Certified Associate Counselor (CAC-AD)

NOTE: This position will initially serve clients in both Greenbelt, MD and Baltimore City, MD

Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas empowers self-reliance and inspires hope. As a church without walls, we do this through personalized housing, ministry, health, and human services that benefit vulnerable individuals, their families and the community. Founded in 1896 in Baltimore, MD by social reformers, Ballington and Maud Booth, we were one of the first of over 30 affiliates of Volunteers of America – one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive human services organizations.

Our founders envisioned a movement dedicated to reaching and uplifting the American people. On behalf of the organization, the Booths pledged “to go wherever we are needed, and do whatever comes to hand”. Their declaration continues to guide Volunteers of America's impact on “Helping America’s most vulnerable”.

Through a dedicated and committed team of more than 850 employees and thousands of volunteers, we provide critical care, support services and hope to thousands of people each year throughout Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and the Carolinas. We firmly believe our employees drive the success of the organization. Through our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, we endeavor to attract, engage and retain qualified, diverse, compassionate individuals to join our journey and experience a work environment that offers challenging, stimulating and financially rewarding opportunities.

JOB SUMMARY

The SUD Counselor (CAC-AD) is responsible for conducting individual and group counseling, conducting individual client services, intake, developing and implementing individual treatment and recovery plans (ISP/ITP/IRP); and providing and coordinating clinical care services in accordance with VOA Chesapeake’s operation as an ASAM Level 0.5 2.1 – Outpatient Treatment Provider. In this role, the SUD Counselor-AD provides client services that are essential for assisting the client the achievement of rehabilitation and recovery goals as defined in the client’s Individualized Plan of Care (IPC). The SUD Counselor has the overall responsibility for providing person-centered services through the development and implementation of the client’s treatment and recovery plan.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage a caseload of approximately 30 adults and 25 adolescents at any given time.
• The SUD Counselor-AD is responsible for ensuring that the client is at the appropriate level of care.
• Responsible for linking clients as they transition through the levels of care, ensuring that the treatment plan is formulated.
• Provides oversight of linkages to off-site services to meet additional needs related to a co-occurring medical and/or psychiatric condition, as documented in the treatment plan.
• Monitor the compliance with, and effectiveness of, services over the treatment period and make a determination of the frequency of ongoing assessments.
• Provide Individual, Family, and Group Counseling; Group-based Psychoeducation, according to the client’s assessed needs.
• Provide Initial, Comprehensive and Brief assessments/screenings; and as needed diagnose
• Provide Crisis intervention services
• Conduct education to include training on HIV to assigned clients
• Assist with providing access to testing and referrals for HIV and infectious diseases and coordination of services with medical care or specialty services related to an infectious disease
• Attend comprehensive treatment team and assessment meetings on each client as part of the interdisciplinary team
• Schedule clients for ongoing assessments to ensure continuity of care
• Facilitate implementation completion of treatment plan and administrative facilitation of the client’s service needs, including but not limited to scheduling of appointments, assisting in completing applications, facilitating transportation, tracking appointments, and collecting information about the client’s progress.
• Assist the client in the development of interpersonal and community coping/life skills necessary to remain sober and maintain recovery.
• Assist the client in the development of relapse and symptom management strategies and recovery plans.
• Transport or coordinate transportation for clients as needed
• Adheres to Volunteers of America Chesapeake’s documentation requirements
• Documents all billable activities SUD/Recovery /VOACC Standards (as required)
• Complete billing/Progress notes within 48 hours of a face-to-face encounter (as required)
• Establish and maintain a community resources and referral index.
• Perform duties as outlined in Program’s Operation Manual.
• Perform duties as assigned.
• Meet assigned weekly/monthly productivity requirements

• Candidates must possess at minimum a Certified Associate Counselor certification and at least two years’ experience providing services as a licensed clinician or at minimum one year as a resident under supervision of a licensed professional counselor, licensed social worker, or a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor, specifically working with persons experiencing substance use disorders (SUD), serious mental health illness (SMI) or co-occurring disorders (COD)
• Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s Degree, preferred) in the health or human service field.
• Most importantly, the candidate must be able to develop strong collaborative-working relationships with clients using appropriate patient-centered communication skills, as well as with the community - specifically with the appropriate municipal, county, city, and state agencies and other non-profit agencies, including the faith-based community.
• The selected candidate will be able to provide clinical/therapeutic individual and group counseling services, applying case management skills to maintain client records using appropriate clinical recording keeping/management skills.
• Language abilities in Spanish, Farsi, Amharic and Korean is also a plus.
• Experience providing effective training, preparing written reports, and the documentation & maintenance of client data using an electronic client record system.
• Experience in Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centered Approach, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is preferred.

OTHER:

• Background Check includes CPS and state fingerprinting checks

• Employee Type:
  Full-Time
• Location:
  Greenbelt, MD
• Career Type:
  Nonprofit - Social Services
• Experience:
  At least 2 year(s)
• Date Posted:
  7/28/2021