Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC)

About Rising Ground

Founded as an orphanage in 1831, Rising Ground has been at the forefront of evolving community needs. Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 72,000 individuals annually. We do this through 101 programs across 138 sites, throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity is shown not just through our work with supported persons but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve. Rising Ground is headquartered in New York City.

Program Overview

In this new Clinical Support Program, Rising Ground will embed licensed professionals specializing in mental health, substance misuse, and intimate partner violence directly into child protective work in Brooklyn. These clinicians will collaborate closely with ACS staff and families to assess needs, provide tailored service recommendations, and ensure families are connected to appropriate supports. By integrating clinical expertise into frontline decision-making, Rising Ground will play a vital role in enhancing child safety and strengthening family outcomes across the borough.

About the Role

The full-time CASAC is responsible for assessing substance use in families referred to ACS Child Protective Services unit. The CASAC determines the impact of substance use on child safety and recommends appropriate treatment, support or harm reduction services.

This position requires regular in-person presence at an ACS field office in Brooklyn or within the community. Occasional travel to other agency sites or meetings may also be required.

What You’ll Do

• Conduct substance use assessments using clinical interviews, screenings, and standardized tools.
• Using EBMs such as motivational interviewing, assess readiness to change
• Contribute to CPS teams’ decision making, highlighting areas of concern related to child safety due to substance misuse. Participate in case conferences and enrich the CPS teams’ understanding of substance use dynamics in family systems.
• Refer families to community-based services and suggest appropriate levels of care based on assessment findings.
• Educate CPS staff on substance use trends, treatment options, and best practices for engaging families
• Ensure that internal and external referrals are individualized and tailored to meet families’ needs, working collaboratively with our Access and Referral Department
• Ensure that warm handoffs occur in making referrals
• Participate in all relevant internal and external meetings
• Provide after-hour coverage for consultation, as needed
• Other duties as required

Your Qualifications

• Valid CASAC Credential required (CASAC-T not accepted)
• High School diploma or GED considered; Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Experience and comfort with Evidence Based Models such as Motivational Interviewing and multiple substance use assessment measures
• Familiarity with Connections and PROMIS databases preferred

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Supervisory Responsibility

No

Work Environment:

Clinic/Field/Corporate Office

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday in our Brooklyn, New York Hub and specified ACS Field Offices. Work hours are 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, with availability for after-hour consultation.

Additional Requirements:

• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Ability to travel to other Rising Ground sites (if required)
• Ability to travel and work in ACS field office in Brooklyn
• Ability to travel within the community

Benefits Offerings Includes:

11 Paid Holidays

Paid Sick Time

Paid Vacation

Paid Personal days

Insurance Coverage

Medical - 3 plan options

Dental - 2 plan options

Vision - 1 plan option

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Rising Ground that the Agency wholly complies with equal treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to an individual’s perceived or actual race, creed, color, national origin, alienate, citizenship status, gender, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or veteran status in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, layoff and termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.