AOD Certified Substance Use Disorder Counselor

South Coast Children's Society•Costa Mesa, CA

About The Position

The Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Certified Substance Use Disorder Counselor provides comprehensive substance use disorder counseling, education, case coordination, recovery support, and related services to individuals experiencing substance use and co-occurring behavioral health conditions. As part of an interdisciplinary behavioral health team, the counselor assesses client needs; helps develop, implement, and review individualized treatment and recovery plans; provides individual and group counseling; supports engagement and retention in treatment; coordinates services; and documents care in accordance with agency, payer, contractual, and regulatory requirements. The position requires a current AOD/SUD counselor certification recognized by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), or another qualifying credential specifically permitted by the program and applicable regulations. The counselor works with clients in a range of potential settings, including offices, clinics, communities, schools, residential settings, and client homes. The role involves collaboration with licensed clinicians, medical professionals, case managers, peers, families, community providers, and other members of the treatment team. The position requires working within the counselor’s education, certification, competency, and authorized scope of practice, escalating clinical, medical, psychiatric, or safety concerns when necessary. The Agency is an equal opportunity employer and provides employment opportunities without unlawful discrimination or harassment under applicable federal and California law. This description outlines the general nature and level of work; responsibilities may be modified based on program, contractual, regulatory, and organizational needs. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Completion of applicable AOD/SUD counselor education and training requirements.
Current AOD/SUD counselor certification recognized by the California Department of Health Care Services through a DHCS-recognized certifying organization, such as CCAPP, CAADE, or CADTP, or another certification subsequently recognized by DHCS. Examples may include CADC, CATC, or SUDCC, depending on the certifying organization.
Maintain active certification in good standing throughout employment.
A registered counselor who has not yet obtained full certification may be considered only when permitted for the position and program and when all current DHCS registration, education, supervision, and certification-timeline requirements are met.
Successfully complete background checks, clearances, and health requirements applicable to the position and program.
Complete required continuing education and agency training.
Maintain current CPR/First Aid certification when required by the program.
Use an electronic health record and other agency technology required for essential job functions.
Work within the counselor’s education, certification, competency, and authorized scope of practice and follow applicable confidentiality, ethical, safety, and reporting requirements.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in behavioral health, psychology, social work, human services, addiction studies, or a related field.
Previous experience providing substance use disorder, behavioral health, recovery, case management, or related human services.
Experience serving individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions.
Experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and/or families with complex behavioral health needs, depending on program assignment.
Experience in Medi-Cal, Drug Medi-Cal, county-contracted, community behavioral health, or other publicly funded treatment environments.
Valid California driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and automobile insurance may be required for community-based positions.

Responsibilities

Conduct screenings, intake activities, substance use assessments, and other evaluations within the counselor’s authorized scope of practice.
Identify substance use patterns, recovery needs, treatment barriers, strengths, risk factors, and appropriate service needs.
Participate in developing, implementing, reviewing, and modifying individualized treatment and recovery plans.
Recognize signs of co-occurring mental health conditions and coordinate with licensed clinical professionals when needs exceed the counselor’s scope of practice.
Identify client-condition changes that may require additional clinical, medical, psychiatric, or crisis assessment.
Provide individual and group substance use disorder counseling within the counselor’s education, certification, competency, and authorized scope.
Facilitate psychoeducational and recovery-focused groups on topics such as substance use, relapse prevention, coping skills, triggers, recovery planning, decision-making, healthy relationships, and natural supports.
Use motivational interviewing and other evidence-informed engagement strategies as appropriate to the program and population served.
Help clients establish realistic, measurable treatment and recovery goals, identify high-risk situations, and develop strategies to support sustained recovery.
Engage family members, caregivers, and other natural supports when clinically appropriate and authorized by the client.
Coordinate services with interdisciplinary treatment-team members and external providers.
Help clients access behavioral health, medical, housing, educational, vocational, social service, recovery, and community resources.
Participate in case conferences, treatment-team meetings, care-coordination meetings, and other multidisciplinary activities.
Facilitate referrals to appropriate levels of care and community resources, and support continuity of care during transitions.
Maintain effective working relationships with community partners and referral sources.
Complete timely, accurate, objective, and clinically appropriate documentation, including assessments, treatment and recovery plans, counseling activities, progress notes, care coordination, referrals, and discharge planning.
Maintain client records in the agency’s electronic health record system and ensure documentation meets agency, contractual, payer, and regulatory requirements.
Protect client confidentiality under HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, California requirements, and agency policy; maintain professional boundaries and comply with applicable ethical standards.
Participate in documentation reviews, utilization review, quality improvement, compliance activities, and corrective action processes as required.
Recognize behavioral, substance-related, environmental, and other indicators requiring immediate intervention or escalation.
Follow agency procedures for suicidal ideation, self-harm, homicidal ideation, overdose risk, withdrawal concerns, abuse or neglect, and other safety concerns.
Consult promptly with licensed clinical, medical, supervisory, or emergency personnel when client needs exceed the counselor’s scope of practice.
Complete mandated and incident reports when applicable and participate in safety planning and crisis response within training and scope.
Collaborate with licensed clinicians, physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, case managers, peer professionals, family support staff, care coordinators, and other team members.
Communicate significant changes in client status to appropriate treatment-team members.
Participate in supervision, team meetings, case consultation, training, and professional development activities.
Maintain professional, respectful, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and client-centered interactions.
Complete required background checks, clearances, health requirements, continuing education, agency training, and certification maintenance.
Travel within the community and between agency locations when required, and use the electronic health record and other agency technology needed to perform essential functions.