Substance Use Counselor

Health Care for the Homeless•Baltimore, MD

14d•Onsite

About The Position

The Substance Use Counselor works as part of the Behavioral Health team to provide outpatient substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services to youth and adults experiencing homelessness. The role uses a trauma-informed, client-centered, harm-reduction approach that prioritizes dignity, autonomy, and practical strategies to improve health and safety. Services are delivered across Health Care for the Homeless locations, including fixed-site clinics, mobile clinics, and community-based settings, to meet clients where they are and reduce barriers to care. The counselor collaborates with an integrated multidisciplinary care team and with medical and behavioral health staff to support individualized care and treatment.

Requirements

Associate degree in a human services-related field.
Licensed or certified by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors in substance abuse counseling (CSC-AD, CAC-AD, or LCADC).
At least two years of experience working with individuals with substance use disorders.
Knowledge of harm reduction and commitment to translating its philosophy into practice.
Well-developed interpersonal skills to build trusting relationships with clients and community partners.
Ability to work on an interdisciplinary team and collaborate across disciplines and service locations.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work with individuals who may be ill, disabled, emotionally distressed, or experiencing crisis.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree.
Experience working with underserved populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness.

Responsibilities

Provide substance use and behavioral health assessments and interventions that support clients’ overall health and well-being using a harm-reduction, trauma-informed, non-judgmental approach.
Engage and re-engage clients across clinic, mobile, and community settings to reduce barriers to care and support ongoing connection to treatment.
Provide individual and group counseling to help clients identify goals related to safer substance use, treatment, or recovery based on their readiness for change.
Conduct screening, triage, intake, assessment, and referrals to appropriate levels of care, including detoxification, residential treatment, outpatient services, and recovery support when desired by the client.
Facilitate groups for clients with substance use or co-occurring disorders to promote health and safety and support movement along the continuum of change.
Participate on an integrated multidisciplinary care team to develop and implement individualized treatment plans with SMART goals reflecting client priorities and needs.
Contribute to interdisciplinary case conferences and care coordination to support holistic client care.
Work with Medication Assisted Treatment prescribers and medical staff to support clients receiving medications for opioid use disorder, such as Suboxone.
Consult with the Behavioral Health and MAT teams on substance use resources, harm-reduction strategies, and referrals to higher levels of care.
Partner with behavioral health leadership to administer the contingency management program.
Document services in the electronic health record using established forms and formats and within required timeframes.
Complete documentation and authorizations required for reimbursement for behavioral health services.