Substance Abuse Worker

Position Overview

**Hiring rate will be determined based on qualifications and internal equity

The Cumberland County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) has received funding to implement an initiative to implement overdose prevention education in school-based settings. The initiative supports a peer support specialist and a public health educator team to provide training to youth and their parents/guardians on substance use prevention, harm reduction, overdose recognition, and naloxone training. Staff support youth with community resources and referrals.

The Substance Abuse Worker will implement trainings with fidelity to a model or health education program as it relates to overdose prevention with youth and parents/guardians in school-based settings. Support the public health educator in completing required fidelity documentation and obtain pre and posttests. Participate in outreach opportunities for community distribution of naloxone. Represent the Department of Public Health as requested on coalitions. Collaborate with CCDPH staff and external partners on community outreach efforts to reduce health disparities and advance health equity. Assisting families by finding resources. Modeling effective coping and self-help techniques to individuals or groups of consumers. Providing support to families on empowerment skills and successful community living.

Examples of Duties

Duties for this position include, but are not limited to:

Collaborate with a Public Health Educator to implement naloxone trainings with fidelity to a model or health education program as it relates to overdose prevention with youth and their parents/guardians in school-based settings.

Assist participants and school-based staff by finding resources, advising the consumer of processes, and encouraging follow through with proposed resolutions, locating social activities, or provide other assistance as needed.

Model effective coping and self-help techniques to individuals or groups of patients

Provide recommendations to clients on empowerment skills and successful community living.

Connect and refer training participants to appropriate treatment and recovery support services (employment, housing, jobs, health insurance, healthcare services, etc.).

Assure services are being provided in a manner that considers health equity, cultural competency, and health literacy. Provide services in a trauma informed manner.

Attend appropriate external stakeholder meetings, including Cumberland-Fayetteville Opioid Response Team (C-FORT) and School Health Advisory Council Meetings (SHAC)

Participate in community engagement and outreach activities.

Serve as backup facilitator for CCDPH staff conducting community-based naloxone training and education

Collaborate with organizations to support community distribution of naloxone, xylazine, and fentanyl test strips.

Utilize NCCARE 360 to receive and send electronic referrals to partner agencies.

Support service delivery at the C-FORT Recovery Resource Center

Participate in community partnerships at the county level and identify linkages that can be helpful to CCDPH.

Employee is subject to be called upon anytime to help the agency respond to a public health emergency which may include, but is not limited to, outbreak investigations, staffing mass dispensing or immunization clinics, providing disaster relief, or other incidents (man-made or natural and intentional or non-intentional) as they arise, or any public health response requested by the Health Director.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from high school and one year of experience in substance abuse in a supportive informational role; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Management Preferences:

Experience with the populations served or substance abuse professional

Certified Peer Support Specialist

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited universities.

Applicants who have obtained their education outside of the U.S. and its territories must have their academic degrees validated as equivalent to the degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent. For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at

High School/College transcripts, relevant certifications/licensures and verification of equivalent degree, if applicable, may be submitted on-line via the attachment feature or mailed to Cumberland County Department of Public Health Human Resources, 1235 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301. If selected for the position, a formal transcript will be required within 30 days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of the addiction process and group intervention dynamics.

Knowledge of trauma-informed and gender-specific services.

Familiar with Narcotics Anonymous (N/A) and Alcoholics Anonymous (A/A), SMART Recovery, and other community self-help groups.

Familiar with community resources to coordinate, link, arrange and refer consumers.

Knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion and social determinants of health.

Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and written.

Ability to communicate and identity effectively with substance abusers and community groups in distributing general information and education related to substance abuse.

Ability to maintain a caseload and quality records.

Ability to maintain effective working relationships with professionals involved in treating substance abuse.

Knowledge of and ability to use a computer and multiple technical interfaces.

Must have ability to make presentations to groups.

Must display sound, stable, and responsible judgment, and exceptional integrity and dependability.

Must have ability to work successfully with diverse populations.

Knowledge of harm reduction principles and syringe exchange laws preferred.

Must have or obtain and maintain a valid North Carolina driver's license with an acceptable driving record. Background check and negative drug test are required.

Inquiries about this job posting should be directed to Department of Public Health Human Resources.

The Cumberland County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CCDPH complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. CCDPH does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex.

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