Entry Level Harm Reduction Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $47,840.00 - $95,253.87 Annually
Location : various locations throughout Ventura County, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 1473HCA-25AC (EN)
Department: Health Care Agency
Opening Date: 10/23/2025
Description
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THE POSITION: Under supervision (Level I) or general direction (Level II/III), the incumbent performs educational and counseling services for clients with a substance use disorder or problematic substance use and performs other related duties as required.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Positions in the Alcohol and Drug Treatment Specialist series are distinguished by the certification requirements and level (entry, journey, lead). Each level entails increasing responsibility for counseling, educating, and developing treatment plans for individuals and small groups.
Alcohol and Drug Treatment Specialist I is the entry level in which incumbents gain interviewing and instructing skills and demonstrate requisite competencies for advancement to the journey level.
Alcohol and Drug Treatment Specialist II is the journey level in which incumbents provide the full scope of counseling and treatment services.
Alcohol Drug Treatment Specialist III is the lead level and highest in this classification series. Incumbents are expected to be certified counselors who lead and train subordinate staff within their programs.
APPROXIMATE SALARIESADTS I: $23.00 - $32.15 Hourly
ADTS II: $27.62 - $38.68 Hourly
ADTS III: $32.68 - $45.80 Hourly
EDUCATIONAL/BILINGUAL INCENTIVE: Some positions may be eligible for educational incentive. This incentive may be 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% for incumbents in eligible positions based on completion of an Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree that is not required for the classification. Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.
VETERAN'S POINTS: This is a trainee/entry level classification (Level I), and Veteran's Points may apply to eligible candidates.
AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Health Care Agency - Behavioral Health
Alcohol and Drug Treatment Specialist I/II/III are represented by the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) and are eligible for overtime compensation.
The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, and Extra-Help vacancies within the Health Care Agency. There are currently twelve (12) regular, full-time vacancies.
NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, incumbent may be promoted to the higher level without further exam upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULEOPENING DATE: October 23, 2025
CLOSING DATE: Continuous
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Level I

• Conducts intake interviews, assessments, one-on-one interviews, teaches educational classes, performs toxicology testing, distributes harm reduction supplies, makes referrals, and coordinates client care
• Develops and/or delivers substance use presentations to clients, their families, community groups, and other agencies, as well as participates in community outreach events.
• Provides case management and data/record management.
• Participates in clinical staff meetings and program related trainings.
• Assists with on-call duties or stand-by duties that may include nights and weekends, when assigned to a 24-hours team
• Travels between various Behavioral Health facilities and community settings to provide services as needed.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Level II
In addition to the above duties, the ADTS II duties may include:

• Conducts individual, group, and family counseling to clients with a substance use disorder and their families.
• Performs client assessment and discharge processes and prepares and administers individual recovery treatment programs; refers clients to appropriate social services.
• Maintains client records and data management.
• Assists the program manager or clinic administrator with scheduling the work of program staff to deliver specific treatment services such as substance use and mental health to target populations.;
• Monitors and evaluates client participation in treatment programs.
• Acts as a liaison to the Courts and other County departments and agencies to coordinate a continuum of services.

Level III
In addition to the above duties, the ADTS III duties may include:

• Leads and instructs subordinate staff within their programs and/or divisions, resolves operational problems encountered during work, and trains staff on program policies and procedures.
• Assigns and prioritizes tasks for subordinates within the work group, evaluates program content, and gathers and analyzes data to determine the effectiveness of the program.
• Prepares statistical and fiscal reports as required by the program coordinator, division manager, or department administration.

Typical Qualifications
These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.
EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE:
ADTS I: One (1) year of experience in the field of alcohol and other drug abuse treatment or prevention or its equivalent OR 30 semester units of college experience in Alcohol and Drug studies OR a Bachelor's degree in social science, human services, or other closely-related field combined with experience in the area of human services.
ADTS II: Two (2) years of experience related to alcohol and other drug abuse counseling OR one (1) year as an Alcohol and Drug Treatment Specialist I.
ADTS III: Five (5) years of experience related to alcohol and other drug abuse counseling, one (1) year of which must include responsibilities equivalent to those of the Alcohol and Drug Treatment Specialist II classification OR possession of a Bachelor's degree in psychology, social science, human services or a closely related field, plus three (3) years of experience in alcohol and other drug abuse treatment prevention or its equivalent area.
AND
Alcohol and Drug Counseling certification from the State of California Department of Health Care Services approved certifying organization.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:
All levels: Must possess and maintain a California Driver's License
Level I: Section 11833(b)(1) Health Care Services (HCS) requires incumbents providing counseling services with alcohol and other drug (AOD) must be a registered or certified Substance Use Disorder (SUD) counselor with certifying organization (CO) approved by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and maintain valid certification as a condition of continued employment.
Currently there are three (3) approved certifying agencies: California Association for Alcohol and Drug Educators (CAADE); California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP); and California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP).
All registered incumbents are required to complete certification as a substance use disorder counselor within five (5) years from the date of initial registration with any DHCS approved certifying organizations and maintain valid certification as a condition of continued employment.
Level II AND III:
Section 11833(b)(1) Health Care Services (HCS) requires incumbents providing counseling services within alcohol and other drug (AOD) must be a certified Substance Use Disorder (SUD) counselor with a certifying organization(CO) approved by Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and maintain valid certification as a condition of continued employment.
Currently there are three (3) approved certifying agencies: California Association for Alcohol and Drug Educators (CAADE); California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP); and California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP).
All "licensed professional" incumbents are not required to be certified but must remain "in good standing" with their respective licensing agency as a condition of continued employment.
*Section 13015(a) defines a "licensed professional" as: a physician licensed by the Medical Board of California; a psychologist licensed by the Board of Psychology; 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.
CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT (for all levels):
Continuing Education - Assembly Bill (AB) 2473 mandates that first-time registrants complete 80 hours of core competency education within six months. Additionally, they must complete 50 hours of Alcohol or Other Drug (AOD) education annually. All other registrants are required to meet tier-specific annual education or continuing education requirements as designated by certifying agencies.
The BHIN distinguishes between "first-year registered counselors" (new registrants who haven't renewed yet) and "registered counselors" (those who have renewed at least once).

• First-year registrants must submit proof of their 80 hours of education to their certifying organization, which must verify the information within 45 days.
• Registration renewals must be submitted at least 120 days prior to expiration, and detailed procedures for approvals, denials, or incomplete applications are outlined including appeal rights. Those with master's degrees in relevant fields are exempt from the core competency requirements.

DESIRED:

• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Level I
Working knowledge of: counseling and recovery interventions techniques with persons presenting with problematic substance use; interviewing techniques; community organizations and resources, including mental health and social services agencies and self-help groups; the philosophy and goals of the Department of Health Care Services, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Compliance Division; SUD evidence-based practice; trauma informed care, harm reduction; program development; and, theories of alcohol and other drug addiction and recovery concepts.
Working ability to: perform assessments and discharge processes; interact effectively with various agencies, services, and communities; maintain client confidentiality and uphold professional ethical code, including client/counselor relationship; acquire knowledge of laws applicable to the Department of Health Care Services, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Compliance Division, as well as other relevant programs; conduct individual and group counseling; maintain records; present educational programs; present educational programs; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; and, assist with on-call or stand-by duties that may include night and weekends, if assigned to 24-hour team.
Level II
Knowledge of: counseling and recovery intervention techniques with persons presenting with problematic substance use; interviewing techniques; community organizations and resources, including mental health, social services agencies, and self-help groups; the philosophy and goals of the Department of Health Care Services, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Compliance Division; SUD evidence-based practice; trauma-informed care; harm reduction; program development; principles and techniques of supervision; theories of alcohol and other drug addiction and recovery concepts; and, laws and regulations applicable to the Department of Health Care Services, Substance Use Disorder Compliance (SUD) Division.
Ability to: function under minimum supervision; lead and train subordinate staff; perform assessments and discharge processes; interact effectively with other agencies, services, and communities; maintain client confidentiality, and uphold professional ethical code, including client-counselor relationship; acquire knowledge of laws applicable to the Department of Health Care Services, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Compliance Division, as well as other relevant programs; conduct individual and group counseling; maintain records; present educational programs; and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
Level III
Considerable knowledge of: counseling and recovery interventions techniques with persons presenting with problematic substance use; interviewing techniques; community organizations and resources, including mental health, social services agencies, and self-help groups; the philosophy, goals, and relevant laws and regulations of the Department of Health Care Services, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Compliance Division; SUD evidence based practice; trauma informed care; harm reduction; program development; principles and techniques of supervision; and, the theories of alcohol and other drug addiction and recovery concepts;
Considerable working ability to: function with minimum supervision; lead and train subordinate staff; perform assessments and discharge processes; interact effectively with various agencies, services, and communities; maintain client confidentiality and uphold professional ethical code, including the client-counselor relationship; acquire knowledge of laws applicable to the Department of Health Care Services, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Compliance Division, as well as other relevant programs; conduct individual and group counseling; maintain records; present educational programs; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; coordinate activities of assigned programs;, organize data and prepare reports; and, assist with on-call or stand-by duties that may include nights and weekends, if assigned to 24-hour team.
Recruitment Process
FINAL FILING D