Substance Use Counselor

Default Brand; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

VOA Dakotas is seeking a Substance Use Counselor to join its outpatient behavioral health team in Sioux Falls. You will deliver individual, group, and family counseling for clients with SUD, participate in same-day/open-access scheduling, and collaborate with therapists, case managers, and the medical director to provide integrated care.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or related field, plus experience conducting assessments and developing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, addiction studies, or a related field required.
• Experience conducting psychosocial and substance use assessments and developing individualized treatment plans required.
• Experience with electronic health record documentation required.
• Preferred: LAC or other advanced SUD counseling certification; experience with co-occurring disorders and Medicaid populations.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual, group, and family counseling to clients with substance use disorders.
• Deliver services within a rotating same-day/open-access schedule to support walk-in outpatient care.
• Apply ASAM placement criteria in treatment planning and level-of-care decisions.
• Provide crisis intervention and safety planning as needed and coordinate with crisis partners for higher levels of care.
• Conduct psychosocial and substance use assessments and develop individualized service plans.
• Coordinate care with Case Managers, Mental Health Therapists, primary care, and DCO partners for integrated services.
• Refer clients to Medicaid enrollment and other supportive services.
• Maintain timely clinical documentation in the EHR and support PPS billing readiness.

Skills

Communication

Engagement

Cultural humility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, addiction studies, or related field

Tools

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Job description

Reports To: Director of Outpatient Operations

Work Schedule: Full-time, requiring flexible hours. Occasional evening hours may be required to support access and engagement needs.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Substance Use Counselor delivers individual, group, and family substance use disorder (SUD) counseling as part of VOA, Dakotas’ expansion of same-day/open-access outpatient behavioral health capacity under its Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) initiative. This position conducts psychosocial and substance use assessments, develops individualized treatment plans, and delivers evidence-based counseling interventions to individuals with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. The Substance Use Counselor participates in a rotating schedule that ensures same-day and walk-in access to care and works closely with Mental Health Therapists, Case Managers, and the Medical Director to deliver coordinated, integrated treatment.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Clinical Service Delivery

• Provide individual, group, and family counseling to clients with substance use disorders.
• Deliver services within a rotating same-day/open-access schedule to support timely, walk-in outpatient care.
• Apply evidence-based practices and ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) placement criteria in treatment planning and level-of-care decisions.
• Provide crisis intervention and safety planning as needed, and coordinate with Designated Collaborating Organization (DCO) crisis partners for higher levels of care.

Assessment & Treatment Planning

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial and substance use assessments for new and existing clients.
• Develop, implement, and regularly update individualized service plans in collaboration with clients and the treatment team.
• Monitor client progress and adjust treatment plans based on outcomes and changing needs.

CCBHC Access & Care Coordination

• Support VOA Dakotas’ same-day/open-access model by maintaining availability for walk-in intake and engagement.
• Coordinate care with Case Managers, Mental Health Therapists, primary care, and DCO partners to ensure integration across all nine CCBHC core services.
• Refer and connect clients to Medicaid enrollment, benefits navigation, and other supportive services as needed.

Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain timely, accurate clinical documentation in the electronic health record consistent with CCBHC, Medicaid, and licensure requirements.
• Ensure documentation supports CCBHC quality measure reporting and PPS billing readiness.
• Comply with all applicable South Dakota licensure, confidentiality, and ethical practice standards.

Professional Development

• Participate in clinical supervision toward South Dakota LAC licensure, as applicable.
• Engage in ongoing training on evidence-based SUD treatment practices and co-occurring disorder care.

Responsible to carry out other duties as assigned to support program operations and goals.

POSITIONS QUALIFICATIONS SKILLS & ABILITIES

Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, addiction studies, or a related field required. Working knowledge of SUD treatment modalities, ASAM placement criteria, and co-occurring disorder care required.

Experience: Experience conducting psychosocial and substance use assessments and developing individualized treatment plans required. Experience with electronic health record documentation required.

Preferred Qualifications: LAC or other advanced SUD counseling certification. Experience treating co-occurring SUD and serious mental illness. Experience serving Medicaid-enrolled and uninsured populations. Experience in a CCBHC, FQHC, or other integrated behavioral health setting. Bilingual or experience serving rural, veteran, or tribal populations.

Skills: Strong communication, engagement, and cultural humility skills for work with diverse populations required.

Competencies: Clinical assessment, motivational interviewing, crisis intervention, cultural humility, documentation and compliance, collaboration and care coordination, and time management and flexibility

Licenses: South Dakota Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) credential, or actively accruing supervised hours toward LAC licensure through the SD Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals (BAPP) required. Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

A. Ability to Stand, Walk, sit, and use standard office equipment for extended periods.

B. Ability to respond flexibly to a same-day/open-access clinical schedule, including walk-in appointments.

Why VOA Dakotas

VOA Dakotas is committed to empowering individuals and communities through compassionate, person-centered services. The Substance Use Counselor will play a direct role in expanding timely access to substance use treatment and helping individuals and families across the region achieve recovery and improved well-being.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.