Addictions Counselor I

Fora Health•Portland, OR

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Addictions Counselor (AC) provides professional and evidence-based treatment for individuals experiencing substance use disorders. The AC is a core member of a multi-disciplinary team, collaborating with medical providers, mental health professionals, and peer mentors to deliver evidence-based behavioral health interventions. This role requires a robust understanding of trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, medication-supported recovery, and harm-reduction strategies. The AC ensures that Fora Health's mission of creating freedom from addiction is the foundation for service delivery.

Requirements

Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor 1 certification required; or for internal candidates a CADC-R or obtaining CADC-R within 90 days of hire.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite esp. Outlook, Excel and Word.
Ability to type 40 words per minute using a standard keyboard.
Detail-oriented and organized.
Demonstrated effectiveness in presenting ideas, transmitting information, or convey concepts to individuals or groups of people of varying educational, cultural and experiential levels.
Ability to maintain professional boundaries with patients, the community, and other staff members.
Ability to work collaboratively with patients, other treatment program staff, team members, and to treat everyone with respect and dignity at all times.
Written and organizational skills to complete all required documentation.
Communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
Ability to establish rapport.
Display initiative and problem-solving skills independently.
Demonstrates knowledge of and ability to record treatment plans, session notes and progress of patient in relation to treatment goals and objectives consistent with agency standards.
Demonstrates ability to facilitate groups.
Marked ability to demonstrate and utilize self-awareness.
Basic understanding of mental health disorders and symptom presentation.
For employees with a history of substance use disorder, certification of a minimum of two years of sobriety is required.
Ability to pass pre-employment or for cause drug tests.
Ability to pass DHS criminal background check.
Completed registration with Oregon Health Authority (DMAP) and National Plan and Provider Identifier (NPI).

Nice To Haves

Willingness to complete QMHA credential is preferred.
Bilingual with demonstrated written and verbal fluency in Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

Perform clinical evaluations, develop treatment plans, and manage insurance authorizations.
Gather and interpret assessment data, utilizing ASAM criteria to determine medical necessity and level of care.
Formulate mutually agreed-upon treatment plans with measurable outcomes and evidence-based interventions.
Track and document patient progress, updating treatment plans at regular intervals.
Apply placement, continued stay, and completion/transition criteria based on medical necessity and patient preferences.
Conduct and document continuing care, relapse prevention, and completion/transition planning.
Complete progress reports for referents and other appropriate entities.
Document all patient encounters, progress, and outcomes in the electronic medical record within 24 hours.
Establish and maintain partnerships with community resources.
Manage caseload, track legal requirements for DHS or legally involved patients, and ensure timely chart closure.
Send Transfer Summaries to referents within 5 days of patient discharge.
Establish a helping relationship with patients characterized by professionalism, warmth, respect, genuineness, concreteness, and compassion.
Facilitate patient engagement in the treatment and recovery process using Motivational Interviewing.
Provide individual and group counseling, individualizing services throughout the episode of care.
Demonstrate cultural humility and awareness of patients' individualized needs.
Explain and support abstinence-based, medication-assisted, and/or harm reduction models of treatment.
Reduce stigma through increased understanding of substance use disorders and the healthcare system.
Describe health and behavior problems related to substance use, including transmission and prevention of infectious diseases, and provide referrals as needed.
Teach life skills, including stress management, relaxation, communication, and refusal skills.
Complete continuing education classes and maintain required credentials.
Document all referral activity and arrange/assist patients in following through with referrals.
Exchange and document relevant information with referring agencies, ensuring 42CFR Part 2 compliance.
Develop collaborative relationships with mental health practitioners, prescribers, PO's, ADSS/ADES'S, EAP, DHS, and insurance authorization representatives.
Contribute to a high-quality patient experience by being a flexible and positive team member.
Support overage needs within all departments as assigned by supervisor.
Cross-department coverage at all levels of care (outpatient, intensive outpatient, residential, and intake assessments).
Attend and participate in treatment team and clinical supervision meetings.
Build, strengthen, and maintain effective working relationships with clinical team members, management, and community partners.
Communicate and collaborate effectively with staff from other departments.
Maintain cleanliness and safety of the work environment.
Perform additional related tasks as assigned.
Maintain flexibility in scheduling to meet changing needs of the program, setting, and team environments.
Participate in the development of and working toward department quarterly and annual goals.
Manage a caseload of patients, meeting individually and facilitating groups as indicated by the level of care.
Ensure attempts to engage no-show patients are completed and documented.
Maintain a minimum of 55% direct care hours (22 billable hours/week for full-time employees).
Demonstrate ethical behaviors by adhering to established professional codes of ethics.
Adhere to Federal and State laws, accreditation board standards, and agency policies regarding substance use disorders and confidentiality.
Recognize the importance of individual differences that influence patient behavior.
Actively participate in ongoing supervision and consultation.
Develop and utilize strategies to maintain one's own physical and mental health.
Maintain current addiction counselor certification and any licensure held at time of hire.
Meet or exceed patient outcome goals (engagement, retention, and completion).