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Substance Abuse Counselor

Illumination Health + Home

Riverside, CA 92507 • $27.00 / hr • 9/15/2026

Job Description

Job Description
“Every person deserves compassion, dignity, and the safety of a place to call home.”
Homelessness is the largest social and public health crisis in California. Illumination Health + Home is a growing non-profit organization dedicated towards disrupting the cycle of homelessness by providing targeted, interdisciplinary services in our recuperative care centers, emergency shelters, housing services and children's and family programs. IF currently has 13+ facilities with 22+ micro-communities scattered across Orange County, Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire.

Job Description

The Substance Abuse Counselor willprovideclientservicesin a shelter or recuperative care facilitybyutilizingaharm reduction model approach.Harm reduction takes a health rather than a disease perspective, a compassionate and humane rather than a moralistic, not a punitive perspective on why people use drugs and how they get into trouble. Harm reduction brings substance misuse into the realm of mainstream health care and releases it from the clutches of the criminal justice system and from programs that preach zero tolerance for substancemisuse.

The pay offered for this role is$27 per hour.
The schedule for this role is Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Responsibilities

  • SubstanceUseCounselorwill use a harm reduction approach to help motivate clients towardsabstinenceas their goal, or a substantial reduction to drug or alcohol consumption

  • SUCwillinitiateclientevaluationsupon admission, substance use assessment, care planning, and goal setting

  • Collaborates (on a need-to-know basis) with the multidisciplinary team members, including medical, case management, foodserviceand transportationregardingclient’s behavioral health needs, ensuring the highest level of client care

  • Maintains confidentiality of work-related information and materials according to HIPAA standards.

  • Participate in the development and implementation of client’s treatment progress as needed

  • Lead site activities such as currenteventgroups, goalsetting& motivation,relapse prevention,mindfulness, stress management, drug & alcohol awareness,activities of daily living and/or recreational activities,asappropriate tothe specifiedclientpopulation.

  • Recognizethe needsforprovidingcrisisintervention services to clients as needed according to Pro-ACT (Professional Assault Crisis Training)principles

  • Documents all client interactions or activities completed on behalf of the client (including collaboration with other disciplines, case consultations, telephone calls leaving voicemails, and collateral contact)in clientsEMR system(if applicable) according to the documentation standards of the agency and within72hoursof service provision

  • Meet documentationstandardsassigned bySupervisor,Manageror Director

  • InformssupervisingManager or Director, within 12 hours of making an incident report,ProtectiveServicesand/orBehavioral Health holdreportswithin the mandatedtime frame

  • Attend toclients’behavioralissuestactfully andutilizethe de-escalation process as needed

  • Act as a liaison with patients, families of patients, or external facilities and agencies

  • Follows established institutional policies and procedures,objectives, quality assurance program, and safety, environmental and infection control standards

  • Researchandnetworkwith community agencies for client resources and linkage as directed

  • Familiarization with supportive services in County/Counties, including but not limited to linking clients to outside therapy,mental health, substance use treatmentprograms, job training, schooling, church, AA/NA meetings,etc.

  • Attends andparticipatesin staff meetings, servicetraining,workshopsand other required meetings as directed

  • Reportto any IH+Hlocation for coverage,training, or support, as directed

  • Supportvolunteers as needed: mayberequiredtosupervisevolunteer(s)

  • Circulate throughout thefacility everyhour and check-inwith securityguards and medicalstaff concerning anyclient-relatedissues.Beavailabletoassiststaffimmediatelywith thede-escalation process when asked to do so

  • Performs other responsibilities, as assigned by Supervisor, Manager or Director


Expectations
  • We uphold the values ofCommunity, Action, Respect, andEmpowermentin all aspects of our work.

  • CommunityWe lead with the vision of a strengthened and compassionate community for all. By embodying collective care, we serve as an example of what is possible when we come together.

  • ActionOur “whatever it takes” mindset drives us forward. We take initiative, step in where others have stepped out, and create solutions when noneexist.

  • RespectWedeeply value the dignity and uniqueness of every individual we serve. We honor their stories, their journeys, and their right to be seen and heard.

  • EmpowermentWe healalways. Our work enables clients to grow stronger in health, confidence, and belief in their potential as they move forward on their life journey.

  • Follow all safety and sanitation guidelines

  • Set andmaintainhealthy boundaries with clients and staff.

  • Be able to meet targets and work under pressure.

  • Communicate any concerns and feedback to the Site Manager with tact and professionalism.

  • Demonstrate the ability tomaintainconfidentiality of client information and work-related information/materials.

  • Must remain in full compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal wage and hour laws, California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), as well as other regulatory and compliance standards relevant to the organization's operations.


Preferred Experience/Minimum Qualifications:

Required:
  • High School graduate or GED equivalent
  • CertifiedSubstanceUseCounselor(CAADE, CCAPP &CADTP)
  • Two years of experience working with unhouse/substance population
  • Ability to work flexible hours
Preferred:
  • Bilingual in English and Spanish
  • Experience and knowledge with electronic filing system (KIPU & AICA)
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Edge (Mail, Docs, Sheets, Calendar).
  • AA Degree in Psychology and/or Sociology

Benefits

  • Medical Insurance funded byIllumination Health + Home(Kaiser and Blue Shield), depending on the plan
  • Dental and Vision Insurance
  • Life, AD&D and LTD Insurance funded 100% by Illumination Health + Home
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Professional Development Reimbursement
  • 401K with Company Matching
  • 10 days' vacation PTO/year
  • 6 days sick PTO/year
  • 10 days holiday PTO/year
  • Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSFL) for federally qualified loans

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