Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC)

Position Title: Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)

Department: Behavioral Health Services / Substance Use Services

Reports to: Director of Behavioral Health / Clinical Supervisor

Why This Role Matters

The CADC plays a key role in helping clients reduce substance use related barriers, strengthen recovery supports, and improve overall functioning. This position helps ensure services are clinically sound, mission aligned, and responsive to the needs of individuals and families navigating complex behavioral health challenges.

Position Objective and Summary:

The Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) provides substance use assessment, treatment planning, counseling, relapse prevention, psychoeducation, and care coordination for youth, adults, and families impacted by substance use disorders and co-occurring behavioral health needs. This position supports recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive services while ensuring timely, accurate, and audit-defensible documentation in accordance with payer, regulatory, and organizational standards.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Conduct substance use screenings, biopsychosocial assessments, and ongoing reassessments in accordance with program and regulatory requirements.
• Develop individualized treatment plans with measurable goals, interventions, and discharge criteria based on client need, readiness, and level of care.
• Provide individual, group, and family counseling related to substance use, relapse prevention, recovery support, coping skills, and behavior change.
• Facilitate psychoeducational groups focused on substance use, triggers, decision making, healthy relationships, harm reduction, and wellness.
• Maintain timely and accurate progress notes, treatment plans, assessments, discharge summaries, and all related clinical documentation in the designated electronic health record.
• Coordinate care with internal and external providers, including therapists, case managers, medical staff, schools, probation, child welfare, and community partners, as appropriate.
• Support crisis response, safety planning, and linkage to higher or lower levels of care when clinically indicated.
• Monitor client engagement, attendance, treatment progress, and barriers to participation, and intervene proactively to support retention and completion.
• Participate in case consultation, supervision, staff meetings, utilization review, and quality improvement activities.
• Ensure confidentiality and uphold all professional, ethical, licensing, and organizational standards.

Education/Job Experience/Certifications:

• Current and active CADC credential required.
• Bachelor’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology, human services, or related field preferred. 
• High School Diploma
• Minimum of 2 years of experience providing substance use counseling, behavioral health services, or related clinical support preferred.
• Experience working with youth, families, justice-involved populations, or community-based behavioral health settings strongly preferred.
• Experience with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation may be required based on service model.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Strong knowledge of substance use disorders, stages of change, relapse prevention, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care.
• Ability to engage clients with empathy, professionalism, and sound clinical judgment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage documentation deadlines, maintain confidentiality, and work effectively in a fast paced environment.
• Ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and build strong working relationships with families and partners.
• Working knowledge of Medicaid, managed care, and documentation standards is preferred.

Core Competencies

• Clinical Judgment
• Engagement and Relationship Building
• Documentation and Compliance
• Accountability
• Cultural Responsiveness
• Collaboration
• Organization and Time Management

Working Conditions: Work may be performed in office, school, community, residential, or home-based settings, depending on program need. May require evening hours, occasional weekend coverage, local travel, and participation in crisis related support.