School Based Diversion (AOD) Counselor - Children’s Advantage - Full-Time

Axess Family Services, Inc.; Ravenna (OH); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Axess Family Services, Inc. is seeking a School Based Diversion (AOD) Counselor to provide education to students referred to school-based diversion processes.

The role includes delivering group and individual education during the school day and engaging families to support participation and progress. This full-time position serves as the program's primary contact for schools and referral sources and requires compliance with funding requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and Ohio CDCA/LCDC license.
• Knowledge of current diagnostic standards.
• Experience with children, adolescents, and families; AoD/SUD groups.
• Knowledge of adolescent substance use and ASAM criteria.
• Understanding of COA/OhioMHAS requirements and 42 CFR Part 2.
• Ability to solve complex crises.
• Ability to work independently in a school setting.
• Strong time management and documentation skills.
• Valid Ohio driver’s license; ability to meet background checks for school placement.

Responsibilities

• Delivers AoD/SUD group and individual education in assigned school buildings during the school day.
• Applies evidence-based therapeutic approaches to reduce substance use and improve school functioning.
• Engages families and maintains ongoing communication regarding participation and progress.
• Provides AoD/SUD case management and referrals to higher levels of care.
• Delivers school-based prevention and education activities as requested.
• Complies with applicable licensing, COA, and confidentiality regulations.

Skills

Time management

Documentation skills

Independence in school setting

Interpersonal communication

Crisis/problem-solving

Driver's license

Background check compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Ohio CDCA/LCDC license

Job description

Description

School Based Diversion (AOD) Counselor

Children’s Advantage

Full-Time, 40 Hours/Week

$50,000/Year

SUMMARY:

Provides education to students referred to school-based and juvenile court diversion processes. Selects and applies appropriate education to each client and group. Serves as the program's primary point of contact for assigned school buildings and referral sources and maintains the service and outcome documentation required by the funding source.

SUPERVISOR: Clinical Supervisor or Designee

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Direct Service

• Delivers AoD/SUD group and individual education in assigned school buildings during the school day, and continues engagement with students and families during school breaks and summer months.
• Selects and applies developmentally appropriate, evidence-based therapeutic approaches that help students reduce or eliminate substance use, improve mental health adjustment, mobilize personal strengths and social and environmental supports, and improve functioning at school, at home, and in the community.
• Engages families in the process, including students and caregivers who are hard to reach or resistant to services, and maintains ongoing communication regarding participation and progress.
• Provides AoD/SUD case management as medically necessary, including referral and linkage to higher levels of care, recovery supports, and other community resources.
• Provides school-based prevention and education activities as requested, including teacher and staff education, classroom presentations, and family education sessions.
• Delivers all services within the scope of practice of the employee's Ohio credential and, where the credential requires it, under the supervision arrangement mandated by the applicable licensing board.
• Complies with agency policies and procedures; Council on Accreditation (COA) standards; OhioMHAS certification requirements and the Ohio Administrative Code rules governing behavioral health and SUD treatment services; federal and state regulations governing confidentiality of client records (including 42 CFR Part 2, HIPAA, and FERPA as applicable); grant and funder requirements; and all educational, certification, and registry requirements.
• Fulfills mandated reporter obligations under Ohio Revised Code 2151.421 and agency policy regarding suspected child abuse or neglect.
• Other duties as assigned.

Indirect

• Completes all documentation accurately.
• Collects, records, and reports the participation, demographic, and outcome data required by the funding source; assists with grant reporting, program evaluation activities, and funder site visits.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings, treatment team meetings, clinical supervision, workshops, and required trainings.
• Maintains licensure or certification in good standing with the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board and/or the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board, including all continuing education requirements, and maintains a valid Ohio driver's license and insurability.
• Adheres to agency personnel policies and procedures and to OhioMHAS standards.
• Participates in agency quality improvement activities, chart audits, and COA reaccreditation and OhioMHAS certification reviews as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

The Duties and Responsibilities above represent the most significant duties of this position, but do not exclude other assignments that would be within the qualification and responsibility levels of this position.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field AND an Ohio CDCA, LCDC, LCDC II, LCDC III, LICDC, or LICDC-CS
• Knowledge in the implementation of current diagnostic standards.
• Experience treating children, adolescents, and families individually and in a group setting. Experience facilitating AoD/SUD groups
• Knowledge and skill in identifying the needs of abused and neglected children, and in child development and individual and family functioning.
• Knowledge of adolescent substance use, the ASAM criteria, and evidence-based interventions appropriate to school-age and adolescent populations.
• Working knowledge of OhioMHAS certification requirements and COA standards as they apply to SUD assessment, group counseling, and case management, and of 42 CFR Part 2 as it applies to sharing information with schools, courts, and families.
• Ability to problem solve complex and potentially crisis-level mental health and substance use situations.
• Ability to work independently in a school setting and to build effective working relationships with school personnel, court staff, families, and community partners.
• Effective time management, interviewing, and written documentation skills.
• Valid Ohio driver's license and ability to meet agency requirements for driving insurability, if applicable.
• Must be able to meet agency requirements for criminal background check (Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation) and any additional background screening required for placement in a school setting, if applicable.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in counseling, Psychology, or Social Work AND an Ohio LPC, LPCC, LSW, or LISW with appropriate scope of practice
• Experience working within a school system or with juvenile justice-involved youth preferred.

LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• Unrestricted CDCA, LCDC, LCDC II, LCDC III, LICDC, or LICDC-CS license/certification to practice in the State of Ohio
• Unrestricted State of Ohio driver’s license

COMPLIANCE:

This position requires compliance with AFS’ written standards, including its Compliance Program and Standards of Conduct and policies and procedures. Such compliance will be an element considered as part of the regular performance evaluation.

Failure to comply with AFS’ Written Standards, which may include the failure to report any conduct or event that potentially violates legal or compliance requirements or AFS’ Written Standards or, for managers and supervisors, fails to detect non-compliant conduct where reasonable efforts would have resulted in detection, will be met by the enforcement of disciplinary action, up to and including possible termination, in accordance with AFS’ Compliance Program Policy and Procedure: Addressing Instances of Non-Compliance through Appropriate Disciplinary Actions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, and use hands to finger handle or feel; to talk; or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must be able to frequently lift up to 25 pounds. The employee may occasionally be required to lift 25 to 50 pounds; however, this is not essential; duties may be shifted to accommodate lifting restrictions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less). The employee will occasionally be working near moving mechanical parts, be exposed to outdoor weather conditions and exposed to a risk of electrical shock while running the copier, printer, other standard equipment and answering the telephone. The noise level in the work environment is low to moderate. Stress level can be high at times.

Note:

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with the job.