We are seeking Direct Support Professionals (DSP) to fill immediate openings for our residential substance abuse treatment facility in Norfolk, VA.  The DSP provides most of the practical support and supervision that individuals in treatment may require while they are a resident in a treatment program. Whereas the characteristics of individuals in treatment may range from those nearly prepared for community reintegration to those that are just beginning their recovery journey, the responsibilities of the DSP are also diverse.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must have a high school diploma or GED
  
• Must have one year experience providing direct support services on a volunteer or paid basis under the supervision of a service provider in a residential treatment environment.
  
• Strong communication and documentation skills
  

Duties:

• Under the supervision of the Program Manager, works in collaboration with fellow DSP's to provide 24 hour staffing of the residential treatment center.
  
• Implements aspects of the Individual Service Plan (ISP) at the direction of the Program Director.  Related duties will be varied and non-clinical. Examples of duties include guidance and support as individuals acquire independent living skills; transportation of individuals to and from appointments in the community; continuous monitoring of the facility; and supervision of individuals.
  
• Observes, documents and reports residents' behaviors, attitudes and physical conditions.
  
• Respond to crisis situations as they occur, including administering CPR/FA or contacting emergency services, as necessary.
  

Special Requirements:

• Submit a negative TB test
  
• Submit a current CPR/FA certification
  
• Valid Driver's License
  
• DMV Record with minimum +1
  
• COVID-19 vaccine required prior to beginning employment
  
• Complete a criminal background check, company will receive "eligible to work" response
  
• Complete a Child Protective Services registry check, company will receive "no match" response
  

 
To Apply:
Send resume to Kimberly Johnson at [email protected] (not com)

Community Solutions is searching for a Substance Abuse Program Coordinator to join our team.  Please send resumes to attention Kimberly Johnson.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Community Solutions is licensed to offer a collection of substance abuse treatment services on a residential and outpatient basis. The Substance Abuse Program Coordinator is a direct support professional that specializes in providing administrative support to the Program Director as a client is progressed through care.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Must have a high school diploma or GED
• Minimum 1 year experience providing direct support services in a residential/outpatient treatment environment.

DUTIES:
• Serves as a point of contact and receives referrals from external referral sources, including public agencies, insurance companies, private vendors, etc.
• Manage a list of client referrals, including a waiting list of candidates identified from the referral list by the Program Director.
• Perform initial screenings of referrals selected from the waiting list while providing the collected documentation to the Clinical team.
• Maintain program census, including identification of active cases, insurance information, and authorizations.
• Input client screening data into an electronic medical record (EMR)
• Coordinate initial medical appointments for clients,
• Provide administrative support to the Program Director, as needed, to maintain the overall day-to-day operation of the facility.
• Serves as liaison to clients and clinical team in a supported living facility and outpatient setting
• Facilitates individual encounters by orienting clients, taking histories, reporting to the clinical team
• Transport clients, as needed

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Good communication and organizational skills
• CPR/FA Certificate
• Submit a negative TB test
• Complete a criminal background check, company will receive ‘eligible to work’ response
• Complete a Child Protective Services registry check, company will receive ‘no match’ response

TO APPLY:
Send resume to Kimberly Johnson at [email protected] (not .com)

Earlier this week Community Solutions lost a beloved member of our CS Family.  John Curtis, known as JP to friends and colleagues in Hampton Roads passed away after a year-long battle with lung cancer.  Those of us lucky enough to spend time with JP knew he was one of those people who made the world a better place through his actions, his energy, and his love of people.   JP was our creative force.  He was our chef who made sure the office always had something homemade and good to eat. He was our decorator who transformed our building from a rather blah environment to a colorful place with inspirational sayings, attractive meeting rooms and even an aquarium.   No decorating took place without the comment “Where’s JP?”.  He was our lead mentor who always wanted to tackle the hardest and most challenging cases.  JP was on a mission to rescue every kid he ever worked with.  It was a regular event to see him driving around town with a youth, a lawnmower and snacks to give a kid the opportunity to make some extra cash, be well-fed, and learn the value of work.
  
No-one at CS had more stories to tell, more positive energy to share, and more dedication to changing lives than JP.  He was a successful realtor who came to CS because his lifetime passion was working with at-risk youth to show them a path away from gangs, criminal activity and violence.  A road with hope, opportunity and positive change.  And in the nearly 4 years he was with us at CS, that’s exactly what he did.  He was always full of new ideas to address old problems.  His "A Purse of My Own"  campaign distributed high-end purses stuffed with cosmetics to victims of domestic violence living in the H.E.R. Shelter.  Both the CS youth who worked with JP to prepare the purses, and the lucky women who were the recipients of the purses benefited from this novel idea.  He always came to the table with original thoughts about ways we could be a better agency and reach more people. 
 
JP had a great eye for photos and composition, especially people pics.  His photos gave us a window to see how he viewed the world we live in.  A world filled with friends and people he met along the way.    He spoke fondly of the mentors he had known, who influenced him to be the consummate helping professional.  His tales of places he visited while in the U.S. Navy were filled with meaningful connections with people from other cultures.  Great stories, about his adventures in Japan and other parts of the world he visited.  In what has become a bitterly divided country around issues of racial injustice and walls that separate us, JP lived to bring people together.  Of all the qualities we admired about JP, that might have been our favorite quality.  We shared a belief that all of us living in this world have more in common than qualities that divide us. 

Even while battling Stage 4 Cancer and experiencing tremendous pain, he attended every meeting, made every appointment and spent time with every client.  He never slowed down; it was always full speed ahead.  In that way JP is an inspiration to all of us.  In the past 20 years CS has had a long line of dynamic folks come through our front door to work collaboratively to make our community a better place.  JP can claim his place at the front of the line.  He will be sorely missed, but his legacy will be with us forever.