Substance Use Disorder Professional (PS4)

WA Department of Children, Youth, and Families; Snoqualmie (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

WA Department of Children, Youth, and Families is hiring a Substance Use Disorder Professional to deliver counseling and case management to youth at Echo Glen Children’s Center. This role involves diagnostic assessments, treatment planning, and coordination of referrals within a secure juvenile justice setting.

The position requires a SUDP credential (or trainee status) and offers a clear pathway from PS3 to PS4 with opportunities for professional growth within the DCYF.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Public Health, Psychology, Mental Health, Healthcare Administration or a related field.
• Two years of experience in juvenile justice or social services with diverse clients who have complex needs.
• Current SUDP Credential or enrollment in SUDP trainee program.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group counseling and case management.
• Conduct diagnostic assessments and treatment planning.
• Maintain case records and documentation.
• Coordinate referrals and placement into SUD prevention/treatment.
• Ensure safety and security within a juvenile justice treatment milieu.
• Supervise prescribed treatment and develop future treatment plans.

Skills

Counseling

Case management

Assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field

Associate degree in related field

Job description

Job title: Substance Use Disorder Professional (PS4)

Closes: Thursday, October 29, 2026

Salary: Program Specialist 3 $59,760 - $80,496 Yearly, Program Specialist 4 $64,512 - $86,688 Yearly. The salary does not include an on-site 24/7 facility 5% premium or an additional 5% premium pay for employees working in King County.

The Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) is accepting applications for a Substance Use Disorder Professional to provide Substance Use Disorder (SUD) program services in a juvenile rehabilitation treatment program and ensure high-quality counseling is provided for young people demonstrating emotional, cognitive and/or behavioral disorders.

The Opportunity:

As a Substance Use Disorder Professional, you will provide individual and group counseling, referral, and case management services to young people at Echo Glen Children’s Center, to include re-entry and transition planning. This includes diagnostic evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and case management services. You will provide supervision for prescribed treatment, maintenance of case records, and perform management functions. Job seekers who have a Substance Abuse Disorder Professional (SUDP) license or are enrolled in a SUDP trainee program at a certified school are encouraged to apply.

Some of what you'll do:

• Complete substance use assessments and diagnose substance use disorders.
• Provide individual and group counseling, referral, case management services, and timely documentation.
• Ensure all diagnostic assessments are reviewed.
• Recommend placement into SUD prevention and treatment.
• Inform referral source (with required release of information) of the outcome of the assessment and treatment recommendations.
• Maintain safety and security within a secure juvenile justice treatment milieu; recognize symptoms of psychiatric distress and intervene to de-escalate using JR approved methods and techniques to maintain safety of youth within a juvenile justice mental health treatment milieu in individual and group settings.
• Place the client with an appropriate clinician for the development of an Individualized Treatment Plan and/or Case Management Plan of Care
• Provide clinical program leadership in screening and assessment for SUD programming.

Required qualifications:

The goal class is a Program Specialist 4 however, we will consider candidates at the Program Specialist 3 level, with a path to meet the qualifications through an In-Training plan. Selected candidates must advance to the goal classification of Program Specialist 4 within 12 months of hire.

Program Specialist 4

A Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Public Health, Psychology, Mental Health, Healthcare Administration or a related field, AND two years of experience in the juvenile justice or social service field providing therapeutic or rehabilitation services with clients from diverse backgrounds who have complex needs AND have a current SUDP Credential.

OR

An Associate's degree or equivalent course work in Social Work, Public Health, Psychology, Mental Health, or a related field, AND four years of experience in the juvenile justice or social service field providing therapeutic or rehabilitation services with clients from diverse backgrounds who have complex needs AND have a current SUDP Credential.

OR

An equivalent education and/or experience in the juvenile justice or social service field providing therapeutic or rehabilitation services with clients from diverse backgrounds who have complex needs, totaling six years, AND have a current SUDP Credential.

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

If hiring at PS3 level

Bachelor’s Degree in social work, Public Health, Psychology, Mental Health, Healthcare Administration or a related field, AND six months of experience in the juvenile justice or social service field providing therapeutic or rehabilitation services with clients from diverse backgrounds who have complex needs AND must obtain the SUDPT Credential within three months of hire.

OR

An Associate’s Degree or equivalent course work in Social Work, Public Health, Psychology, Mental Health, or a related field, AND 2 and ½ years of experience in the juvenile justice or social service field providing therapeutic or rehabilitation services with clients from diverse backgrounds who have complex needs AND must obtain the SUDPT Credential within three months of hire.

OR

Equivalent education and/or experience in the juvenile justice or social service field providing therapeutic or rehabilitation services with clients from diverse backgrounds who have complex needs, totaling at least 4.5 years, AND must obtain the SUDPT Credential within three months of hire.

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Associate Degree and/or license in psychology, social work, public health, healthcare administration, human services and other related fields of social sciences.
• Three years of experience in SUD prevention/treatment, juvenile justice/social service positions with clients from diverse backgrounds who have complex needs.
• Three years of professional experience with adolescents and families with substance use disorders.
• Professional experience with cognitive behavioral interventions in a social services or treatment setting.
• Knowledge and skill with assessment and treatment applications of best-practice, principles, and strategies associated with trauma-informed and culturally responsive treatment, cognitive behavioral theory, social learning theory, and mindfulness-based practices.
• Knowledge, experience, and personal insight about racial justice, system inequity, disparities and disproportionality in legal systems, and the post-traumatic impact of racial discrimination.
• Ability to coach and support others.

Supplemental Information:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

Applicants selected for an interview are required to pass a national fingerprint background check and complete a questionnaire mandated by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) inquiring about any sexual misconduct. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but is considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job.

This position is included a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.