Counselor Jobs in Chicago, IL

Basic Function: The Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) provides substance use assessment, treatment planning, counseling, relapse prevention, psychoeducation, and care coordination for youth, adults, and families impacted by substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health and behavioral health needs. This position supports recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive services while ensuring timely, accurate, and audit-defensible documentation in accordance with payer, regulatory, and organizational standards.

The Crisis Continuum of Care CADC functions under the Crisis Continuum of Care Program and serves as a flexible, cross-program Substance Use Specialist. This role is fluid across Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS), the Crisis Stabilization Program, and the 590 Crisis Program, providing consistent substance use expertise, consultation, and direct clinical support wherever operationally needed.

Reporting Relationship

Reports to:

• Crisis Continuum of Care Program Manager
• Crisis Continuum of Care Director
• 590 Program Direction

Supervises: None

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct substance use screenings, biopsychosocial assessments, and ongoing reassessments in accordance with program and regulatory requirements.
• Develop individualized treatment plans with measurable goals, interventions, and discharge criteria based on client need, readiness, and level of care.
• Provide individual, group, and family counseling related to substance use, relapse prevention, recovery support, coping skills, and behavior change.
• Facilitate psychoeducational groups focused on substance use, triggers, decision making, healthy relationships, harm reduction, and wellness.
• Maintain timely and accurate progress notes, treatment plans, assessments, discharge summaries, and all related clinical documentation in the designated electronic health record.
• Coordinate care with internal and external providers, including therapists, case managers, medical staff, schools, probation, child welfare, and community partners, as appropriate.
• Support crisis response, safety planning, and linkage to higher or lower levels of care when clinically indicated.
• Provide expertise and consultation to multidisciplinary staff regarding substance use disorders, evidence-based treatment approaches, and co-occurring behavioral health conditions.
• Support staff with substance use screening, brief interventions, motivational interviewing, harm reduction strategies, safety planning, and overdose prevention education.
• Assist individuals and families with linkage and coordination to substance use treatment services, including detoxification, residential treatment, outpatient services, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), recovery support services, and community resources.
• Provide education and psychoeducation to individuals, families, and staff regarding substance use disorders, recovery principles, relapse prevention, and stigma reduction.
• Serve as the primary Substance Use Specialist for the Crisis Continuum of Care and remain available to provide consultation to MRSS team members and all Crisis Continuum of Care staff as operational needs require.
• Monitor client engagement, attendance, treatment progress, and barriers to participation, and
  Working Conditions:

Program Flexibility

• Provide services within MRSS, Crisis Stabilization Program, and the 590 Crisis Program.
• Maintain competency across all Crisis Continuum of Care programs.
• Complete all required program-specific training.
• Adapt to changing assignments based on operational needs.

Collaboration

• Collaborate with Team Leads, Program Manager, Director, LPHAs, Peer Support Specialists, Case Managers, Nurses, APNs, Psychiatrists, hospitals, schools, law enforcement, 988, community providers, and Managed Care Organizations.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain timely and accurate electronic health record documentation.
• Complete documentation within agency-established timelines.
• Maintain compliance with Medicaid, IDHS, HFS, agency policy, and professional standards.
• Participate in supervision, quality improvement, and required trainings.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree qualifying as an Illinois Mental Health Professional (MHP); QMHP preferred.
• Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC certified). Or must obtain within 1 year.
• Knowledge of Illinois MRSS / 590 standards preferred.
• Experience in community behavioral health crisis intervention preferred.
• Valid Illinois driver's license, reliable transportation, and proof of insurance.
• Demonstrate professionalism, flexibility, accountability, and cultural responsiveness.
• Maintain HIPAA compliance and confidentiality.

FT Role

Compensation

$55,000 Annually

Benefits

• Paid vacation
• Paid Sick Time
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 403(b) Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-term & short-term disability
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Family medical leave
• Tuition reimbursement

Benefit options and eligibility vary by Fulltime and Part-time positions. Compensation within the posted salary range varies based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, and performance at the time of the offer

Mental/Physical Demands:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situation where only limited standardization exists. The ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Conditions:

Work may be performed in office, school, community, residential, or home-based settings, depending on program need. May require evening hours, occasional weekend coverage, local travel, and participation in crisis related support. This position requires on‑site presence and is not a remote role.

This description documents the general contents and requirements of the job. It is not to be construed as an exhausted statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. The principal duties and responsibilities shown are all essential job functions except for those indicated with an asterisk (*). The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Experience

• Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC certified). Or must obtain within 1 year. Knowledge of Illinois MRSS / 590 standards preferred. Experience in community behavioral health crisis intervention preferred.

Education

• Bachelors or better in Psychology or related field
• High School or better

• Associates or better

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.