SUBSTANCE USE COUNSELOR

State of Arizona; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 67,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation and sick days

Paid Parental Leave

Robust insurance plan (medical, dental

Life and disability options

Retirement program

Def. compensation plans

Credit union membership

Wellness program

Public transportation subsidy

Job summary

Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR) in Tucson seeks a Substance Use Counselor Senior to clinically assess and treat offenders. You will deliver education classes, conduct assessments, maintain records, and develop treatment plans in a correctional setting.

Required LIAC/LAAC/LPC/LAC/LCSW/LMSW or psychologist licensure, with LIAC preference. Strong clinical skills and ability to coordinate with security staff are essential.

Qualifications

• Must be licensed in Arizona as LIAC, LAAC, LPC, LAC, LCSW, LMSW, or Psychologist.
• Relevant correctional substance abuse counseling experience preferred.
• Position requires clinical assessment and treatment of offenders in a secure environment.

Responsibilities

• Conducts substance education classes and therapy groups with inmate/offender participants.
• Conducts one-on-one clinical assessments and counseling sessions.
• Maintains clinical records.
• Participates in clinical staffings and meetings.
• Develops individual substance treatment plans with inmate/offender participants.
• Coordinates pre-release planning with case managers and maintains data.
• Interacts with community resource providers and security staff.
• Travels on state business.

Skills

Substance use counseling

Verbal and written communications

Interpersonal relationships

Organization and time management

Active listening

Counseling and interviewing

Data collection and clinical records

Education

Master’s degree in psychology or related field

Licensed Independent Addiction Counselor (LIAC) or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

REHABILITATION & REENTRY

Our mission is to enhance public safety across Arizona through modern, effective correctional practices and meaningful engagements. The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) is committed to creating a safe, secure, and humane correctional system. With public safety top of mind, ADCRR and its more than 8,000 officers and professional staff are driven by a heart for public service and a commitment to deliver perfect effort each day. ADCRR is redefining itself as an agency whose daily work centers on transparency, accountability, and fairness.

SUBSTANCE USE COUNSELOR

(CORRECTIONAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR SENIOR)

Job Location:

Address: Education Programming & Workforce Development
Arizona State Prison Complex (ASPC) – Tucson
10000 South Wilmot
Tucson, Arizona 85734
https://corrections.az.gov/

Posting Details:

Salary:

Independent/Professional License - $70,800.00*
Associate License - $67,200.00*
*Eligible for a $5,000 Hiring Incentive, effective for new hires as continued approved funding remains. The payout is $2,500 upfront, with the remaining $2,500 due after three (3) months of employment.

Grade: 20

Open Until Filled

Job Summary:

Do you have experience with substance-challenged individuals in a correctional environment? Is your LIAC, LAAC, LPC, LAC, LCSW, or LMSW in good standing? Join our team of passionate professionals gaining real clinical experience and making a positive impact on our community. The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR) is seeking a Substance Use Counselor to clinically assess and treat offenders and justice-challenged individuals. In this role, you will deliver substance education classes, conduct one‑on‑one assessments, maintain clinical records, participate in meetings, develop treatment plans, coordinate pre‑release planning, and interact with community providers and security staff.

Job Duties:

• Conducts substance education classes and therapy groups with inmate/offender participants
• Conducts one‑on‑one clinical assessments and counseling sessions
• Maintains clinical records
• Participates in clinical staffings and meetings
• Develops individual substance treatment plans with inmate/offender program participants
• Coordinates transitional pre‑release planning with case managers and maintains accurate statistical data
• Interacts with community resource providers and security staff
• Travels/Drives on state business
• Performs other duties appropriate to the assignment

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• Addiction and treatment practices and protocols
• Counseling techniques
• Adult learning processes
• ADCRR policies and procedures
• Correctional security practices
• Computers and various software programs, including Microsoft Office and Google Suite
• Professional English, grammar, and spelling

Skill in:

• Verbal and written communications
• Establishing, developing, and maintaining interpersonal relationships
• Organization and time management
• Active listening
• Counseling and interviewing
• Collecting and maintaining accurate data, documents, and clinical records

Ability to:

• Effectively deliver program curriculum in a classroom environment
• Interact professionally with inmates/offenders in a group and one‑on‑one settings
• Interact professionally with security staff and the public
• Work in a secure correctional/prison environment

Selective Preference(s):

• Experience working with substance-challenged individuals in a correctional environment
• Master’s Degree from an accredited school with a major in psychology, counseling, or a related field
• Independent Licensure
• Two (2) years of counseling experience

Pre-Employment Requirements:

Must be licensed in the State of Arizona as a Licensed Independent Addiction Counselor (LIAC), Licensed Associate Addiction Counselor (LAAC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), or as a Psychologist.

Employment is contingent on the selected applicant passing a background investigation and a drug test consistent with Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, then the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all necessary driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

In an effort to maintain a safe environment, all employees are required to take a Tuberculosis (TB) test during their New Employee Orientation and every year thereafter.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

• Vacation and sick days with 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Robust and affordable insurance plan to include medical, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability options
• Exceptional retirement program
• Optional employee benefits such as deferred compensation plans, credit union membership, and a wellness program
• An incentivized commuter club and public transportation subsidy program

Additional potential INCENTIVES for this classification, when possible:

• Paid conferences and workshops when possible
• Evidence-based group curriculum
• Minimal paperwork and no billing
• Ability to be creative in using evidence-based practices
• Ability to be part of program development opportunitiesAbility to help ADCRR achieve its goal of reducing recidivism
• Ability to receive clinical supervision for independent licensure
• Currently, Arizona State Prison Complex locations (not Reentry Center) are approved sites for the National Health Service Corps Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program (up to $75,000 in repayment for 3 years of employment). This repayment program is not guaranteed by ADCRR. ADCRR does not operate or determine a candidate’s eligibility for this repayment program. It is strongly recommended to visit the following link prior to applying for this position for further information: https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loan-repayment/nhsc-sud-workforce-loan-repayment-program.html

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement:

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

Current ADCRR Employees: Consult with your respective Human Resources Liaison if you are in a different retirement plan than the one indicated above.

Contact Us:

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling [phone]. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.