Counselor III (HOPE) na Volunteers of America Oregon

Description

Make a difference with VOA Oregon! For over 125 years, Volunteers of America Oregon has been dedicated to serving the most vulnerable members of our community. Through our programs in behavioral health, addiction treatment, reentry services, and support for children and families, we provide life-changing services that promote safety, healing, and empowerment.

Join a mission-driven organization that truly values its employees! This is a full-time position with excellent benefits, including:

Comprehensive health coverage – medical, dental, and vision insurance, with an employee medical premium starting at just $12.50 per paycheck
Financial protection – life insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance
Retirement security – 403(b) with an automatic 5.5% employer contribution after 18 months, regardless of employee participation
Work-life balance – a generous paid time off (PTO) plan, starting with accruals that earn 15 days in the first year, 23 days in the second, and 26 days in the third
Upfront sick leave – 80 hours of front-loaded sick time (prorated in the first year), which resets annually on January 1
Paid holidays – 10 paid holidays each year, plus three personal holidays (prorated in the first year) for employees to take time off to celebrate holidays, events, or milestones that matter most to them
Student loan forgiveness – As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, VOA Oregon is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which can help employees reduce or eliminate their federal student loan debt after 10 years of qualifying payments.
Additional perks – flexible spending accounts, an employee assistance program, and other voluntary benefits and discounts

At VOA Oregon, you’ll be part of a compassionate and dedicated team, making a real difference in our community. Apply today!
 

Position Close Date: 11/06/2025

The Counselor III provides compassionate and trauma-informed mental health and addiction counseling services. This position will primarily serve clients who have been referred through the HOPE Program.

Education, Training & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. Combination of relevant education, training and experience may be substituted in lieu of degree.
• Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor I (CADC I) certification is required or ability to obtain within two years of hire.
• Required education, knowledge, and skills to qualify as a Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) in accordance with MHACBO is preferred.
• Experience with group facilitation.
• Experience providing case management and/or resource information, referral, and advocacy services for at-risk populations.
• A combination of relevant experience in the following areas:
  • Substance Use Disorders
  • Trauma
  • Mental Health
  • Wellness Issues
  • Corrections populations
  • Men’s issues
  • At-risk populations
  • Diverse populations
  • Residential treatment

Competencies:

• Ability to perform comprehensive needs assessments.
• Able to perform ASAM assessment and assign level of care.
• Understanding of SUD treatment discharge planning needs for at-risk populations.
• Ability to engage clients in a therapeutic relationship.
• Knowledge of community resources in greater Portland metro area.

Additional Eligibility Requirements:

• Ability to pass a DHS criminal background check.
• Reliable form of transportation or able to drive VOA vehicle.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with clients in assessment, diagnosis, treatment, behavioral intervention, and discharge planning.
• Provide as needed case management sessions to clients.
• Facilitate groups for clients.
• Use evidence-based curriculum to facilitate a variety of skills-based and psycho-educational groups for clients.
• Maintain charts in accordance with Oregon Administrative Rules Residential Substance Use Disorders and Outpatient Behavioral Health Treatment.
• Engage in collaborative relationships with collateral community providers including, but not limited to probation officers, child welfare workers, mental health providers, and primary care physicians.
• Maintain healthy professional boundaries with clients and co-workers.
• Ensure services are gender specific and culturally competent.
• Maintain client confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and 42-CFR rules.
• Provide services in accordance with professional ethical guidelines.
• Demonstrate reliability by being present for work as scheduled, arriving and leaving on time and taking breaks in expected time frames.  

Other Responsibilities:

• Maintain ongoing education and training as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Serve as back-up for Intake Counselor

Supervisory Responsibility:  Position is not responsible for supervision of other employees.

Work Environment:

• Physical Demands:  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.
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is consistently required to sit most of day, stand, walk, use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects and keyboard, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, kneel, talk or hear.
  • The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Conditions:  Work is performed in a residential treatment center.  Must be prepared to handle client crises and/or emergencies.    

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:  This is a FT 40 hrs. per week position.  

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent(s) of this job.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required for this position.

Qualifications