Substance Use Counselor

Hawai’i Health & Harm Reduction Center (HHHRC) provides harm reduction-focused services to marginalized populations in Hawai’i, including people living with and/or affected by HIV, hepatitis, substance use, homelessness, and the transgender, LGBQ, and the Native Hawaiian communities. HHHRC bridges gaps and helps individuals access essential resources such as housing, health care, entitlements, and treatment. We foster health, wellness, and systemic change in Hawai’i and the Pacific through outreach, care services, advocacy, training, prevention, education, and capacity building.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Substance Use Counselor (SUC) is responsible for providing low threshold opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment services to the following focus population: persons who inject drugs (PWID), men who have sex with men and inject drugs (MSMID), and transgender person who inject drugs (TGID). Treatment services will also be provided to participants of HHHRC’s Syringe Exchange Program (SEP), at-risk individuals engaged during outreach efforts and interested HHHRC participants currently engaged in other agency services. The SUC will provide these OUD treatment services in a variety of settings that include but not limited to in the field, at HHHRC work sites, and in collaboration with other HHHRC direct service programs.

This is a permanent, full-time, exempt, salaried position with HHHRC located in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Expected hours of work are generally between 8:00am and 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, with some evening and weekend attendance for required events. Salary is commensurate with experience.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:

Reports to: Deputy Director of Clinical Services, Behavioral Health Manager

Supervises: N/A

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct activities to increase awareness among participants of the availability of medication-assisted opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment.
• Engage and support current or former SEP clients to participate in OUD services.
• Provide SEP clients with information on the availability of medication-assisted opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment and other SUD treatment options.
• Link participants with a certified substance abuse counselor (CSAC) or clinician authorized to prescribe MOUD treatment or OUD treatment through the Department of Health SUD coordinated intake system.
• Collaborate with HHHRC’s medical mobile unit (MMU) team to provide treatment education to rural communities.
• Provide one-on-one or group SUD counseling.
• Meet with participants to evaluate their health and substance use to identify challenges, create goals, and establish treatment and aftercare plans.
• Use motivational enhancement (including providing linkage to treatment) to decrease the participant’s substance use related harms
• Share education about community resources and provide referrals to medical care, social services, and career services.
• Complete required daily documentation and monthly field notes.
• Collaborate and network with substance abuse treatment centers, community health centers, medical providers and case managers, Hawaiʻi State Department of Health, and advocacy groups.
• Perform additional duties as needed and assigned. Duties are subject to change.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Contribute to a safe, creative, enthusiastic, and cooperative working environment for all.
• Work as a team with other staff and support team members.
• Maintain appropriate professional and ethical standards while serving as a representative of HHHRC.
• Observe and comply with all rules and regulations – such as HHHRC Code of Conduct, Drug-Free Workplace, Confidentiality – and other administrative policies of HHHRC.
• Abide by all policies and procedures of the HHHRC Health & Safety Program and the Quality Management Program.
• Comply with HHHRC confidentiality policy, HIPAA requirements, cultural competencies, and rights to persons served, as well as CARF standards.
• Demonstrate steadfast understanding of, and commitment to, the Mission, Vision, and Values of HHHRC.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Services provided both in the office and in the field.
• Walking and being in hot environments are common.

• Long hours sitting using office equipment and computers, which can cause muscle strain.
• Regular use of computers keyboards, telephone, and operating office equipment.
• Essential physical activities: standing, sitting, walking, finger dexterity, seeing, hearing, speaking, and frequent gripping of an object.
• Occasional physical activities: stooping, bending, squatting, twisting body, and lifting of supplies and equipment (up to 50 pounds).
• Occasional lifting and carrying of supplies and equipment (up to 25 pounds).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Proficient verbal and written communication in English.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail with the ability to maintain accurate, concise records.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively, both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work well and thrive professionally in an atmosphere of significant diversity, working with marginalized populations.
• Non-judgmental attitude and the ability to respect the knowledge, actions, and feelings of others.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Education/Experience:

• High School Diploma/GED.
• Hawaii Certified Substance Abuse Counselor or ability to obtain it within 6 months of hire date.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree (or advanced degree) in Social Work, or related field or equivalent related experience.
• Experience in street-based outreach and harm reduction strategies.
• Knowledge of HIV and viral hepatitis prevention, certified HIV/HCV counselor.
• Knowledge of addiction and injection drug use.

REQUIRED WORK CARDS/CERTIFICATIONS:

• Valid Hawaii Driver’s License and clean three-year (3-year) Driver’s Abstract.
• COVID-19 Vaccination (Recommended)
• TB Clearance
• Hep B Clearance and/or Vaccination
• Must pass Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services eligibility screening.

Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.