Drug and Alcohol Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

El Paso Center for Children (the “Center” herein)
Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) Job Description

Position Classification & Compensation
This role is classified as a non-exempt, full-time employee as those terms are defined in the Center's Employee Handbook and is eligible for employee benefits as defined for this classification.

Reports to: Division Director or designee

Effective: 10/01/2026

Summary: Under the supervision of the Program Director, Division Director, or designee, the Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) provides substance-use prevention, education, screening, counseling, case management, and outreach services to youth served by the Center. The LCDC provides trauma-informed drug abuse prevention and human trafficking education to youth, families, schools, and community partners and works collaboratively with the treatment team to support youth safety, stability, and successful transitions. This position also supports the Center’s 24/7 residential program and may be assigned responsibilities that provide experience toward eligibility for Texas Child Care Administrator licensure.  The scope of work is subject to change as needed to ensure each project’s success and to meet funders’ requirements. Likewise, complementary changes may be made to projects or individual goals and expectations for employees based on agency/management strategic goals. All Center for Children team members are expected to be collegial and collaborative, mutually supportive, and focused on excellent services to clients, fidelity to program models, and ethical provision of services. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Counseling, Assessment & Case Management

• Conduct substance-use screenings and assessments within the scope of LCDC licensure and identify substance-use concerns, risk factors, protective factors, and treatment or support-service needs.
• Provide individual and group counseling focused on substance-use prevention, intervention, recovery, relapse prevention, coping skills, decision-making, and related needs.
• Utilize evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, strengths-based, and youth-centered practices appropriate for adolescents and young adults.
• Identify mental-health, medical, behavioral-health, or other needs outside the LCDC's scope of practice and coordinate appropriate referrals.
• Participate in the development, implementation, review, and updating of Individual Service Plans (ISPs), including goals and interventions addressing substance use, safety, education, family relationships, behavioral health, independent living, and workforce readiness.
• Provide case management and service coordination and make appropriate referrals to treatment, behavioral-health, medical, educational, employment, housing, and community resources.
• Collaborate with youth, families, caregivers, schools, treatment providers, child-welfare professionals, juvenile-justice partners, and other service providers.
• Participate in multidisciplinary staffings, treatment-team meetings, discharge and transition planning, referrals, follow-up, and aftercare services.
• Support youth safety, family stability, permanent connections, safe reunification, and successful transitions.
• Participate in crisis intervention and stabilization activities within professional scope and agency procedures.

Prevention, Education, Human Trafficking & Outreach

• Develop and deliver age-appropriate, trauma-informed substance-use prevention and human trafficking education to youth, parents/caregivers, school personnel, agency staff, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Provide education regarding the risks associated with substance use and abuse, prevention strategies, protective factors, healthy coping skills, and decision-making.
• Provide education regarding labor and sex trafficking, including recruitment and grooming tactics, warning signs, risk factors, exploitation, healthy boundaries, and strategies for seeking assistance.
• Provide information regarding local, state, and national substance-use, trafficking, behavioral-health, and other support resources.
• Develop and adapt presentations, curricula, handouts, workshops, and educational materials based on age, developmental level, culture, language, audience, and community needs.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to suspected trafficking, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other safety concerns in accordance with agency policies and mandatory reporting requirements.
• Conduct outreach to schools, youth-serving organizations, service providers, coalitions, and community partners.
• Represent the Center at community events, resource fairs, educational presentations, outreach activities, and stakeholder meetings.
• Develop and maintain community partnerships and referral networks that strengthen prevention, intervention, and access to services.
• Coordinate outreach activities with other Center programs and identify opportunities to expand drug abuse and trafficking prevention efforts.

Residential Program Support & Leadership Development

• Work collaboratively within the Center's 24/7 Emergency Shelter for Youth and support a safe, structured, trauma-informed, and youth-centered residential environment.
• Serve as a resource to shelter personnel regarding substance-use concerns, trauma-informed responses, youth behavior, coping strategies, and appropriate interventions.
• Provide consultation, coaching, education, and training to shelter staff while maintaining appropriate clinical and professional boundaries.
• Participate in youth staffings, multidisciplinary discussions, program planning, and continuous quality-improvement activities.
• Develop working knowledge of Texas Minimum Standards and requirements applicable to residential child-care operations.
• Develop competencies in residential child-care administration, personnel management, professional ethics, client rights, risk management, program development, and regulatory compliance.
• Participate in progressively responsible residential program assignments designed to develop administrative and leadership competency.
• May assist with staff orientation, training, coaching, supervision, performance monitoring, or coordination of designated staff, interns, projects, or program functions as assigned.
• Work toward meeting eligibility requirements for the Texas Child Care Administrator licensing examination and, once eligible, complete the examination and pursue licensure within the timeframe established by the Center.
• Provide backup program support and participate in on-call or crisis-response activities as applicable to program needs.

Documentation, Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Maintain a current and active Texas LCDC license and remain knowledgeable of professional standards, scope-of-practice requirements, and applicable evidence-based practices.
• Maintain knowledge of program services, grant/contract requirements, performance measures, licensing standards, and applicable Texas Minimum Standards.
• Complete accurate, timely, objective, and professional documentation of assessments, counseling, case management, ISPs, referrals, educational services, outreach, and other program activities.
• Maintain client records in accordance with agency policy, funding requirements, professional standards, confidentiality requirements, and applicable laws.
• Become proficient in applicable internal and external database systems and participate in data collection, data entry, record reviews, outcome tracking, and quality-assurance activities.
• Participate in the Center's PQI/Compliance processes, internal and external audits, monitoring visits, licensing reviews, and program reviews as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality and safeguard sensitive youth and family information.

Other Duties

• Assist with and attend department and agency-wide trainings, meetings, fundraisers, events, participant activities, and professional-development opportunities.
• Transport clients as needed and when authorized.
• Provide backup coverage as needed to support program goals and operations.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Competencies

Clinical Judgment – Demonstrates appropriate professional judgment when assessing substance-use concerns, providing counseling, developing interventions, making referrals, and recognizing when client needs fall outside the employee's professional scope.
Trauma-Informed Practice – Understands the impact of trauma on youth development and behavior and provides services that promote safety, trust, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and healthy relationships.
Presentation Skills – Is effective in formal and informal presentation settings, including one-on-one interactions, small and large groups, schools, families, professionals, community partners, and agency personnel.
Accountability – Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of funders, internal policies, licensing standards, professional requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.
Interpersonal Savvy – Relates well to people from diverse backgrounds; builds appropriate rapport; listens effectively; uses diplomacy and tact; maintains appropriate professional boundaries; and constructively manages difficult situations.
Organizing – Can manage multiple responsibilities, caseload activities, documentation requirements, outreach events, presentations, deadlines, and other program expectations effectively.
Collaboration – Works effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and develops constructive working relationships with youth, families, staff, schools, community organizations, and service providers.
Leadership Development – Demonstrates the ability and willingness to develop knowledge and competencies in residential child-care operations, staff development, supervision, program implementation, compliance, and administration.

Minimum Qualifications
Minimum qualifications for this position include and may vary slightly depending on requirements from the funding source or because of the nature of the project:

• Current and active Texas Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) license in good standing is required.
• A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Behavioral Science, Human Services, Sociology, Child Development, Criminal Justice, or a related field from an accredited college or university is required. Master's Degree preferred.
• A minimum of two years of professional experience in substance-use services, behavioral health, youth services, residential services, child welfare, counseling, case management, or a related human-services setting is preferred.
• Experience providing substance-use screening/assessment, individual or group counseling, service planning, case management, prevention education, and documentation is preferred.
• Experience working with adolescents and young adults, particularly youth impacted by trauma, homelessness, substance use, trafficking/exploitation, foster care, juvenile justice, or family instability, is strongly preferred. Residential or 24-hour youth-serving experience is a plus.
• Experience with community outreach, educational presentations, staff training, supervision, or program coordination is preferred.