Substance Use Disorder Counselor MAT - CalAim

Wellpath•Merced, CA

7h•Onsite

About The Position

The Substance Use Disorder Counselor evaluates, treats, and supports individuals in their recovery from substance use disorders. This role works as part of an interdisciplinary team to help achieve positive clinical outcomes and support continuity of care. The position prepares individuals for discharge and collaborates with care teams to ensure ongoing treatment needs are addressed. The counselor provides substance use counseling services to justice-involved individuals in alignment with Medi-Cal and CalAIM program requirements. Preferred candidates will have experience working with justice-involved populations, Medi-Cal/CalAIM programs, reentry services, MAT programs, co-occurring disorders, community referrals, and multidisciplinary care teams. Strong group facilitation skills, clear documentation habits, and comfort coordinating with outside providers are highly valuable in this role. You’ll conduct assessments and intakes, develop individualized treatment plans, facilitate group counseling sessions, and provide individual support to patients at varying stages of recovery. This role is especially focused on CalAIM-related care coordination, reentry planning, and helping patients successfully connect to services after release. Much of the work centers on group facilitation, behavior change, relapse prevention, and supporting patients with co-occurring substance use and mental health needs. You’ll document services in the medical record, track patient progress, support medical necessity and compliance standards, and collaborate with internal clinical teams, discharge planners, community providers, and local resources. A key part of the role is preparing patients for successful reentry by identifying barriers, coordinating referrals, supporting warm handoffs, and building realistic plans for continued SUD treatment, MAT services, behavioral health care, housing, benefits, and other community-based supports. This position plays a direct role in improving continuity of care and long-term outcomes for justice-involved individuals.

Requirements

High School diploma and certification required.
Experience providing SUD counseling required.
Licensure or certification or license/certification eligible as required by state in which employed

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in health services field is preferred.
Ability to practice independently preferred.
Experience working with justice-involved populations, Medi-Cal/CalAIM programs, reentry services, MAT programs, co-occurring disorders, community referrals, and multidisciplinary care teams.
Strong group facilitation skills, clear documentation habits, and comfort coordinating with outside providers.

Responsibilities

Conduct SUD screenings, assessments, and provide individual and group counseling while developing person-centered treatment plans.
Focus on engagement, stabilization, relapse prevention, and readiness for continued treatment.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and support discharge planning with clinical input and documentation.
Coordinate with external providers and agencies to support continuity of care and post-release services.
Maintain accurate and compliant clinical documentation while providing crisis intervention and maintaining confidentiality.