Substance Abuse Counselor - CENS

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER INC•Los Angeles, CA

40d•$52,000 - $54,000•Onsite

About The Position

Under supervision and as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, to provide substance abuse education, screenings, referrals, and ancillary services to Medi-Cal and other Community participants who have been self-referred or referred as having or wanting substance abuse or co-occurring treatment assessment and referral to treatment.

Requirements

Certification with either CADDE or CADAAC Certification.
Minimum 2 years’ experience as a Chemical Dependency Specialist with experience in outreach, assessment, treatment and after care.
Familiarity with computers and Microsoft Word programs required (Microsoft Word & Excel especially).
Knowledge and required training for the use of The ASAM Criteria and ASAM Triage Screening Tools to ensure proper level of care referrals to county treatment providers.
Familiarity with signs and symptoms of domestic violence and mental illness.
Knowledge of related community resources for treatment of substance abuse, mental illness, and domestic violence.
Ability to communicate and work with a culturally diverse adult population as part of a multi-disciplinary assessment, referral and case management team.
Must have a current California driver’s license and be insurable by the Center’s auto insurance carrier.

Nice To Haves

Ability to speak Spanish or Armenian is desirable.
Individuals in recovery with at least two years of sobriety are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Maintain Chemical Dependency certification through a county approved certifying agency, CAADE or CADACC on an ongoing basis.
Screen and refer, using ASAM Triage screening tools, community participants for a substance abuse or co-occurring disorders.
Work closely with county partners and staff to provide screening and referral services.
Engage clients at CENS sites or in the field (e.g., streets, encampments, shelters, jails, etc.) at frequent intervals to gain their trust and motivate them to accept CENS treatment services.
Provide community participants, who are screened as positive for substance abuse or co-occurring disorders to a designated treatment agency and follow other policies and procedures of CENS contracts.
Refer, through collaboration with co-occurring, substance abuse and mental health providers, those clients assessed for having a co-occurring disorder.
Provide case management duties, when necessary or requested, to all Service Advocacy GAIN participants, who are screened and sent to either Mental Health or Domestic Violence providers or who are sent to the CENS for a screening for substance abuse or Co-occurring disorders. This case management will be conducted at least weekly until the participant makes their screening appointment
Compile and send reports to the Administrative Manager or Administrative Coordinator in a timely fashion.
Represent the CENS at various county and community meetings as requested by CENS Program Manager or Administrative Coordinator.
Provide substance abuse and CENS information to DPSS/GAIN/Probation/SAPC staff, for General Relief, DCFS, AB109, CalWORKs, or community participants, and community-based organizations.
Earn 24 hours of continuing education (8 HIV/AIDS CEUs) training per contract period received through State-approved counselor certifying organizations.
Perform other duties as assigned to include education sessions, outreach at co-located sites.
Conduct culturally, linguistically and population-appropriate education on SUD, coping strategies, relapse, overdose prevention, HIV/AIDS, medication assisted treatment (MAT), the county’s SUD treatment network, and as needed topics as identified and approved by DPH-SAPC.