Admissions Counselor I

Who is Gateway Foundation?

Gateway Foundation, Inc. is a national non-profit dedicated to helping individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. Established in 1968, Gateway provides essential tools and knowledge for recovery, positively impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. Operating through its Community Services, Corrections Divisions, and Corporate Headquarters, the organization is recognized for innovative, effective treatment approaches and maintaining high standards.

Why join us?

Consider joining our team, where your impact can be truly meaningful. Our organization focuses on delivering high quality clinical services as a recognized leader in evidence-based treatment proven to get results. By joining our team, you'll have the chance to provide essential services to underserved populations, all while working for an organization that values you and aims to be an employer of choice. You can expect to be part of a vibrant culture that emphasizes teamwork and professional growth, while embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion for every individual in every community. When you join us, you'll discover personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

We are honored to offer behavioral healthcare services in Corrections

Perks of working in correctional healthcare:

• Opportunity to make a positive impact on a marginalized population
• Exposure to diverse patient demographics
• Focus on driving change, tracking progress, and improving care
• Development of skills in a unique healthcare setting

Admissions Counselors in the Service Center are responsible for:

• Interviews prospective clients and/or their representatives, and obtains complete medical, social, and substance abuse history; as well as required identification, financial and insurance information. May obtain information by telephone to conduct preliminary admission screening.
• Completes admission forms, and prepares client chart by accurately recording pertinent information. Obtains necessary consent signatures from client or guardian. Makes copies of forms and distributes to business office, medical department, and client chart as appropriate.
• Prepares initial client treatment plan on a timely basis, in accordance with assessment and evaluation, which could include assigning client to appropriate group and counselor; and identifying need for referral resources or services such as parenting classes, job search support, education, and medical care.
• Explains treatment plan and objectives, orients client to treatment program and facilities, explains policies and rules, and introduces to assigned counselor. Provides client with relevant information such as meeting schedules and locations.
• Contacts insurance providers or social service agencies as appropriate to verify or determine client’s eligibility for coverage or medical assistance, or obtain pre-certifications of coverage as necessary.
• Develops and maintains regular contact (usually by telephone) with family members and/or significant others; as well as variety of outside agencies such as social services, corrections, protective services, probation or parole in order to facilitate assessment process and complete necessary treatment follow-up and case management.
• Performs initial case management in order to facilitate program admission and retention; which includes encouraging and motivating clients’ participation and commitment to treatment, directing clients to additional services as needed, following up with various agencies and insurance carriers to resolve admission problems, following up on appointments missed by clients, providing crisis intervention and so forth.
• Fosters contacts and relationships with variety of community organizations and agencies to develop and maintain referral resources.
• Responds to inquiries from prospective clients and referral sources regarding program, treatment process, and available services. Sends appropriate literature in response to inquiries, and completes appropriate follow up calls.
• Performs duties of Counselor such as providing group and individual counseling, conducting education session, and completing related treatment charting and documentation as necessary in response to workload or staffing shortages.
• Performs related office and administrative duties such as maintaining client files and admissions records, scheduling appointments, answering telephones and relaying messages, serving on committees as assigned, compiling statistical and census data, completing related reports, and so forth.Maintains and enhances knowledge and expertise through appropriate educational and organizational activities.

Residential Centers:

• Completes regular counts of client population by contract, maintains accurate waiting list with pertinent data. Contacts wait-listed prospective clients and/or referral sources in writing or by telephone to determine status or if treatment is still needed. Notifies prospective clients of openings to maintain census, and communicates regularly with Business Office to ensure maximum utilization of treatment days.
• Knowledge of assessment and diagnoses procedures and standards; and counseling techniques, intervention, planning, and documentation at a level normally acquired through completion of a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling or equivalent education and life experience, with a minimum of 100 hours documented clinical training in counseling theory and practice.
• Ability to perform assessment, treatment planning, and counseling at a level normally acquired through six months prior experience in substance abuse field, and/or successful completion of in-house staff training program.
• Demonstrated skills and knowledge of the principles of physical growth and development and psychosocial development; the ability to tailor interventions, such as de-escalation techniques, and communicate using appropriate language based on the client’s cognitive and maturational status; the ability to assess and interpret client data, and identify individual client needs to provide substance abuse treatment appropriate to the developmental stage and client population as outlined below:
  • Adolescent Clients: Six months developmental counseling experience with adolescent clients, or forty hours of development training/education, or equivalent combination. Ability to incorporate the principles of adolescent development to an individualized treatment plan, e.g. relate the recovery process to peer relationships, family issues, sexual identity issues, educational/vocational preparation, and other issues related to preparation for assuming an adult role.
  • Adult Clients: Ability to apply knowledge of the normal developmental tasks of adulthood to an individualized treatment plan, e.g. relating recovery to family issues, parenting, vocational issues, healthy living, etc., and to promote the development of effective life skills to support a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
• Geriatric Clients: Ability to apply knowledge of the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes associated with later adulthood to an individualized treatment plan, and to understand the impact of medications and medication interactions on the cognitive and behavioral functioning of the client. Ability to incorporate the developmental tasks and challenges of the elderly client with substance abuse treatment, e.g. multiple health issues, living with chronic pain; personal losses; possible loss of independence, financial concerns, etc., and to teach coping skills and independent living skills as necessary.
• Current certification or qualification as an alcohol, drug, or substance abuse counselor as required by agency, association, board or commission in state where employed. (See employment guidelines for state-specific certification requirements or equivalents, and reciprocal agreements. Formal approval of hiring and employment by state or federal contracting agencies may be required.)
• Advanced interpersonal skills necessary to conduct admission interviews; elicit cooperation from interviewees; provide appropriate empathy and support, and effective counseling services and to maintain contact with outside agencies and referral sources.
• Analytical abilities necessary to conduct comprehensive assessments, prepare treatment plans, provide counseling and case management, and compile and prepare census statistics and reports.
• Typing ability and working knowledge of word processing software in order to complete required forms, reports, correspondence and to enter data into the electronic health record.
• Current certification or qualification as an alcohol, drug, or substance abuse counselor as required by agency, association, board or commission in state where employed. (See employment guidelines for state-specific certification requirements or equivalents, and reciprocal agreements Formal approval of hiring and employment by state or federal contracting agencies may be required.)
• Advanced interpersonal skills necessary to conduct admission interviews; elicit cooperation from interviewees; provide appropriate empathy and support, and effective counseling services and to maintain contact with outside agencies and referral sources.
• Analytical abilities necessary to conduct comprehensive assessments, prepare treatment plans, provide counseling and case management, and compile and prepare census statistics and reports.
• Typing ability and working knowledge of word processing software in order to complete required forms, reports, correspondence and to enter data into the electronic health record

Benefits at Gateway Foundation:

Health and Wellness:

• 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

Financial Wellbeing:

• 403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match
• Short-term and Long-term Disability and Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Gateway
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Flexibility and Time Off:

• 18 paid time off days per year – accrual rates increase with years of service
• 9 paid company holidays
• Work-life-balance

Personal Development:

• Training & Development Programs
• Tuition Reimbursement - up to $5,250 per calendar year
• eLearning access to online courses that provide CEU’s and job-related training
• Clinical Supervision: Formal and informal guidance

Gateway Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here