Substance Use Specialist

The Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES); New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 47,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Paid Time Off

12 Paid Holidays per year

403(b) Retirement Plan

Employee Referral Program

Job summary

CASES is seeking a Substance Use Specialist (CASAC) in New York to join a multidisciplinary team delivering evidence-based counseling and crisis support. The role includes individual, family, and group counseling, SBIRT, and trauma‑informed, recovery‑oriented planning within a behavioral health division focused on justice-involved individuals.

The position is full-time with hybrid work arrangements (NYC). Salary is $55,000 per year, with comprehensive benefits and opportunities to connect

Qualifications

• Must have active CASAC certification status in good standing.
• At least 18 months of work experience providing substance use services to individuals with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder and criminal justice involvement.
• Individuals with lived experience encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Provide substance use treatment including individual, family and group counseling.
• Perform Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT).
• Provide person-centered, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and culturally competent services.
• Identify treatment needs based on severity, stage of change, and immediate needs; set treatment objectives.
• Engage participants with urgent/crisis substance use needs to offer support and resolve crisis.
• Assess treatment needs and provide substance use expertise for evaluation and planning.
• Provide relapse prevention, psychoeducation, and harm reduction using motivational interviewing and CBT.
• Run evidence-based substance use treatment and relapse prevention groups.
• Advocate and liaise for access to MAT, emergency detox, rehabilitation, and community supports.
• Dispense Naloxone response kits as an approved NYS dispenser.
• Outreach and network with DCO partners providing crisis stabilization and rehab services.
• Contribute to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racist practices in delivery of services.
• Provide culturally competent services in CASES policies and practices.

Skills

CASAC certification

Experience with justice-involved

Spanish (preferred)

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job Title

Substance Use Specialist (CASAC)

Job Summary

CASES is seeking a Substance Use Specialist that is CASAC certified to play an integral role in the recovery process, and the services they provide ha ve shown to promote positive health and recovery outcomes. The Substance Use Specialist is part of a multidisciplinary team working collaboratively with therapists, psychiatrists/PNPs, and nurses . The Substance Use Specialist will perform initial substance use assessments, complete SBIRTS, provide individual and group counseling , contribute to person -c entered, trauma informed treatment planning , provide crisis intervention, and assist participants in developing relapse prevention plans. CASES is a New York City agency at the forefront of the intersection between behavioral health and involvement in the criminal justice system. Our mission is to increase public safety through innovative services that reduce crime and incarceration, improve behavioral health, promote recovery and rehabilitation, and create community success opportunities. The Behavioral Health division consists of a continuum of services for justice-involved individuals with serious mental illness. The Nathaniel Clinic located in the Bronx provides outpatient mental health and substance use services to adolescents and adults, focusing on providing care to those involved in the criminal legal system.

Salary

The salary for this role is $55,000 per year.

Shift Hours

This position is full-time Monday – Friday from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Location Address

424 East 147th Street, Bronx, NY, 10455. Our office is easily accessible by public transportation.

Workplace Flexibility

Hybrid - for roles that have one day remote.

What You Will Be Doing

• Provide substance use treatment including individual, family and group counseling
• Perform Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)
• Provide services that are person/family-centered, strengths -based, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally competent
• Identify the treatment needs of and with participants, based on severity of substance use, stage of change, and immediate needs as well as recommended treatment objectives
• Engage participants with urgent and crisis substance use needs to offer support and resolve crisis
• Assess treatment needs, and provide substance use expertise for person-centered evaluation and treatment planning
• Establish the degree of risk for substance use and harmful behaviors and provide interventions and supports to promote progress towards recovery
• Provide relapse prevention, psychoeducation, and harm reduction using motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Run evidence-based substance use treatment and Relapse Prevention groups
• Act as an advocate and liaison for participants in securing access to MAT, emergency detox, rehabilitation care, and other community supports that promote integrated substance use or dual disorder treatment
• Dispense Naloxone response kits as an approved NYS dispenser
• Outreach and network with DCO partners providing crisis stabilization, inpatient/residential detox and rehabilitative treatment centers
• Contribute to ongoing organizational commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracist practices in delivery of services and work
• Provide culturally competent services in accordance with CASES policies and practice
• Any other duties as required by senior clinical leadership

What We Are Looking For

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must have active CASAC certification status in good standing
• At least 18 months of work experience providing substance use services to individuals with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder and criminal justice involvement
• Individuals with previous criminal justice experience are encouraged to apply
• Individuals with lived experience are encouraged to apply

Preferred Skills

• Fluency in Spanish preferred

Employee Benefits

CASES cares about employee wellbeing, and we offer a comprehensive benefits package to support you and your family, including:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Vacation and Paid Time Off – starting at 25 days
• 12 Paid Holidays per year
• Retirement 403(b) Competitive matching up to 6%
• Employee Referral Program

Our Values

At CASES, we like to move with PURPOSE, which reflects our values:

• PEOPLE| Hold people’s stories with dignity
• UNITY| Commit to a shared mission
• RESPECT| Celebrate the strength of diversity
• PROGRESS| Always work to improve
• OPTIMIZE| Make the best use of resources
• SOLUTIONS| Work together to solve problems
• EMPATHY| Seek to understand others

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

CASES is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with CASES is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position without regard to race, color, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital, military, or citizenship status. We also actively recruit individuals with prior involvement in the criminal legal system.

Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm

35 hours per week excluding breaks