NAYA Family Center is searching for a strong, empathetic leader and social and behavioral advocate to join our Youth and Education Services department as our Alcohol and Drug Specialist. This person will provide casework services to young people (ages 16-24 years old) experiencing houselessness who are struggling with issues related to alcohol and/or drug use and mental health barriers. The target population is youth who are not connected to treatment, counseling or other recovery-related services. This position works with young people by providing drug and alcohol prevention activities, pre-treatment and connection to drug and alcohol treatment services and mental health supportive services. 

Duties include screening and assessment, individual and group counseling, case coordination, resource referral, community networking and collaboration, curriculum and program development, advocacy, clinical documentation and record keeping, development and support to the peer mentor program, and after care support. The Alcohol & Drug Specialist participates as a member of the Recovery Oriented Supports and Engagement (ROSE) Program, which includes partner agencies within the Homeless Youth Continuum (HYC). This position is primarily a direct service position (70%), with the balance of the time (30%) spent performing general administrative tasks and service coordination. 

 NAYA offers an exceptional benefits package, including free medical, dental and vision insurance for employees (and affordable care for family members), 401(k) retirement plan with 6% match, paid vacation and paid holidays. This is a full-time role with work hours of 9 am to 6 pm with a one hour unpaid lunch. Pay for this position is $25-27 / hour.

Who you are:

• CADC I (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor) required, with CADC II or III preferred.
• Knowledge of addiction service systems and clinical issues related to homeless youth. 
• Knowledge of Native American history, an understanding of the diversity of the local American Indian/Alaskan Native community and issues surrounding the Urban Indian experience required.
• Experience in youth development and/or human services with low income and/or culturally diverse populations required 
• Experience working with homeless youth issues, including youth risk prevention work preferred 
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, enroll, manage and maintain caseload of 25-40 youth efficiently 
• Ability to be extremely flexible when managing changing priorities and schedules, without compromising quality of outcomes, ability to complete tasks, or uphold commitments. 
• Ability to deal with different people and situations appropriately, including effective communication with people from diverse backgrounds. 

What you'll do:

•  Screening, Assessment and Service Referrals: Conduct and review A&D screenings to identify clients appropriate for the ROSE program 
• Work closely with service partners to schedule and complete A&D assessments and refer youth to the appropriate level of care for their stage of change and treatment needs. Conduct A&D assessment, when appropriate.
• Work closely with mental health providers to schedule and complete mental health evaluations and refer youth to appropriate level of care 
• Counseling: Provide and/or arrange for individual A & D counseling services.
• Develop and facilitate weekly to bi-weekly group counseling sessions for identified youth.
• Build rapport with youth and provide information on services, programs and groups available. 
• Collaborate with case managers and peer mentors to ensure that goals are identified by the youth.
• Facilitate youth engagement and self-determination: Engaging youth to build and strengthen their identity and role in the Native community.
• Providing engagement services to unaccompanied youths while in host home/shelter placement, to assist them in reunification, if appropriate, or acquire an alternate safe, stable placement.
•  Maintain documentation in a timely, thorough and accurate manner in accordance with agency guidelines and as required by funding sources.
• Coordinate wraparound services effectively with other NAYA Family Center programs and staff.

Check out the full job description.

NAYA is committed to building a work environment that respects and inspires every community member. Our mission is to serve Urban Native youth and families, so we strongly encourage Native people to apply. We encourage applications from members of other historically marginalized groups, as well, including women, people of color, those with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those who have served in the military.