JOB SUMMARY:

Family Focused Recovery is Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana’s (VOASELA) evidence-based opioid and substance use disorder treatment and recovery model for pregnant and parenting women and their children. VOASELA’s trauma-informed services keep families together in residential treatment and partner with women in the community on their recovery journey. VOASELA’s holistic and culturally responsive program treats women’s chemical dependency, breaks the cycle of addiction, reunites families, and promotes the birth of healthy, drug-free babies.

Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana's Family Focused Recovery is seeking two SUD Counselors (LMSW, PLPC, LCSW, LPC) for our Residential Center, opening Summer of 2025. The shift options are Monday - Friday 10a to 6:30p or 12 to 8:30p.

The SUD Specialist, under the direction of the Clinical Manager, is responsible for conducting individual, family and group therapy for mothers residing at the residential center. This individual completes concurrent reviews with Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to ensure approval of services based on the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) level of care for the maximum amount of time based on medical necessity. This individual updates and reviews person-centered care plans by required deadlines. This individual will work closely with supervisory and administrative staff to ensure efficient and high-quality service provision for all persons served by Family Focused Recovery (FFR).

As the residential center opens, the SUD Counselor must be flexible and support the FFR team in successful launch and scaling of services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the Assistant Vice President of Integrated & Behavioral Health in the successful design and implementation of FFR programming across American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) residential levels of care (3.5, 3.3, and 3.1) and aftercare peer support services.
• Support the Assistant Vice President of Integrated & Behavioral Health in the successful completion of the Implementation and Evaluation Phases of the Regional Partnership Grant (RPG), including adherence to RPG Research requirements.
• Work closely with supervisory and residential center staff to ensure the provision of team-based care for all persons served is high quality, efficient, and in compliance with all accreditation and funding source requirements.
• Provide direct counseling and crisis intervention services to persons served, utilizing individual, family, group interventions to the mothers in the residential center.
• Conduct required admission, assessment and screening instruments with persons served to guide service delivery in line with best practices based on the individualized needs of each person served.
• Update and review person-centered care plans by established deadlines.
• Complete concurrent reviews, and other requirements with MCOs to ensure approval of services based on the ASAM level of care for the maximum amount of time based on medical necessity.
• Precisely document and track prior authorizations, concurrent reviews, and other requirements in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and additional tracking spreadsheets as required. Ensure clear communication of deadlines for future concurrent reviews and other requirements to other staff.
• Utilize concurrent documentation and record accurate information in the EHR of each person served within 1 business day. Ensure documentation is completed in compliance with all accreditation and funding source requirements.
• Responsible for ensuring that all policies, procedures and practices of VOASELA are met.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Non-essential)

• Ensure VOASELA and FFR staff create and maintain a recovery-oriented environment based on the principles of Therapeutic Communities.
• Provides support to all FFR program activities, including Child Watch.
• Adhere to the designated dress code as stipulated for the specific role.
• FFR is an alcohol and drug-free workplace, with a workforce free of substance use.

SUPERVISORY DUTIES:

• None

KEY CONTACTS

Maintains critical relationships with the following:

• Managed Care Organizations and other payors

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

This position requires knowledge, skills and abilities equivalent to:

• Master’s degree in social work or counseling and current Louisiana licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Maintenance of all requirements to provide telehealth services on an ongoing basis.
• Experience working with women experiencing substance use disorders.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed and culturally sensitive practices.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Advanced computer skills.
• Expertise within Electronic Health Systems.
• Ability to interact with staff at all levels in a respectful manner, remaining flexible, proactive, and task oriented.
• Problem-solving ability, attention to detail, accuracy, flexibility, reliability, and prioritizing skills.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality per HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.

• Must be able to pass a criminal history investigation (not all convictions will exclude candidates from being hired).
• Must pass drug screening tests as required by agency’s policies and procedures.
• Must complete tuberculosis (TB) screening prior to employment and be free from Tuberculosis (TB) in a communicable state via skin testing (or chest exam if recommended by physician).
• Must be able to maintain First Aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and seizure assessment training.

• This position provides services in office. This position may provide telehealth services, if required due to emergency operations and/or emergency declaration only.
• This position is responsible for working at least one Saturday a month and may work non-traditional hours to ensure group coverage including occasional evening and holiday group coverage.
• This position is responsible for enactment of FFR’s Emergency Operations Plan during emergencies, such as hurricanes or inclement weather, which may require evacuation and/or shelter in place with persons served and staff.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

SUD Counselor (Treatment) schedule is Monday - Friday 10a to 6:30p.

SUD Counselor (Recovery) schedule is Monday - Friday 12 to 8:30p.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is primarily performed in an office environment while seated at a desk. Dexterity is used while performing work with personal computer keyboard, calculator and other office equipment.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.