Boulder County government offices closed Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Volunteer Opportunity

Substance Abuse Counselor – Restoring Our Community (ROC) – unpaid internship

Application or Registration Deadline: 01/14/2025
Opportunity Type: Ongoing Volunteer Opportunity
Department: Community Services
Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Time Commitment & Minimum Age: 9-12 months, 21 years old. At least 10 hours per week, some evenings are required.
Location:

Boulder County Justice Center

1777 6th St., Boulder

Program Summary:

Objectives Of The Program:

Clients: Males who have 3+ DUI offenses and have been accepted into the DUI Integrated Treatment Team (DITT) program. The ROC team assists clients in developing pro-social behaviors and life skills to help prevent them returning to alcohol and/or other drugs, and reoffending. The program teaches community building, recovery maintenance, and Level II DUI education and therapy. The ROC program is an evidenced based program that also addresses the criminogenic needs that perpetuate recidivism in this population.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsibilities: Under supervision, performs the following duties:

  • Provides individual, family, marital and group psychotherapy, in a co-facilitation model as well as educational counseling, case management, and documents these sessions.
  • Performs differential diagnostic substance abuse assessments using Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) approved testing instruments to determine if clients meet the criteria for the ROC Program
  • Develops written Service Plans and updates as scheduled per OBH Treatment Rules
  • Completes written discharge summaries and DACODS when clients complete treatment.
  • Attends weekly DITT case reviews in the Boulder and Longmont locations.

Typical hours – 3pm-8pm Monday – Thursday. Group meetings are held in evenings.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Intern Qualifications/Requirements: Must be at least 21 years old and in an accredited undergraduate, MSW or MA Counseling program that provides curriculum on psychopathology theory and technique, including familiarity with crisis intervention theory, family systems theory and models of addiction.

Preferred interns will have a strong interest in learning about substance use and their treatments, and some experience working with clients in a human service or criminal justice setting.

Essential skills – Excellent verbal and written communication, initiative, teamwork, and the ability to set appropriate boundaries with clients. The willingness to be coached and incorporate feedback into practice.

All interns must pass a criminal background check. No one will be accepted who has a DUI/DWAI conviction within the past four years.

Training Dates and Information:

Training is individualized for the intern.

Additional Information:

Evening attendance is essential in this work. Most clients work during the day which is why we make it more convenient for them by having mandatory group meetings in the evenings. The bulk of the intern experience happens then, so please take that into consideration when applying.

Contact:

Mary Eldred, JSVP Coordinator

jsvp@bouldercounty.gov

303-441-3718

Application Process:

Submit complete application: 3 references, upload resume, include personal purpose statement in appropriate application field.

References received. Background check completed. Documents sent to supervisor for review. Candidates contacted for interview. Intern selected.

Fingerprinting must be completed at least 3 days prior to start date.

Onboarding, training, shadowing.

The position is open until filled. Apply early!

Staff are experienced, compassionate and talented social work and counseling professionals. Learn from the best!