Alcohol and Drug Service Specialist

NOTICE OF CHANGE: This recruitment has been changed to continuous, and will be open until vacancies are filled. First review of applications will be on 1/8/25.

SALARY

$35.30 - $42.32 Hourly

$73,415.68 - $88,021.44 Annually

The County of Santa Barbara Department of Behavioral Wellness is accepting applications to fill three (3) full-time Alcohol and Drug Service Specialists in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara.

We are also establishing one employment list to fill future full-time, part-time, and extra-help (temporary) and 1414* vacancies in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. Therefore, you must check the Individual Location(s) on the application and work types where you would be willing to accept an assignment for current and future employment. If you qualify for this position and pass the required selection steps, your name may be sent to the hiring managers of the programs where you have expressed interest in working.

The selected candidate may need to travel between different sites within Santa Barbara County.

*1414 vacancies may occur as a result of a leave of absence (Civil Service Rule 1414) and the duration of the appointment shall be subject to the return of the individual who is on leave. A person who is appointed to a position under Civil Service Rule 1414 may be able to transition into a regular position in the classification without re-application or re-testing, depending on the performance of the appointee and the needs of the department. The 1414 position is eligible for Full-Time benefits.

THE POSITION: The candidate selected for this position will, under direction, work within a multi-disciplinary team setting, providing prevention, early intervention and treatment services to adolescents and adults. The candidate will conduct placement screenings, addiction assessments, and treatment referrals to people with alcohol and other drug-related problems and/or co-occurring mental health conditions; perform shift management in coordination with other staff; attend regular meetings and report on clients seen; take the lead in providing substance use and treatment services to clients; and perform other duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: The Alcohol and Drug Service Specialist is a journey-level professional classification. Selectees may be assigned to either program administration and prevention or treatment services assignments and may transfer between assignments. However, selectees for and transferees to treatment services positions are required to register for an approved Alcohol and Drug Counselor certification (pursuant to the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs' Counselor Certification standards) upon assignment and to obtain certification within five years of appointment.

Incumbents in this class work within a system of interdisciplinary departmental teams and/or contract service agencies providing screening, assessment, prevention, intervention, treatment, and related ancillary support services via an integrated service delivery system to people with alcohol and other drug-related problems, mental health conditions, and/or co-occurring conditions.

Program Options: Candidates may select and/or may be assigned to a program per department needs. Program descriptions may be found in the Supplemental Questionnaire section.

ALCOHOL AND DRUGS PROGRAM: Behavioral Wellness is hiring for an Alcohol and Drug Services Specialist to provide Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Care Coordination services. This position will support justice-involved Medi-Cal beneficiaries with navigating the Alcohol and Drug Program (ADP) system of care. Alcohol and Drug Services Specialists complete SUD screenings and assessments, and assist beneficiaries with accessing SUD treatment and transitioning between different levels of care. This position will also serve as a liaison between the court system, Probation, and the Public Defender for individuals agreeing to court-mandated treatment. Additionally, Alcohol and Drug Service Specialists provide linkage to primary care, mental health treatment, social services, and other ancillary services. Services will include interdepartmental and interagency collaboration within a multidisciplinary system of care and are provided county-wide in-person, both in the office and out in the community, as well as via telehealth and telephone. Alcohol and Drug Services Specialists document and bill services under DMC-ODS guidelines. Bilingual abilities in English/Spanish is preferred but not required. Valid California Driver's License is required. This position is based in Santa Maria and requires countywide travel.

CRISIS SERVICES: Alcohol and Drug Service Specialists will be Access Line Screeners in Crisis Services, and are responsible for answering all calls coming into our departmental Access Line. As a member of the Access Line, staff are responsible for screening and determining the needs of the caller, whether a community member is seeking mental health treatment, substance use services, requesting mental health or substance use information for a family member or friend, crisis de-escalation support, or dispatching a Mobile Crisis Team to respond to the community member in crisis. This program includes working with individuals with Substance Use Disorders in a multi-disciplinary team to promote recovery from addiction through linkage and support. The ideal candidate will have knowledge and experience in recovery from Substance Use Disorders and experience assessing client's needs and linking to appropriate treatment. Alcohol and Drug Service Specialists assist and support Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) beneficiaries with assessing Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment, transitioning between different levels of care, and providing linkage. Access Line screeners work a standard work week (M-F 8a-5p or 11a-8p). Locations: Offices in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara.

JUVENILE JUSTICE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: Behavioral Wellness is hiring for an Alcohol and Drug Services Specialist to provide Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment services at the Juvenile Justice Center (JJC) as part of the Juvenile Justice Mental Health Services (JJMHS) program. The individual in this position will provide screening and assessments for SUD, individual and group counseling services, and family support services. Additionally, this position will assist Medi-Cal beneficiaries with accessing SUD treatment post-release. Services will include interdepartmental and interagency collaboration within a multidisciplinary system of care and are provided in-person at the JJC; hours will include evenings and weekends. Bilingual abilities in English/Spanish is preferred but not required. Valid California Driver's License is required. This position is based in Santa Maria and requires countywide travel.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT: Founded in 1962, it is the mission of the Department of Behavioral Wellness to promote the prevention of and recovery from mental illness and addiction among individuals, families and communities, by providing effective leadership and delivering state-of-the-art, culturally competent services. The Department provides treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to 10,000 clients with mental illness and substance use disorders annually through its professional staff of over 400, in addition to its many contracted Community-Based Organization (CBO) providers. The Department's decisions and service delivery are guided by the following values:

For more information, please visit: www.countyofsb.org/behavioral-wellness.

The Ideal Candidate will:

• Have experience with accessing resources and providing outreach services within the community, including school-based settings, at community-based organizations, and on the streets, specifically providing outreach and engagement services.
• Have experience providing field-based services based on identified program needs.
• Have familiarity with providing AOD related screenings, assessments, and interventions for consumers.
• Have experience with case management provisions, including placement and referral services, evaluation for support services, plan development, and coordination of interagency services for clients, including collaboration with clinical staff.
• Have experience working with multiple cultures, families, youths and communities.
• Have excellent oral and written communication.
• Have experience facilitating services for individuals with co-occurring mental health, and alcohol and drug conditions, and documenting all services within 24-72 hours to maintain compliance with Medi-Cal and departmental standards.
• Have experience working with or collaborating with programs serving persons with severe and persistent mental illness, including experience with crisis interventions. Ideal work experience includes facilitation of services such as: collateral, rehabilitation, crisis intervention, evaluation for voluntary/involuntary admission to acute care facilities, mental health services to clients presenting co-occurring conditions, substance-related screenings or evaluations, and groups services.
• Work well as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Be flexible and have good time management.
• Have excellent conflict resolution skills.
• Be proficient using computers.
• Have the ability to read, write, converse fluently in English and Spanish (not required, however, preferred for some positions).
• Have experience facilitating treatment services including individual sessions, group sessions, discharge planning and recovery services.

Program Administration/Prevention Services:

1. Develops, reviews, evaluates, and distributes educational materials to be used to increase individual, family, and community participation in local substance use programs and trainings; collects and evaluates data; organizes public awareness and involvement activities; and facilitates public meetings and conferences related to community alcohol and drug abuse.

1. Conducts training and provides technical assistance to non-profits and public agencies regarding current practice in alcohol and other drug abuse prevention and treatment, including community mobilization, use of individual screening and assessment tools, issue advocacy, and treatment engagement and retention strategies.

1. Carries out community planning processes including data collection and analysis, determination of capacity, preparation of issue plans, implementation of research-based strategies, and evaluation of outcomes.

1. Monitors contract service providers to ensure compliance with federal, state, and County regulations and guidelines; evaluates appropriateness and quality of prevention and treatment services provided by comparing performance to contractor guidelines; provides information and assistance to service providers and others about contract requirements; keeps records and prepares reports evaluating contract compliance and program effectiveness.

1. Assists in the development of internal/external grant proposals under the direction of the Behavioral Wellness Service Coordinator or Behavioral Wellness Program Manager; assists in the request for proposal process by collecting and evaluating data toward the submission, release, and receipt of proposals and by answering questions about the process.

1. Reviews new local, state, and federal legislation and modifies programs to reflect related mandates as directed.

1. Program administration/prevention services staff may perform treatment services duties as a temporary assignment in order to satisfy the training and experience requirements for Alcohol and Drug Counselor certification.

Treatment Services:

1. Conducts pre-placement screenings and addiction assessments for people with alcohol and other drug-related problems and/or co-occurring mental illness conditions.
2. Conducts trainings for non-profit and public agencies regarding current practice in alcohol and other drug abuse treatment, including management of substance use by agency clientele, use of individual screening and assessment tools, client engagement and retention strategies, and treatment planning.
3. Reviews client behaviors or indicators common to client success and premature failure; and recommends strength-based approaches that facilitate successful treatment outcomes.
4. Refers clients to local treatment agencies and other related resources, follows-up to ensure treatment engagement, and participates in care coordination reviews.
5. Evaluates the outcomes of client activity in- and post-treatment.
6. Provides back-up coverage for other staff performing treatment services duties.
7. May be assigned program administration services duties on a temporary basis.

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must provide detailed information on their application to demonstrate how they meet the employment standards (minimum qualifications) listed below:

1. Possession of a bachelor's degree in the health or social sciences or a closely related field AND two years of experience in an alcohol/or other drug abuse prevention or treatment services setting that included providing related services in at least two of the following areas: prevention, planning, education, intervention, screening, assessment, or administration; OR,
   
2. Possession of a master's degree in the health or social sciences or a closely related field AND one year of experience in an alcohol/or other drug abuse prevention or treatment services setting that included providing related services in at least two of the following areas: prevention, planning, education, intervention, screening, assessment, or administration; OR,
   
3. A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

• Incumbents in this job class may be assigned to work with a variety of public and non-profit agencies; grassroots or organized community groups or coalitions; or substance-using populations (such as youth, youth groups and agencies, pregnant or parenting women, specific cultural or ethnic groups, people convicted of various non-violent alcohol or other drug offenses, people who have been diagnosed with AIDS or as HIV-positive, or staff of public-sector agencies).
• Fingerprinting for the purpose of a criminal record check as authorized by Section 16501 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code and Section 11105.3 of the California Penal Code may be required for some positions.
• Finalists for positions in this class will be required to pass a pre-offer, job-related background investigation.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

• Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
• Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking: Candidates' response to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the employment list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 13 qualified candidates.

Applicants must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive written notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.

CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER:

• Live Scan and Background Check: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the selected candidate's appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a Live Scan and background check which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. A Live Scan is electronic fingerprint scanning that is certified by the State Department of Justice. Further instructions about when and how to complete the Live Scan will be included in the offer letter. Appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination.
• The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.

Recruiters will communicate with applicant by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines. The County of Santa Barbara will not release any applicant's email address to a third party.

REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

BENEFITS: For more information on County of Santa Barbara benefits click HERE or visit the Benefits Tab above. Additionally, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for retirement reciprocity and time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate.

Statement of Commitment: The County of Santa Barbara is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining an environment that exhibits equity and inclusion everywhere, and at all levels of our organization. The County believes equity is a fundamental principle that must be imbedded in policies, institutional practices and systems. The County recognizes the negative impacts of systemic racism and is committed to eliminating the barriers affecting our Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian community members, as well as people of other diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. We envision a world where society and its systems (e.g. education, criminal justice, and health care, housing the economy) are just, fair, and inclusive, enabling all people to participate and reach their full potential.

We celebrate community and employee diversity, strive for inclusion and belonging, and promote empowered participation. We aspire to build a workforce that is reflective of these values and the communities we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will resolutely uphold federal, California state law and/or Santa Barbara County ordinances.

We believe equity and inclusion are vital to fulfill the County's mission and to embody a culture of "One County, One Future." Expanding the full range of employee talent allows the County to deliver our best to all our community members.

We believe in the dignity and humanity of all people. We strive for a healthy and prosperous society that promotes all people having equitable access and opportunity.

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: This recruitment has been changed to continuous, and will be open until vacancies are filled. First review of applications will be on 1/8/25; POST MARKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.

Gaby Huerta, Recruitment Analyst, Department of Behavioral Wellness, ghuerta@sbcbwell.org