ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

For over 40 years, CASL’s comprehensive programs have connected families and individuals with the vital support they need: providing an educational and cultural foundation for our children, ensuring our seniors live full and independent lives with dignity, enhancing education and training for tomorrow’s workforce, putting immigrants on the pathway to citizenship, securing our community’s housing and financial well-being, navigating healthcare systems and wellness resources, and providing equal access to justice. Since our founding, CASL has been rooted in the principles of equity and justice. That legacy continues to shape our efforts today as we strive to champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility at all levels of the organization.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Behavioral Health Clinical Manager, the Addiction Counselor will provide counsel and support to clients suffering from gambling addiction and drug or alcohol dependency, educate families in the best ways to help in the recovery process, and work with both inpatient clients and those participating in outpatient programs.

CORE VALUES

As a champion of our Mission, Vision and Core Values, this role will:

• Be grounded in mutual respect and acceptance, building a culture of Inclusivity;
• Support staff Empowerment through skills attainment, and developmental opportunities;
• Work in partnership to achieve a workplace that embodies Collaboration;
• Envision and realize Transformation of people, processes and policy;
• Model Resiliency to leverage the collective strengths of our dynamic work force.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Main responsibilities:

• Meet with clients to obtain personal information and medical histories and consult with other clinical staff and internal and external/referral providers to get a clear picture of the client’s status and extent of problems
• Design a program of treatment and rehabilitation tailored to client’s individual situation based on knowledge of alcohol and drug dependency and counseling and treatment method
• Active use of evidence-based or evidence-informed practices in providing treatment plan and intervention to clients facing the problems of substance use
• Use a combination of individual, group counseling session, and support group, to help clients and observe their attitudes and readiness to accept help and guidance
• Meet with family members to educate them on the roles they can play in the recovery process
• Educate clients about community-based organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous and social and employment services that may help restore them to more productive roles in the community to help with overall mental health being
• Maintain case histories and progress report
• Modify treatment programs based on observation, and/or reevaluation with the clients
• Assist clients with coping with family problems and recommends appropriate social services as support for the entire family unit
• Collaborate with internal and external referral providers to help with case management and care coordination for the clients
• Identify behaviors that interfere with treatment and recovery and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to address behavioral problems from different perspectives
• Assist primary caregivers to manage addiction-related behaviors
• Conduct community outreach and education to increase staff and community members’ awareness towards behavioral health
• Work with external parties such as EMR or Police to offer crisis intervention to clients if needed

Administration Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement and evaluate policy and procedures manual related to the addiction treatment and recovery services, and treatment/intervention consent forms meeting Medicare, Medicaid, and other compliance and industry standards
• Participate in capacity building and learning exchange meetings organized by CASL, funders, external partners or other professional bodies and brings back the information to the team to help with service delivery and hence program development
• Responsible for the day-to-day administration of specific tasks including maintaining client records
• Operate in a manner compliant with all applicable State and federal laws, regulations and adopted policies and procedures
• Conduct quarterly quality assurance reviews of client records and clinical care
• Monitor compliance to legal guidelines, internal policies and quality standards
• Keep documentation of all the counseling, case management, care coordination efforts and provide statistics and narratives to the regular reports
• Be responsible for own professional development, including participating in the supervisory process and using other educational opportunities, both within and outside of the agency
• Be responsible for data management using Salesforce and/or Electronic Health Record System

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education/Experience:

• Associate degree in addiction and/or chemical dependency counseling, or a bachelor's degree with coursework in addiction and/or chemical dependency or bachelor's degree with concentration in psychology, sociology, or public health required.
• Specific training in alcohol and drug abuse counseling preferred
• Licensed Mental Health Counselor, or similar, preferred.
• At least two years of experience working with persons with addiction and substance use disorders under close supervision.
• Current certification from Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc., preferred; or obtain certification from Illinois Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc., within 6 months of employment

Skills/Knowledge:

• Spoken and written knowledge of Chinese preferred but not required. (Cantonese or Mandarin, Toishanese a plus).
• Knowledge of latest treatment methods and resources for substance use programs
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and compassionate nature.
• Must be an outstanding communicator able to resolve conflicts and issues.
• Must be able to collaborate with other mental health care specialists.
• Familiarity with electronic health records systems, preferred.
• Intermediate computer skills

Physical Demands:

Required to frequently sit, stand, bend, and walk for extended periods.

Environment and Scheduling:

• Access to personal transportation.
• Work is normally performed during standard business hours, Monday through Friday.
• Must be flexible and available to work after regularly business hours when necessary (e.g., weekends and evening periods).
• Delivery of services in the CASL office, clients’ home or other community-based settings.

CASL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, ethnic or national origin, or any other status protected by State and Federal Law.