Substance Use Counselor

Job Title

This is a grant funded position with our MOCJ (Mayors Office of Criminal Justice) Hotels for the provision of therapeutic services to the formerly incarcerated population in a transition housing setting.

Housing Works is seeking an experienced Substance Use Counselor (CASAC and/or LMSW) to provide on-site, trauma-informed, and harm-reduction–oriented services to justice-involved individuals transitioning from incarceration to the community. The counselor will deliver integrated substance use and mental health (dual diagnosis) treatment, with a strong focus on re-entry stabilization, engagement, and continuity of care. This role involves conducting comprehensive assessments of substance use, mental health symptoms, and re-entry–related risk factors;

providing individual and group counseling; supporting crisis intervention; and collaborating closely with an interdisciplinary team of medical, behavioral health, and re-entry service providers.

A central focus of this position is increasing clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial stability in support of residents' readiness to transition from this transitional site to their next permanent or longer-term housing placement. The counselor will play a critical role in supporting residents during high-risk transition periods (e.g., recent release from incarceration, hospitalization, detoxification), promoting safety, stability, and successful community reintegration. The facility operates 365 days on a 24-hour basis daily, including evening and weekend hours, work on holidays (some positions will require non-traditional work hours.

Clinical Services & Support:

• Provide individual counseling focused on substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions, utilizing evidence-informed, trauma-responsive, and culturally responsive approaches.
• Facilitate psycho educational and therapeutic groups addressing substance use, mental health symptoms, relapse prevention, emotional regulation, coping skills, and re-entry–related challenges (e.g., adjustment to community living, supervision stressors, stigma).
• Conduct comprehensive bio-psychosocial and substance use assessments, including evaluation of re-entry risks, legal involvement, and barriers to care.
• Deliver crisis intervention services related to substance use, mental health decompensation, trauma responses, or behavioral concerns; consult with supervisors and complete required incident documentation.

Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment:

• Develop and implement integrated treatment plans, in conjunction with the Case Managers, that address both substance use and mental health needs in collaboration with interdisciplinary providers.
• Support residents with co-occurring disorders through coordinated care and conferencing with psychiatry, psychotherapy, primary care, and case management.
• Utilize a harm reduction framework, meeting clients where they are and supporting safer use, stabilization, and self-determined goals.

Care Coordination & Systems Navigation:

• Coordinate referrals and linkages to detoxification, inpatient and outpatient treatment, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), mental health services, and recovery supports.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, including re-entry programs, medical providers, and behavioral health teams, to support continuity of care.
• Participate in case conferences and interdisciplinary meetings, particularly during periods of elevated risk (e.g., recent release from incarceration, hospital discharge, relapse, psychiatric crisis).

Documentation, Compliance & Team Participation:

• Maintain timely, accurate, and compliant clinical documentation in accordance with HIPAA, MOCJ, and Housing Works standards.
• Participate in program meetings, supervision, trainings, and quality assurance activities.
• Communicate proactively with team members to ensure resident safety, engagement, and treatment continuity.
• All documentation and case notes are to be completed within 48 hours of interaction.

Other Functions:

• Attend weekly team meetings Partakes of one-hour weekly supervision and maintain on-going clinical communication with supervisor.
• Participate…