/ Director/ Program Supervisor. This is a full-time 37.5 hour per week position. Some evening availability is required. This role will uphold and champion the agency’s mission, vision, and values and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive work culture.
Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:
Outreach
- Locate, identify and initiate the engagement process for individuals eligible for services by frequenting locations throughout Alameda County with a focus on the Oakland and Alameda areas;
- Establish working partnerships with stakeholders and referral organizations including schools, youth centers, youth justice systems, behavioral health agencies, and similar;
- Maintain positive agency relations with other service providers to provide enhanced services for youth;
- Accurately and thoroughly represent the importance and value of substance use services for youth, and specifically the services offered within this program.
Direct Services to Clients
- Conduct initial screening, intakes and assessments;
- Develop comprehensive service plans in collaboration with clients, and place clients in appropriate levels of care.
- Conduct individual, group, and family counseling sessions.
- Proactively link clients to both internal and external resources by providing appropriate case management services. These include linkages to employment, training and education, primary care, mental health and any other supportive services based on assessed needs.
- Maintain accurate documentation of all services offered to clients while adhering to agency, County, State and Federal requirements around timeliness for all client files;
- Develop and implement psychoeducational workshops and activities for youth and family engagement.
- Have a knowledge of all confidentiality, ethical requirements, and the HIPAA regulations.
- Represent clients and intervene on their behalf with probation officers, school teachers and school administration etc.
- Meet with LPHA within specified deadlines to establish medical necessity to ensure continuous services for clients.
- Maintain and submit all program documentation and reports in an accurate and timely manner;
- Actively identify and engage new clients by developing relationships with referral sources and guiding/implementing grassroots outreach strategies;
- Participate in all agency activities, meetings, training, events, etc. as assigned by the Program Supervisor
Other
- Attend all trainings, meetings and events as assigned by department leadership.
- Track and regularly report on key metrics for responsible function areas including productivity.
- Leads and/ or collaborate on special projects related to agency objectives as appropriateÂ
