Substance Abuse Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

The Substance Abuse Counselor functions as the primary drug and alcohol counselor to a

caseload of clients, conducting substance abuse assessments and preparing, presenting and facilitating

individual and group counseling sessions while providing support to the entire client population in a

social model residential treatment setting.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Provide individual and group counseling and recovery services to primarily American Indians in a

residential treatment setting.

2. Conduct, implement and document client assessments and treatment plans, utilizing the ASAM

Criteria assessment, placement and treatment criteria.

3. Coordinate client care with Case Managers, Health Educator, and Mental Health Clinician to assist

clients in accessing supportive services including those related to physical health, life skills, social

services, mental health and the criminal justice system.

4. Maintain up-to-date documentation in client case files, assuring that files are accurate in reflecting

weekly progress and are inclusive of current case notes, assessments, treatment plans, and

documentation of referrals as evidence of continuity of care of clients.

5. Complete and keep current all required documentation for data reporting systems, electronic health

records and database requirements.

6. Participate in weekly all staff meeting, weekly clinical staff and all workforce development trainings

and in-services.

7. As assigned, coordinate and facilitate individual and group counseling on: drug and alcohol

education and sessions on wellness, early recovery education (identifying and addressing triggers,

cravings and relapse signs, etc.), Red Road to Recovery, Talking Circle, family system and

addiction, smoking cessation, HIV/HPV and risk reduction education within a clinical team

environment.

8. Perform crisis intervention and de-escalation intervention to clients in highly stressed state in

collaboration with the clinical team.

9. Present proper and professional information and reporting on individual client cases in

Interdisciplinary/Clinical meetings, and perform routine client progress reports to tribes, legal

representatives and other referral sources.

10. Maintain current, valid professional certification as required by State/Federal certification board, and

submit current evidence of same.

11. Other duties as assigned by the Clinical Director, Senior SUD Counselor and Chief Executive Officer

(CEO).

Personal and Professional Qualifications:

1. At least two years of substance abuse treatment counseling experience, preferably in the American

Indian community, is desirable.

2. Certification in Substance Abuse Counseling is required.

3. Demonstrated knowledge of American Indian community, culture and various tribal backgrounds

highly desirable. Cultural sensitivity to American Indians required.

4. Excellent individual and group counseling skills and the ability to work both independently and as a

member of a high functioning clinical team is required.

5. Demonstrated familiarity with primary treatment and aftercare issues and settings is desirable.

6. Must be able to communicate professionally, respectfully and effectively, both verbally and in

writing, with staff, clients and community. Basic computer literacy required.

7. If in recovery, three (3) or more years of continuous sobriety required.

8. All applicants required to pass and provide evidence of health exam and TB test results. Required

criminal justice background check through fingerprinting by the U.S. Dept. of Justice to protect the

health, welfare and safety of clients receiving services at Friendship House Association of American

Indians.

10. Must meet standards of character under PL 101-630, section 408, Character Investigation, subsection

(a) and PL 101-647, section 231, Requirement for Background Check, subsection (c), and agree that

employer can contact the last two employers, the sex abuse detective division of local law

enforcement.

The Friendship House Association of American Indians is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization, established in 1963 to serve American Indians who were relocated from their reservations to the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 1963, Friendship House has served more than 5,500 residential clients and hundreds of youth consumers and provided community-focused events for countless numbers of American Indians. As a cultural center with co-located services and community activities, Friendship House is uniquely poised in the San Francisco Bay area to serve American Indians.

The overarching goal of Friendship House is to promote healing and wellness in the American Indian community by providing a continuum of services that build resiliency to substance abuse. And to strengthen connections to family and community to improve the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being of American Indians across the lifespan.

Friendship House operates three program facilities: the Friendship House American Indian Healing Center, an 80- bed adult men and women residential substance abuse treatment facility located in San Francisco, California; the Friendship House American Indian Lodge, a 9-bed facility for women and their children located in Oakland, California; and the Friendship House Youth Program, an afterschool youth center, located in San Francisco, California.

The Friendship House’s Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program was established to reduce the incidence of alcohol and drug abuse among American Indians through services designed to strengthen the personal conditions which support a substance-free lifestyle. In addition to restoring clients to productive living individuals in their respective communities. Prayer, songs and drum circles, sweat lodge ceremonies, talking circles, Walking the Red Road Medicine Way, and many other traditional methods are integral to the residential treatment program.

While many best practices in the substance abuse treatment field have been proven to work effectively with substance abusers from many backgrounds, few evidence-based practices have been evaluated and proven to work with Native people. We know, based on more than 28 years of tracking our own performance, that American Indians have the best outcomes when Native culture and cultural practices are honored, as well as integrated into our service delivery efforts.

Company Description

The Friendship House Association of American Indians is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization, established in 1963 to serve American Indians who were relocated from their reservations to the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 1963, Friendship House has served more than 5,500 residential clients and hundreds of youth consumers and provided community-focused events for countless numbers of American Indians. As a cultural center with co-located services and community activities, Friendship House is uniquely poised in the San Francisco Bay area to serve American Indians.\r\n\r\nThe overarching goal of Friendship House is to promote healing and wellness in the American Indian community by providing a continuum of services that build resiliency to substance abuse. And to strengthen connections to family and community to improve the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being of American Indians across the lifespan.\r\n\r\nFriendship House operates three program facilities: the Friendship House American Indian Healing Center, an 80- bed adult men and women residential substance abuse treatment facility located in San Francisco, California; the Friendship House American Indian Lodge, a 9-bed facility for women and their children located in Oakland, California; and the Friendship House Youth Program, an afterschool youth center, located in San Francisco, California.\r\n\r\nThe Friendship House’s Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program was established to reduce the incidence of alcohol and drug abuse among American Indians through services designed to strengthen the personal conditions which support a substance-free lifestyle. In addition to restoring clients to productive living individuals in their respective communities. Prayer, songs and drum circles, sweat lodge ceremonies, talking circles, Walking the Red Road Medicine Way, and many other traditional methods are integral to the residential treatment program.\r\n\r\nWhile many best practices in the substance abuse treatment field have been proven to work effectively with substance abusers from many backgrounds, few evidence-based practices have been evaluated and proven to work with Native people. We know, based on more than 28 years of tracking our own performance, that American Indians have the best outcomes when Native culture and cultural practices are honored, as well as integrated into our service delivery efforts.