SUMMARY

The Drug/Alcohol Abuse Counselor provides essential clinical support services at the Collbran Job Corps Center, a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service facility. The primary purpose is to assist financially disadvantaged youth (typically ages 16 to 24) in a residential setting through early detection, diagnosis, and prevention/education regarding substance misuse and abuse. The counselor works to ensure students become responsible, productive citizens by addressing substance use barriers to employability.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Pay Range: $25.19 - $27.00/hr.
Comprehensive federal benefits package available to full-time employees, including health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plan participation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Clinical Assessments: Conduct substance misuse and abuse assessments for applicants and new students (utilizing Social Intake Forms and Health History Forms) and respond to written referrals.
• Treatment & Intervention: Provide short-term or brief interventions, crisis intervention for emergencies, and referrals for long-term therapy.
• Case Management: Monitor students with chronic substance conditions, participate in chronic care management plans, and collaborate with the Center Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) on co-occurring conditions.
• Documentation: Maintain and safeguard all student health records (SHR) in compliance with HIPAA; document every student interaction in a timely manner using systems such as the Center Information System (CIS).
• Promotion & Education: Conduct a minimum of one-hour prevention presentations for all new students and at least three annual center-wide prevention and education activities.
• Collaboration: Coordinate with the Center Physician and Health & Wellness Director (HWD) regarding medication management; collaborate with departments like residential, recreation, and education to integrate promotion services.
• Reporting: Submit monthly status reports to the HWD and report adverse student behavior incidents in a timely manner.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Clinical Expertise: Ability to examine mood, behavior, thinking, and reasoning related to emotional wellness and substance misuse.
• Teamwork: Ability to work both independently and as an effective member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
• Communication: Strong interpersonal skills to facilitate student willingness to pursue treatment and ensure positive student satisfaction.
• Technical Proficiency: Ability to use electronic health record systems (CIS) and maintain compliance with infection control and HIPAA standards.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Education Requirements

• Degree: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in a behavioral health field (e.g., Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or Substance Use Disorders).
• Credentials: Active, unencumbered Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) (or higher, such as a Licensed Addiction Counselor [LAC]) regulated by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).
• State Exams: Passing scores on the National Certified Addiction Counselor Level II (NCAC II) exam and the Colorado Jurisprudence Examination.

Experience Requirements

• Supervised Clinical Hours: To hold the required CAS credential in Colorado, the individual must have already completed a minimum of 3,000 hours of clinically supervised work experience in the addiction treatment field.
• Professional Job Experience: 1 to 2 years of active work experience post-certification in an institutional, residential, or community healthcare environment.
• Specialized Skills: Strong background in crisis intervention triage, diagnosing co-occurring mental health conditions, and presenting educational training to large groups.
• Adolescent Care: Experience providing services to a population of disadvantaged youth ages 16 to 24 is preferred based on the target demographic

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• This position does not have explicitly defined supervisory responsibilities over staff but involves managing student caseloads and collaborating with the health and wellness team.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The role is based at a Job Corps Center, which is a residential and vocational training environment.
• The center is in Collbran Job Corps Center 57608 Highway 330 Collbran, CO 81624, a rural area some distance from main roads.
• The Government provides adequate workspace, equipment (computer, phone, fax), and necessary supplies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• While specific physical demands are not detailed, the role requires working within a clinical and residential campus setting, participating in center-wide activities, and maintaining a secured workspace.

ROLE and LOCATION SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS

• Location: Collbran Job Corps Conservation Center, 57608 Highway 330, Collbran, CO 81624.
• Special Requirements: Participate in Disability Accommodations Committee (DAC) meetings and file applicant review team meetings as requested.
• Program Compliance: Participate in Department of Labor (DOL) and Forest Service assessments, including completing questionnaires and attending monthly teleconferences or trainings.

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

• Schedule: Monday through Friday, 11:00 am to 07:30 pm.
• Total Hours: Anticipated 2,080 hours annually.
• Breaks: Includes two 15-minute breaks and one 30-minute unpaid lunch break during an eight-hour day.
• Holidays: Personnel are not scheduled to work on federal holidays (e.g., New Year’s Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, etc.).

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Travel outside of the daily commute is not expected.

CLEARANCE/LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

• Licensure: Active, unrestricted substance abuse license or certification in Colorado.
• Background: Must agree to and pass a criminal background check and drug testing as a prerequisite for performance.

OTHER DUTIES

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

OUR VALUES:

Native American Owned & Proud | Accountable | Team Focused | Innovative | Visionary | Excellence

AAP/EEO Statement

Ho-Chunk, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. However, preference may be extended to persons of Indian descent in accordance with applicable laws.

Note: This position is being posted in anticipation of award of a federal contract. Employment is contingent upon Flatwater Group being awarded the contract and meeting all requirements set forth by the contracting agency. Candidates are encouraged to apply and may be contacted for further evaluation as part of the proposal process.