Substance Use Disorder Family Specialist; SUD

Substance Use Disorder Family Specialist (SUD)

Job Title:Substance Use Disorder Family Support Specialist (SUD)
Location:Hybrid - Clare
Reports to: SUD Program Supervisor - Clare
Position Type: Full
-Time | Salary Exempt

Accepting applications until January 12th, 2026.

Wellspring Lutheran Services is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to serving seniors, families and children throughout Michigan. We are currently seeking a full-time Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Family Specialist to join our Behavioral Health team. In this role, you will help families throughout mid-Michigan build stability and create a supportive, sober environment by connecting them to resources and providing evidence-based intervention.

• Provide outreach-counseling services to families affected by substance use disorder or at actual risk of having their children removed from their home due to child abuse and/or neglect. Provide skill-based intervention and support for families when a parent is alcohol or drug affected, or has been found to have a co-occurring disorder and assist to reduce risk factors and bring stability to the family
• Assess current living conditions such as stable housing, income/employment, developmental history, substance use/abuse, family structure, support system, physical health, emotional and mental health status and the client’s view of the presenting concern and factor into the therapeutic process
• Assist family ability to obtain concrete services i.e. housing, food, clothing, medical care, utilities, home maintenance/repair, transportation, etc. as these impact progress on primary substance risk reduction
• Work with substance use disorder affected adult on increasing awareness of the impact that alcohol and/or substance abuse has in their parenting relationship with their children; and the role alcohol and/or substance abuse has in the abuse and or neglect of their children
• Provide education such as: interrelationship of brain chemistry; the disease concept of dependence; the nature of substance use disorders; high-risk factors for substance use disorders like the role of genetics and environment; the effects using drugs and/or alcohol have on cognitive functioning such as memory and problem solving ability; etc.
• Use evidence based practices, including motivational interviewing to engage substance using adult in knowledge of relapse; relapse prevention strategies; and developing a specific relapse prevention plan. Highlight stages of change to educate and help client understand the process/journey of recovery
• Encourage/motivate toward the use of community recovery groups
• Develop prevention activities and education for family members to understand the dynamics of substance use disorders and provide appropriate referrals, resources and education to the families
• Establish community contacts to refer families/make collateral contacts to services including but not limited to:
  Early on, domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse counseling, longer-term counseling; financial management; concrete services. Then teach families how to advocate for themselves with these resources
• Maintain face-to-face contact with families according to the contract defined frequency/duration and the individual needs of the family
• Prepare reports (treatment plans, services plans, court reports, closure summaries) within the appropriate time frames. Maintain safety planning and documentation throughout services according to the needs of the family
• Ensure that the children in the household are in a safe and healthy environment by addressing the safety of all family members living in the home. Observe and respond to warning signs of abuse and neglect and make appropriate reports
• Maintain case files and documentation of client contact/activities to support accurate and timely billing procedures
• Assure clients have contact availability to reach program staff in an emergency
• Transport clients in your own vehicle (as needed)

• Bachelor’s degree in a human-services related field (Master’s preferred)
• Experience working with individuals affected by substance use
• Must begin working toward MCBAP certification (CADC or CAADC)…