Alcohol and Other Drug Services Specialist

Position Information

If you are an Alcohol and Other Drug Services professional and want to make a meaningful impact in the community, apply to our open Alcohol and Other Drug Services Specialist positions today!

Starting salary up to $52.85/hour ($110,304/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

Find out what it's like to work as an Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AODS) professional with the County of Sonoma by watching Laura's story here.

Due to regulatory changes, California Health and Safety Code Section 11833(b)(1) requires that any individual who provides counseling services in a licensed or certified AODS program, except for licensed professionals (see Minimum Qualifications for this definition)*, must be registered or certified with an organization approved by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Individuals must be currently licensed, registered, or certified to be eligible for employment.

A list of approved certification agencies recognized by the DHCS may be found here.

About the Position

The County of Sonoma seeks experienced and dedicated Alcohol and Other Drug Services Specialists to join our team. These positions play a key role in the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) programs, providing oversight to the team, case management, and client-centered services. As part of a collaborative team, the AODS Specialists will work closely with contractors, courts, agencies, and community partners to deliver high-quality services to individuals with substance use disorders. In addition, they:

• Conduct counseling sessions, screenings, American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) assessments, and provide case management to clients
• Develop treatment/service plans, and problem lists, and provide referrals as needed
• Continuously monitor client progress and adjust treatment plans as required
• Interpret and apply state, federal, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations related to the County’s SUD Services
• Prepare and analyze data, reports, and summaries for program managers and supervisors
• Act as lead service coordinator, collecting client information and progress, and may report findings to the courts
• Develop and revise enrollment criteria, policies, and procedures within the County's SUD spaces

As an ideal candidate to join our team, you will possess many of the following:

• Currently certified as an AODS Counselor with an organization approved by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
• Case management experience with in-depth knowledge of substance use disorders and their impact on individuals, families, and communities
• Knowledge of HIPAA, CFR 42, Part 2, and other privacy and confidentiality laws and standards
• Understanding of Trauma-Informed Services, Harm Reduction, and Motivational Interviewing
• Excellent conflict management and de-escalation skills
• Ability to set clear boundaries with clients, especially in court-ordered settings, while maintaining empathy, positivity, and professionalism
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities
• A passion for substance use disorder treatment and community engagement

This is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community while working in a supportive, dynamic, and innovative environment. If you are passionate about substance use treatment and are ready to take on a leadership role in a forward-thinking program, we encourage you to apply!

Program Information

Drug-Free Babies is a case management program for pregnant and post-partum individuals struggling with substance misuse. We provide free, confidential services including help finding appropriate SUD treatment, education on the harmful effects of substance use during pregnancy, referrals, and resources for parents and babies as needed over the course of one year.

Dependency Drug Court is a treatment court program for individuals who have Substance Use Disorder, who also have an active dependency case, and who are in the reunification process. We provide an initial assessment that determines the appropriate level of care where the participant is placed prior to being enrolled in the program. The program is a minimum of one year, and the program specialist provides case management services throughout that time including collaboration with the assigned Family Court Judge, Dependency Legal Services, and Family, Youth, and Children’s Services.

TASC (Treatment Alternatives for a Safer Community) is a case management program, that allows individuals in custody with a SUD the opportunity to participate in treatment in lieu of jail time. We provide the initial assessment in custody and make a recommendation to the court based on the ASAM screening tool. If the individual is sentenced to TASC, they are released to their assigned case manager for transportation to the recommended treatment program. We provide supportive services throughout their sentence as well as aftercare services for 6 months. We work in collaboration with the Sonoma County Superior Court, the Public Defender office, and Adult Probation.

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals and 12 paid holidays
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Engineers and Scientists of California Union Local 20 Memorandum of Understanding (ESC MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

This recruitment is being conducted to fill two Alcohol and Other Drug Services Specialist positions in the Department of Health Services. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be either:

Three years of experience equivalent to the Sonoma County class of Alcohol and Other Drug Services Counselor II and academic course work that directly relates to the knowledge and skills listed, including college level coursework in sociology, psychology, alcohol and drug treatment and closely related fields. A bachelor’s degree in any of the areas described is highly desirable.

OR

Four years of experience with responsibilities involving the development, implementation and administration of alcohol and drug treatment and education programs and academic course work that directly relates to the knowledge and skills listed, including college level coursework in sociology, psychology, alcohol and drug treatment and closely related fields. A bachelor’s degree in any of the areas described is highly desirable.

Special Qualification: All employees of this class must register, obtain, and maintain a Counselor Certification as defined by the California Code of Regulations, Chapter 8: Certification of Alcohol and Other Drug Counselors. Upon appointment to this class, employees will have six months to register and five years to obtain Certification from an ADP approved certifying organization whose curriculum includes a minimum of 240 hours of formal classroom training. Human Resources will waive the Counselor Certification requirement for licensed professionals (or registered interns) who successfully pass a written examination similar to that administered for Certification. This examination will be administered by the Sonoma County Human Resources Department, and will be designed to measure those areas included in the curriculum required for certification.

Due to regulatory changes, California Health and Safety Code Section 11833(b)(1) requires that any individual who provides counseling services in a licensed or certified AODS program, except for licensed professionals*, must be registered or certified with an organization approved by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Individuals must be currently licensed, registered, or certified to be eligible for employment.

A list of approved certification agencies recognized by the DHCS may be found at the following site:

http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/provgovpart/Pages/CounselorCertificationOrganizations.aspx

* Licensed professionals include a physician licensed by the Medical Board of California; or a psychologist licensed by the Board of Psychology; or a clinical social worker or marriage and family therapist licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, or an intern registered with the California Board of Psychology or the California Board of Behavioral Sciences .

Additional Special Qualification: Some positions may require the ability to fluently speak and write a language other than English.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: treatment and rehabilitation techniques used in the identification and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse County, State and Federal laws governing public alcohol and other drug abuse programs; the principles, methods, and techniques used to develop formal and informal training programs associated with the assigned specialty area; the methods and techniques used to develop community information and educational programs; the needs, problems, attitudes and behavior problems of the alcohol and drug abusing person; modern methods of diagnosing and treating persons who misuse alcohol and drugs; basic principles of individual and group behavior; socio-economic, environmental, and cultural factors affecting the behavior of alcohol and drug abusing persons; principles and techniques of group, family and individual counseling; laws, rules, regulations and department policies related to client confidentiality; counseling techniques related to the treatment of alcohol and other drug abusing clients; services and resources provided through other governmental agencies and community-based organizations for alcohol and other drug abuse treatment and education; methods and techniques used to plan and control the work of others assigned to specific projects; County program policies and procedures; court procedures and etiquette; community organizations involved in alcohol and other drug abuse programs; principles of supervision; effective personnel practices including recognition, performance evaluation, and progressive discipline; principles and techniques of employee training.

Ability to: plan, organize, conduct, and evaluate the effectiveness of training and educational programs; use community resources to establish and maintain community alcohol and other drug abuse care, treatment, and education programs; oversee and coordinate the work of other staff; train, develop and lead staff; understand and apply County alcohol and other drug program policies and procedures; provide consultative services in complex situations involving behavioral and physiological conditions of the alcohol/drug client; evaluate the behavioral and physiological conditions of the alcohol/drug client; coordinate the delivery of alcohol and other drug abuse services; analyze situation accurately and adopt an effective course of action; recognize problems that call for the use of public and private community resources; assess situations, identify problems, develop problem solving options, identify associated risks, and make most appropriate decision; effectively listen, mediate and resolve complaints; read, interpret, apply, and explain complex regulations and reports; communicate effectively with persons from a variety of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds; establish and maintain effective work relationships with all types of persons encountered in the course of work; develop rapport and maintain cooperative relationships with clients and service providers; read, understand, apply and explain regulations and procedures governing job training programs; prepare clear and concise oral and written reports; work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team; use computers and related equipment as necessary for job assignments.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: SZ
HR Technician: RR

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off : Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan : Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan : Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical : County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

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• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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