Substance Use Counselor

Arizona Department of Administration•Buckeye, AZ

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR) is seeking a Substance Use Counselor to clinically assess and treat offenders and justice-challenged individuals at the Arizona State Prison Complex – Lewis in Buckeye, Arizona. The role provides real clinical experience and supports ADCRR’s mission to enhance public safety through effective correctional practices and meaningful engagement. The counselor delivers substance-use education and group therapy, conducts individual clinical assessments and counseling sessions, maintains clinical records, develops individual treatment plans, and coordinates transitional pre-release planning with case managers. The role also involves participating in clinical staffings and meetings, maintaining statistical data, and interacting with community resource providers and security staff. Travel or driving on state business may be required.

Requirements

Must hold an Arizona license as a Licensed Independent Addiction Counselor (LIAC), Licensed Associate Addiction Counselor (LAAC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), or Psychologist.
Pass a background investigation and drug test.
If driving is an essential function, possess and retain a current, valid, class-appropriate driver’s license, complete required training, and pass required driver’s license record checks; maintain an acceptable driving record.
If operating a personally owned vehicle on state business, maintain the statutorily required liability insurance.
Complete a tuberculosis test during New Employee Orientation and annually thereafter.
Successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
Knowledge of addiction and treatment practices and protocols, counseling techniques, adult learning processes, ADCRR policies and procedures, correctional security practices, computers and software including Microsoft Office and Google Suite, and professional English, grammar, and spelling.
Skills in verbal and written communication, developing and maintaining interpersonal relationships, organization and time management, active listening, counseling and interviewing, and collecting and maintaining accurate data, documents, and clinical records.
Ability to deliver program curriculum in a classroom, interact professionally with inmates/offenders in group and individual settings and with security staff and the public, work in a secure correctional/prison environment, collect and maintain statistical data, and work independently with minimal supervision.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree from an accredited school with a major in psychology, counseling, or a related field.
Independent licensure.
Two years of counseling experience.

Responsibilities

Conduct substance-use education classes and therapy groups with inmate/offender participants.
Conduct one-on-one clinical assessments and counseling sessions.
Maintain clinical records.
Participate in clinical staffings and meetings.
Develop individual substance-abuse treatment plans with inmate/offender program participants.
Coordinate transitional pre-release planning with case managers and maintain accurate statistical data.
Interact with community resource providers and security staff.
Travel or drive on state business.
Perform other duties appropriate to the assignment.

Benefits

Vacation and sick days, with 10 paid holidays per year.
Paid parental leave of up to 12 weeks per year for a newborn or newly placed foster or adopted child (pilot program).
Affordable insurance options including medical, dental, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability.
Arizona State Retirement System participation; enrollment eligibility becomes effective after 27 weeks of employment.
Optional deferred compensation plans and credit union membership.
Wellness program.
Incentivized commuter club and public transportation subsidy program.
Potential paid conferences and workshops when possible.
Potential clinical supervision for independent licensure.
A $5,000 hiring incentive for eligible new hires while approved funding remains: $2,500 upfront and $2,500 after three months of employment.
Potential eligibility for the National Health Service Corps Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program, offering up to $75,000 in repayment for three years of employment; this is not guaranteed by ADCRR.