Recovery Counselor

Recovery Counselor

At the Upper St. John Valley Recovery High School, we work with teens in recovery. We use a goal-oriented approach to support their recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) and/or co-occurring disorders. We help them identify and establish healthy, constructive habits so they grow personally, behaviorally and socially while also making progress toward a high school diploma. We offer an academic pathway to these teens while placing a clear focus on their recovery and their ability to maintain sobriety. We use an approach that blends substance misuse and mental health supports into their entire educational experience on a daily, weekly and on-going basis. Our supportive process is tailored to the individual needs of each participant. We also emphasize the development of a recovery community built on the critical elements of self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, social awareness and trusting relationships.

Maine School Administrative District # 27 is seeking applicants for a Recovery Counselor to work with students at our Upper St. John Valley Recovery High School - a specialized alternative high school program that serves students recovering from substance use disorder and/or co-occurring disorders. Our mission is to create a safe, supportive, and structured environment where students can progress from the early stages of recovery to the point of stable recovery and leave our program with the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain sobriety, wellness and well-being.

We are seeking a passionate and compassionate licensed clinical counselling professional (i.e., LCSW, LCPC, LADC) with substance abuse/misuse and mental/behavioral health therapy and/or treatment planning experience to join our team. Position Overview: The Recovery Counselor will provide individual and group recovery support and therapy services to students, blending substance misuse and mental health supports into their learning experience on a daily, weekly and on-going basis. The Recovery Counselor also will work closely with and provide recovery and Trauma-Informed Education (TIE) guidance and support to a Teacher, an Education Technician III and two Dorm Parents, and will interface with parents, family members and community-based service providers as we provide students an academic pathway to a High School diploma while also placing a clear focus on their recovery and their ability to maintain sobriety, wellness and well-being.

The ideal candidate will have a professional background in social work, mental health, behavioral health, social services, education, and/or human services, experience facilitating substance misuse and/or co-occurring disorder recovery, a commitment to supporting teens in recovery, and the ability to foster a supportive and engaging recovery /learning environment built on self-awareness, social awareness, and trusting relationships within our student cohort and between our students and staff.

Key Responsibilities:

• Student Support: Provide individualized and group recovery counselling to students, helping them establish and maintain healthy routines, manage stress, develop recovery-oriented life skills and develop weekend and school vacation sobriety plans.
• Peer Engagement: Serve as a mentor and role model, fostering trust and respect while encouraging students to embrace their individual and collective recovery process.
• Program Coordination: Lead and/or support the planning and implementation of recovery-focused programs, activities, and events to support a positive school culture.
• Collaboration: Work closely with school and community-based counselors, teachers, administrators, dorm parents and families to ensure holistic support for each student, both during the school-week in-residence or school-day portion of their program and during their weeknight, weekend and school vacation time at home.
• Crisis Intervention: Respond promptly and effectively to recovery-related crises, connecting students with appropriate resources as needed.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate and confidential records of student interactions and progress, adhering to school policies and legal requirements.
• Community-Building: Foster the social network change process for student participants by cultivating a sober social network of teens within our student cohort and by building and maintaining relationships with local recovery organizations and resources to enhance the support network and recovery capital available to students in the program.
• Clinical Substance Misuse/Mental Health Services: Collaborate with community-based licensed professionals to provide or coordinate clinical substance misuse and/or mental health services as part of a comprehensive recovery planning process for students.

Qualifications:

• Experience working in the recovery field, preferably with adolescents or young adults.
• Master's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a related field. Bachelor's degree holders with appropriate education and experience will be considered.
• Experience and credentials in substance use/substance misuse counseling.
• Strong understanding of and experience with a broad range recovery principles and trauma-informed care and education practices related to depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively and provide recovery-focused and trauma-informed supervision to colleagues within a multidisciplinary team.
• Commitment to fostering a safe and support environment for all students.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• School-year plus 10-day contract.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance and Maine State Retirement for qualified individuals
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• A supportive and mission-driven work environment.