Street Outreach CASAC Counselor

SUMMARY: Provide direct alcohol/substance abuse counseling/treatment services to homeless clients, individuals, and families that will address social and substance abuse problems. Assist clients in setting goals that will promote stability and empower them.

This employee will work as part of the PCMH team with the following essential duties and responsibilities:

• Directly provide case management and substance abuse counseling services to homeless clients who have co-morbid substance abuse issues
• Complete a substance abuse assessment of clients to identify needs and treatment goals
• Engage clients in substance abuse counseling and treatment and other rehabilitative services
• Provide substance abuse counseling services to clients in sessions including education on harm reduction, relapse prevention, abstinence
• Collaborate with internal staff to monitor clients’ treatment/medication compliance and address episodes of non-adherence
• Establish an individualized intervention/treatment plan or strategy to promote identified goals
• Use motivational interviewing, stages of change and seeking safety modalities to counsel clients to improve overall functioning
• Utilize team approach, through regular collaboration with multidisciplinary staff and facilitate clients’ health care needs are sufficiently met
• Provide advocacy for clients and families around treatment, entitlements and other necessary services
• Provide direct services, including individual counseling, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, advocacy, psychoeducation, coordination of services and appropriate follow-up on all referrals
• Encourage and provide ongoing support so that each client might assume an active role in their own treatment plan to the maximum extent possible
• Maintain required documentation in EMR database (eCW) and update client's records in accordance with governmental and agency policy
• Facilitate substance abuse groups to address addictive behaviors and promote relapse prevention
• Complete group progress notes as required by agency policy
• Identify, network and work collaboratively with community substance abuse service providers and maintain an up-to-date directory of these resources
• Initiate contact and maintain referral relationships with State, City and private agencies that provide substance abuse treatment services including residential modalities
• Arrange transportation to intake interviews at treatment programs and treatment-related appointments for clients
• Directly escort clients to treatment interviews and/or treatment-related appointments when needed
• Coordinate with both internal departments and external providers.
• Participate in regular supervision, team meetings, case conferences and staff trainings
• Maintain a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and Holidays
• Perform other duties assigned related to the scope of the Substance Abuse Counselor position.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Education Requirements:

• Must have an active CASAC certification from the state of New York.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• Familiarity with various substance abuse and clinical treatment modalities and resources
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience working with mentally ill, medically frail, homeless or special needs populations is required.

Skill Sets:

• Exceptional skills at motivating clients to seek substance abuse treatment.
• Solid individual, group counseling, communication and writing skills a must.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $22.00 - $24.75 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Medical Specialty:

• Addiction Medicine

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $22 - $25