Substance Use Counselor

Alpharus Health•Cochran, GA

27d•$19 - $20•Onsite

About The Position

Alpharus Health is a national nonprofit behavioral health provider delivering substance use and mental health treatment. The Substance Use Counselor works at the Bleckley PSATC correctional facility in Cochran, Georgia, providing assessment, counseling, treatment planning, crisis support, and administrative services. The schedule is Monday through Thursday, 6:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. The position serves a caseload of up to 25 clients and supports recovery, relapse prevention, and transition to continuing care.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in a helping profession from an accredited college or university.
Obtain a certification identified by the state within 24 months of the first date counseling services are provided. Acceptable certifications include GACA Certified Addiction Counselor, NAADAC Certified Addiction Counselor, ICRC Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor, or Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS). Acceptable licensures include LPC, LAPC, LCSW, LMFT, or CPCS.
Be able to obtain Georgia Department of Corrections clearance to work in a correctional institution.
Meet the physical requirements of the role, including walking and moving around the facility for up to two hours at a time; occasionally exerting up to 10 pounds of force and frequently or constantly exerting negligible force to move objects; using a keyboard and video display terminal; recording, proofreading, and checking documents; and responding to telephones and hearing alarms and unusual noises.

Nice To Haves

Previous counseling experience.
Experience in substance use disorder or mental health treatment.

Responsibilities

Conduct client interviews and assessments to review substance use disorder and treatment history.
Evaluate client responses to treatment and recommend treatment-plan modifications; assist with caseloads and individualized treatment plans, including appropriate goals, interventions, and support.
Assist with and provide didactic group counseling, including psychoeducation, drug education, and family education, to encourage peer support.
Provide individual counseling, educational programs, and lectures addressing relapse prevention, problem solving, behavior modification, anger management, recovery, adjustment to pro-social life, and cognitive and behavioral changes.
Manage a caseload of up to 25 clients in accordance with state and contract requirements.
Collaborate with clients on discharge summaries and continuing-care and relapse-prevention plans for supervisor approval, integrating aftercare with referral resources.
Coordinate required services to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations and support continued recovery.
Collect and maintain treatment records and reports to meet organizational, regulatory, accreditation, and contractual requirements.
Perform office administrative duties, including answering telephones, relaying messages, responding to inquiries about program services and policies, filing, photocopying, faxing, planning special events, and assembling intake packets.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents.
Employee wellness program promoting health and fitness and offering cash-saving premiums.
Employee assistance programs focused on mental health.
403(b) retirement plan with a 3% employer match.
Short-term and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and AD&D insurance paid for by Alpharus.
Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
18 paid time off days per year, with accrual rates increasing with years of service.
9 paid company holidays.
Training and development programs.
Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year.
eLearning access to online courses that provide CEUs and job-related training.
Formal and informal clinical supervision.
Annual performance reviews, with merit-increase eligibility determined by employee and organizational financial performance.